Homesickness

What is Homesickness?

Most people have felt homesick at some point in their lives. Beginning college life generates excitement and anxiety. Many overcome this apprehension quickly, while others develop a preoccupation with thoughts of home, family, places, routines and security. Many students will become mildly depressed just prior to leaving home, while others become depressed perhaps following Christmas break, or even at the beginning of the second year. Vulnerability to feeling homesick may be affected by:

• distance from home
• a sense of anticlimax after arriving at college after working towards it for so long
• whether or not the student was responsible for the decision to attend this college
• unhappy, as expections of college are not met
• work overload and inability to control it
• change in lifestyle
• lack of control over environment
• lack of committment or able to "find their place" in college life

What Might Help Homesickness?

• Talk with someone
• Keep close contacts with people at home
• Know that others share the same feelings
• Being realistic regarding what to expect from student life and yourself
• If you find studying too difficult, work on improving study skills and organization.
• Get enough food and sleep
• Makes contacts and friends through activities and clubs
• Allow yourself enough time to adjust

If you find yourself unable to do normal social and academic things, please contact the CAP Center at 5200. We can help get you back on track.