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TOP 12 WAYS
TO COPE WITH HOMESICKNESS
Admit it
Admit and
accept that you are homesick. Try not to bury
the feeling. Don’t drink more, party more, or have sex just
to make the feelings go away. Allow yourself to feel sad, to
have a good cry.
Explore
Walk around. Get to know the UNCA campus
and the surrounding community. When you discover some fun places and activities,
you may feel more comfortable and in control of your situation.
Get involved
Consider the things you like to do and
explore what student activities and organizations are available to you. Your
residence hall is often a good place to start. Attend campus events. Getting
involved will immerse you in college life, help you make new friends, and reduce
your time to be homesick. It might feel difficult, but many other students will
be doing the same thing.
Keep familiar things
Soften the shock of your new environment
by having items from home in your residence. Familiar things such as pictures
and favorite possessions can help you feel more comfortable while you adjust.
Have realistic expectations
Try not to expect yourself to be
perfectly adjusted, organized, popular, or dressed. Recognize that you’re
learning, and have a sense of humor about your challenges and mistakes.
Be open
The more open you are to NEW things, the
less you might miss PAST things. Be open to exploring new situations,
opportunities, people, classes, and choices. Try to avoid comparing your new
environment to home ~ they’re different. It might be scary to face so many new
things, but they will provide opportunities to meet new friends.
Connect
Getting involved with others and making
friends is a key way to reduce homesickness. Inviting roommates, classmates, and
neighbors to explore with you can initiate new connections, as can responding to
the invitations of others.
Keep in touch
Stay in contact with friends and family.
Share your new experiences with them, as well as the fact that you miss them and
your home life. Decide whether it’s best for you to have more frequent contact
with home (because it helps you feel better) or less contact (because it makes
you feel worse).
Plan a visit home
Knowing that you’ll be going home at a
specific time may be comforting and allow you to invest in campus life. While
going home can be relaxing and help ease the transition, doing so too often may
result in constant readjustment and feeling worse.
Take care of yourself
Get enough food, sleep, and exercise.
These are important for both physical and emotional well-being. Do things that
you enjoy. Try to establish a routine as soon as possible. Create a balance
between work and leisure.
Talk about it
It can help to talk about feelings of
homesickness with a roommate, friend, RA, RD, family member, or counselor.
You’ll find that you’re surrounded by a lot of support. You may also discover
that others have similar feelings. It’s a sign of strength to accept and talk
about what is troubling you.
Give it time
Overcoming homesickness is a gradual
process for most people. Realize that adapting to a new situation is difficult
and takes time. Let yourself ease into it, and college will eventually feel like
your home away from home. However, if your homesickness persists and interferes
with your academic performance, relationships, or general functioning and
well-being, consider talking with a counselor.
WEBSITES FOR HOMESICKNESS
the college chalkboard
go ask alice
St. Joe's - Homesickness
Dealing with Homesickness
What is Homesickness?
Campusblues.com - homesickness
Please
call the UNCA Counseling Center (251-6517) to make an appointment if you need
someone to talk to about your homesickness or any other area of your life that
is causing you anxiety or discomfort now.
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