Are you battling with homesickness?

No matter how excited you have been about your university life, shifting to a different part of the world (or even a new city) is a major transition for kids. Thus, are likely to suffer from homesickness, also known as adjustment disorder. It may feel like an intensely personal emotion, which you cannot share with anyone else. However, if you are suffering from homesickness, there is nothing to be ashamed of it. In fact, you are not the only one in your campus, who is trying to overcome this problem.

To extend you a helping hand, here are some of the effective tips, to help you make the most of your boarding days.

·         Desperate to head home every weekend

At the initial stage, it might be an arduous task to stay away from your parents, neighbourhood friends, and your pet. But, if you cannot work your way through this and try to head home during every holiday, you will miss out the fun and activities at the campus, which will make it even more difficult for you to connect with your fellow classmates. According to the psychologist and therapist at the Centre for Counselling and Psychological Services at Pennsylvania State University, Katharine Staley, the students shouldn't go home immediately after moving into their dorm, because of homesickness. They can visit their home later, when they have adjusted themselves to the new environment.

·         Being the odd one out

Many students don’t realize that they are homesick right away. They rather feel anxious, frustrated, and lonely, since they are unable to fit themselves into the new environment or are yet discover their niches. Under such circumstances, the night time turns out to be unbearable, as they tend to miss their comfort zone after a hectic day. The best way to deal with this problem is to re-arrange your room and decorate it nicely, to carve out your own space. A cozy quilt from your home or colorful wallpaper too, can uplift your mood and make you feel comfortable in the new space.

·         Alienating yourself from others

Rearranging your room, to carve your own space doesn’t mean you should create a hideaway, where you can keep yourself locked throughout the day. Isolating from the others increase anxiety and depression among children, which only worsens up with time! Try to use the residence halls or libraries for studying and indulge in group studying sessions, to intensify the comfort level with the fellow students.

·         Eating alone

Eating alone, in a corner of the dining hall may also be a clear indication of homesickness. Going to dine together with a group is a great way to stay included.

·         Constant fear of being left out

The fear of being left out alone is largely triggered by the social networking sites like Facebook, Instagram and Snapcharts, revealed Staley. The students often feel that they are probably the only one, who doesn't fit into the picture because they are not very enthusiastic about the campus events. This feeling, in turn, can spark homesickness with time. Instead of spending a lot of time indulging in social media, try to join the offline clubs for recreational activities or attend the meetings on campus, to build real connections to avoid such problems.

·         Shedding tears

The tendency of frequent tearfulness and temperament shifts are also the signs of homesickness, and this problem is more noticeable, in case of the young ones and teenagers as they step out of their home for the first time. According to the eminent psychiatrists, it is perfectly OK to feel uncomfortable, but if you are unable to overcome the issue despite trying hard, you must seek professional help from the counselling centre of your institution or seek help from your parents.

Taking a dive into the campus experiences from the early phase effectively reduces homesickness in the long run. However, if your child is not very keen on sharing about whom they are meeting or what they are doing, your child might be actually struggling hard to connect with the fellow mates at the classes, clubs or other places. It is thus, your duty to encourage them by sharing your own (fake or real) story and lending them your suggestions, about initiating a conversation.