Homesickness is not a feeling just reserved for your first year in college. Homesickness comes sometimes when you don’t expect it. It sneaks up on you in a way. Maybe you’re sitting in the dining hall, and you’re with your friends, but you just have this longing for home. Homesickness is one of the most widespread emotional experiences among people going through a major life transition that is college.
Maybe your social media has been filled with the expectation that college is supposed to be the best years of your life, with independence like no other, and full of fresh starts. Admitting that you miss home can feel like you are behind, and not ready for those major changes, but in reality, it doesn’t indicate anything.
Homesickness is not a sign of immaturity, rather it’s a natural human response to leaving a home that you knew so well. You grew up there and have fond memories of your family and friends.
What is homesickness really?
When we leave a familiar place, we don’t just lose the physical location. We lose our routines, the ease of relationships built over years, that specific comfort of knowing how things work and where we fit. We lose that version of ourselves that felt settled.
This is why homesickness can sneak up on you. Maybe you had an off interaction, a poor test grade, or the weather is bringing you down. You can’t retreat to the place you’ve built as a comfort zone for so long. But it’s important to know that it isn’t a weakness, it’s a normal reaction.
Homesickness is different for everyone
Homesickness doesn’t hit everyone the same way. It looks and feels different for everyone. Everyone navigates their own stressors such as academic pressure, financial strains, identity questions. All of these, and people handle it differently.
Something worth noting is that if you feel homesick, the people back home also miss you too. It’s worth prioritizing contact with your family members, updating them, and just calling them on your walk to your classes. Although you can’t physically be with them, that feeling of home that they bring can help alleviate the homesickness.
But sometimes that longing for home doesn’t come in the beginning of the school year like you might think. Maybe it comes after a visit for the weekend, or a quiet week in spring when you think everyone else has found their group. Homesickness doesn’t follow a timeline, and that’s completely normal.
When you find that homesickness is affecting your ability to sleep, eat, attend classes, or engage with the people around you, it’s worth reaching out for support.
A mental health professional isn’t reserved for just crisis moments, it can also be a space to process these life transitions that don’t always get labeled.
THERAPY SERVICES FOR COLLEGE STUDENTS WE OFFER IN MANHATTAN & BROOKLYN, NEW YORK
Taking care of yourself physically and emotionally will enhance your ability to deal with the change of coming home. While college has so much to offer, it can be overwhelming coming home to a completely different life. This can be emotionally draining, and setting aside time to reconnect with your priorities is important when adjusting to this transition.
At Manhattan Wellness, we understand that the transition of being at school and coming home can be a lot to handle alone. We provide a safe space for growth and rejuvenation so you can be your best self. Take control of your life and make a difference.
- Submit a Contact Form or Email Us at hello@manhattanwellness.org
- Learn More About Our Team of Therapists for College Students and Our Therapy Specialists
- Let’s Talk About How We Can Help You Feel Empowered & Ready To Take The Next Step.
SPECIFIC THERAPY SERVICE WE OFFER IN MANHATTAN & ONLINE THROUGHOUT NEW YORK, NEW JERSEY, AND FLORIDA
At Manhattan Wellness, our therapists are here to support you in navigating this journey and finding the excitement in your life. This is why we offer a variety of services to ensure you get the support, care, and guidance necessary. The therapy services we offer are Depression Therapy, Anxiety Therapy, therapy for college students, and more. Are you feeling as if you are not living the life you deserve? Let’s talk about it.
