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Handling homesickness- 7-Aug-2010
Although, its a fresh beginning, anxiety, nervousness, tension and worry would certainly creep- in, along with the excitement of being in a new place and becoming independent. How to deal with this anxiety? How to make this transition easier?
Life is all about transitions. As you grow older, transitions predominate. Right from kindergarten to junior school, from junior to senior school, it is all a part of transition.
Look at it as a learning experience and this will help you cope better with the changes you are experiencing.
It is important to view this move to a new place amid a new set of people as a sign of growth and progress. Any new situation is just such an opportunity to make a some sort of progress. It will help you in life to imbibe and integrate new experiences and ways of living.
Try to meet your seniors:
As you venture to a new place, try to meet your seniors. Make an effort and develop a comprehensive understanding of what the existing systems are, what are the expectations of the faculties, what are the additional requirements of the course and what would be the best way of handling these. This will help you ensure that you do not lag behind and that these situations do not become a source of stress for you.
It is of crucial importance that you make friends and develop a social support network for yourself in your new place. This will help you relax and take a step back from all the stresses that you may experience, along with missing the people and places you have left behind. Take time for yourself, which could be exploring surroundings, going for movies, visiting new places, and trying out new types of food.
Stay in touch with home:
Being connected to those back home is one sure-shot way of ensuring that the experience of being homesick is reduced to some degree. Staying in touch with family and friends will help abate the anxiety you may experience. Share your experiences with them and exchange views on how things are developing at their end.
Make them feel they are an integral part of your life as that would make you feel that they are there to support, guide and be with you even despite the physical distance.
The homesickness that sets in gloomy atmosphere, will take to its heels when you feel the support of seniors and the warmth of even a distant home.
