Homesickness is a kind of distress that is caused when an individual starts living away from home. Some of the most common symptoms are: Feeling sad, down, or depressed, Grief over the loss of familiar surroundings, Anxiety or nervousness, withdrawing from or avoiding other people, wanting to stay in your room or being afraid to leave your room, feeling nostalgic about things that remind you of home, being easily irritated by new things or so on. 

Feeling homesick can strike at any time. It could occur in social situations or while you're by yourself. Even when you are occupied with other activities, if you have constant homesickness, you might wish to speak with someone. It's common to have occasional sadness or anxiety, particularly while in a strange place. Additionally, some kids have a more in-depth emotional experience than others. If your emotions are too strong, they could get in the way of your other commitments, like your work or your education. People vary in how long it takes them to become used to college life. For a weekend or a month, some people may experience homesickness. Some never experience homesickness. Homesickness usually wears off for most students after the first semester. 

Homesickness can become a significant issue for individuals, especially when it is intense or prolonged. Here are several ways in which homesickness can pose a serious challenge:

1. Impact on Mental Health: Persistent feelings of homesickness can lead to anxiety, depression, or other mental health issues if not addressed. These conditions can affect overall well-being and hinder academic or professional performance.
    
2. Academic or Career Consequences: Homesickness can interfere with academic performance, leading to missed classes, incomplete assignments, or poor grades. In a professional setting, it can affect job performance, attendance, and career progression.
    
3. Social Isolation: Individuals experiencing homesickness may withdraw from social interactions or avoid forming new relationships. This isolation can lead to feelings of loneliness and further exacerbate the sense of being disconnected from their new environment.
    
4. Physical Health: Severe homesickness can manifest physically through symptoms such as headaches, digestive issues, sleep disturbances, and weakened immune function. These physical symptoms can impact overall health and well-being.
    
5. Adjustment Issues: Failure to address homesickness can prolong the adjustment period to a new environment. This delay in adaptation may hinder personal growth, resilience-building, and the ability to fully engage in new experiences.
    
6. Risk of Dropping Out or Quitting: In extreme cases, untreated homesickness can lead individuals to contemplate dropping out of school, quitting a job, or prematurely ending a travel experience. This can have long-term consequences for educational and career paths.
    
7. Family and Relationship Strain: Homesickness can strain relationships with family members or friends back home if communication becomes strained or infrequent due to emotional distress.
    
8. Financial Impact: If homesickness results in academic or career setbacks, it can potentially lead to financial consequences such as loss of scholarships, academic probation, or difficulties in securing employment.
    
9. Long-Term Emotional Impact: Lingering feelings of homesickness, if not addressed, can create a lasting emotional impact, making it harder for individuals to fully embrace and enjoy their new surroundings or opportunities.
    
10. Cultural or Adjustment Shock: For individuals experiencing homesickness in a new cultural context, the adjustment shock can be particularly challenging, as it may involve adapting to unfamiliar customs, languages, or social norms on top of missing familiar surroundings.

Stages of homesickness 

Stage of honeymoon: Usually starts as soon as you get to campus.  Though anxious, you are eager to begin your journey. The people on campus are friendly and lively. Even though you're a little homesick, there are plenty of enjoyable activities to keep you upbeat. 

Stage of cultural shock: After a while, the novelty wears off and you have to deal with all the changes that come with living in a college, like roommates, dining hall food, and attending classes. You might feel depressed, hopeless, or lonely and miss home and everything you know best. 

Stage of initial adjustment: College life becomes less frightening when you settle into a routine after a while. Even if you might still long for your hometown, you begin to feel capable of handling life as a college student. 

Stage of mental isolation: You experience limbo. You don't feel quite at home in college life, but home isn't as familiar as it once was. This usually happens following a lengthier break for the students at home. 

Stage of acceptance and integration: You begin to feel a part of the college community. You might establish a close-knit social circle and begin to feel that the institution is your home. You've adjusted to college life quite well.

Common symptoms of homesick feeling

1.Feelings of Sadness or Loneliness: Missing the comfort and familiarity of home can lead to these feelings.
 

2.Longing for Familiarity: A strong desire to be in familiar surroundings or with loved ones from home.
 

3.Difficulty Adjusting: Struggling to adapt to new environments, routines, or cultural differences.
 

4.Withdrawal or Isolation: Feeling withdrawn or isolating oneself from others due to feelings of homesickness.
 

5.Physical Symptoms: Homesickness can manifest physically in headaches, stomachaches, or appetite change.
 

6.Preoccupation with Home: Constantly thinking or talking about home and past experiences. 

Credible causes of homesickness  

 1. Change of Environment: Relocating for employment, education, or vacation cause familiar routines and surroundings to be disrupted, this can lead homesickness.
 

2. Being Away from Loved Ones: Since these people offer emotional support and a sense of security, being away from family, close friends or pets can exacerbate homesickness symptoms. 
 

3. Cultural differences: Relocating to an area with distinct traditions, languages, or social mores can cause feelings of loneliness and make it harder for a person to acclimate, which can exacerbate homesickness. 
 

4. Loss of Comfort and Familiarity: Adapting to a new environment can be difficult when one is separated from home comforts including accustomed meals, daily schedules, and personal space.     
                                                                                                                                                              

5. Attachment to Home: It might be more difficult to change and adapt to a new area if there are strong emotional attachments to one's hometown, childhood home, or former living situation.   
 

6. Lack of familiarity with the surroundings: Homesickness can be exacerbated by feeling lost or confused in a new place, whether as a result of difficult navigation or strange terrain. 
 

7.. Emotional Vulnerability: People who have stronger emotional ties to their homes or are more sensitive to their surroundings may be more likely to get homesick.
 

8. Habitual Routines: Feelings of confusion and a yearning for familiarity might result from the disruption of daily routines and habits that offered solace and stability in the household. 

  What should be avoided if one is going through homesick feeling? 

•  Don’t stay in your room all the time- Your room can be a safe haven during your time at college, but you don’t want to spend all of your free time there. It hampers you from going out, or to know new people, and finding novel things that you might like.

• Don’t visit home every weekend- Especially when the home and near and dear one lives close by, one tends to travel to them frequently. But going home every chance you get may keep you from establishing your new life on campus. That can increase your homesickness.

• Don’t ignore your feelings, it’s totally normal to feel homesick- You are adjusting to a new place and a new culture. But, if you ignore those feelings, they may get difficult to store and handle as well and you will end up feeling going crazy. Try to process those emotions, by talking to someone, writing in a journal, or expressing yourself artistically.

   Pointers to lessen homesickness 

• Make your space your own and talk about your feelings- Bring some of the comforts of home to your new place like photographs, art and craft of yours, or a favorite mug or soft toy. The more familiar your surroundings are, the more comfortable you’ll feel. Even if people aren’t talking about it, a lot of students probably share your feelings. Say something to roommates, your RA, or new friends, and process some of your feelings. Other students might be scared to bring it up and could be glad that you started the conversation first.

• Maintain contact with your house- For solace and support; make sure you stay in touch with your family and friends. To stay in touch, send your loved ones regular emails, texts, and video calls. Remember that social media is a fantastic tool for staying in touch with everyone. 

• Make a social network that is encouraging- When you get to Essex, or perhaps before if you're well-organized, find your tribe. Get to know others who share your interests by joining clubs and societies, interacting with your roommates, and going to some of the numerous social events organized by the university and students' union. Remember to take advantage of Welcome Week and Fresher’s Fair to meet other new students and gain more knowledge about every facet of university life. A network of friends who are encouraging can significantly impact your university experience and foster a feeling of community. 

• Stay active- In case you're experiencing homesickness, you might divert your attention by engaging in extracurricular activities, hobbies, and academic pursuits. Get fully involved in your new course, pursue both old and new hobbies, and think about volunteer work. Maintaining an active lifestyle will help you feel less homesick and notice how fast time goes by.

• Ask for assistance from the university- The University provides a range of programs and tools to promote the mental health and general well-being of its students. These options, which include live chat and counseling services, can be very helpful to you as you adjust to university life. Never hesitate to ask for assistance if you need someone to talk to or if you're feeling overwhelmed.

• Practice self-care- At University, it's important to look after your physical and mental health, particularly if you're experiencing homesickness. Make sure you eat healthily, get adequate sleep, and maintain an active lifestyle. Take part in renewing and calming activities like yoga, meditation, or reading a good book. Make sure you get some fresh air, particularly if you live close to a stunning university. 

Conclusion 

Being homesick is a common occurrence during college. You can get over homesickness and succeed if you have the patience and self-compassion necessary to adjust to change, which takes time. Cherish the memories you create at this thrilling period, embrace the opportunities that present themselves, and build relationships that will last a lifetime. Enjoy yourselves!