How can I get over being homesick?

I felt homesick for the first few weeks of college and I suppose the first thing to say is that it WILL subside. The first few weeks are hard, especially if you’re very close with your family, but my advice would be to make sure you get into a routine, call home the same time each week and keep yourself busy. In no time you’ll feel at home at college. Of course you’ll miss home (and home comforts) but the feeling passes and you get on with it.

I found that while I might get a little homesick after a long semester, as soon as I’m home I miss college just as much!

It sounds like you’re doing the right things. You just may need time. Hang in there!

You are not alone. I would bet that most of your classmates are feeling some homesickness. Just trudge through it. Exercise, of course, and don’t compensate by over-eating. I was ready to transfer to secretarial school by the end of my first semester as a freshman.

See whether you can find one person to whine and bitch and moan with. Keep up with your class assignments. Check in with your floor or academic advisor. See about the uni free counseling services. It will all be confidential (except for the bitching and moaning partner.)

It just takes time. In the meantime (the uncomfortable, transitional stage) you just have to stick it out.

If you stay inside your comfort zone your whole life, you will experience much less of the world. Get out of your comfort zone and learn who you are!

Nope, you’re not the only one who suffers homesickness after being uprooted from their comfort zone. I was like that for the first week of college. It was literally a shock to be so far removed from my friends and family that I was a little reluctant to try new things and live my own life.

I love my family and friends from back home, but eventually I came to the realization that I couldn’t live my life for them. The moment I realized that I begin to expand my horizons. I soaked up the new experience, the people, and the activities.

Also, take advantage of the college counselors, they hear about this type of stuff all the time. They can help guide you through your emotions and offer tips on making your college transition smoother.

Wow, you’ve got a much better handle on this ‘homesickness’ thing than I ever did. :)

I would suggest, find something to get involved in, whether it be band, or volunteering, or a job or something, especially if it benefits others. Something that makes you happy or content, and then the feelings of being homesick won’t be so bad.

Everyone above me has really great answers, too

Make yourself at home wherever you go.

What you’re feeling is really normal, and more people are feeling the exact same way than you can imagine. At some colleges, kids arrive with their whole high school posse and college becomes a way to escape parental controls. For the majority, however, they arrive at college knowing only a handful of people, if that. College is about learning new things—both in terms of academics, and yourself. It’s more important to have space to try out new ideas, explore new ways of being.

You will feel homesick. That’s part of having to be responsible for yourself and owning your own life. You left your parents house as a child and will come back into it as a young adult. That’s a big change. From watching my own children and their friends, homesickness usually lasts off and on until you go home for winter break. Then usually something happens, and you’ll be looking forward to getting back to school.

I used to find that whenever I was homesick the music I loved helped me through A LOT. I didn’t have an iPod until a few years ago and so I used to take a portable CD player with me everywhere with a number of my favourite CD’s and then I could always escape into something that I found comforting.

It is a normal feeling. It shows you had a great realtionship with your family and enjoyed bieng at home. You are fortunate! That doesn’t make it any easier of course.
Here’s some sage advice from an old person:
Don’t be afraid to send a few emails per week.
Don’t twitter or facebook every move.
And every now and then, call home. (That’s why your parents put you on their family plan.)

crack open a beer without the fear of scolding from mom and dad… it’s more liberating than you think ;)

It’s impressive that you are getting out there every day—even though it’s hard. Homesickness is temporary, but I know how it feels when you have it. Hope your classes are great, you get excited about the work, make some good friends, and settle in soon. You will if you just assume this will get better in time, which it will.

Thanks everyone.. I’m glad to know I’m not alone. Everyone else makes it seem so easy, but a few people I’ve talked to today said that the homesickness is setting in now.. It sounds awful, but I’m glad that I’m not alone. I guess I’ll just keep doing what I’m doing and try to start getting into some sort of routine. I think my problem is that I’m trying to approach college with the stereotypical mindset that everything should be fun, carefree and liberating—but maybe that’s not the type of college experience I want. Hopefully it will get better!

What made the difference for me at college was finding my tribe. Part of what you’re going through is the pain of leaving your high school friends behind. If you’re lucky, or you work at it, you’ll find people that you click with.

I didn’t realize that that was what had happened until a friend of mine put it that way—“you found your tribe.”

I was so happy to be out of the house and yet experiencing the safety in loco parentis provides. Parties, a chance to meet girls, experiment with alcohol and marijuana. I felt like I was finally catching up with my more adventuresome peers.

I think that, in a way, you are lucky to feel homesick. That means you really felt at home with your family. Many of us didn’t. If you’ve never been away from home before, take it as a safe way to start learning to fly on your own. When I was in college, there was one phone for the entire dorm. I spoke to my parents maybe once a month. Nowadays, everyone has a cell phone, and you can talk to your parents any time you want.

I wonder what it is that you got at home that you aren’t getting at college. If you can identify it, you can make a plan to find a way to get what you need at college.

I can 10000% say that I feel the EXACT same way. I related to everything you wrote. I feel like a whole different person, and it’s scary. I fight tears and the overwhelming feeling when I’m out and about, and when I get back into my room, I lose it. It’s stressful, scary, and hard to deal with. I’m having a really hard time, too, and I wish I could give you more advice. I am one of those people who are SO EXTREMELY close to their family and my parents are my best friends. It’s just hard, but they keep telling me it will get better. I hope it does, but in the mean time, I hope we both get through it. Be strong!

@packersgirl4 I’ve found that keeping super busy—while very tiring—at least keeps my mind off of things. And, try to do things that you did at home that made you feel good. I feel like a loser, but all I really want to do is shut my door and watch some tv at night instead of partying Thurs-Sunday. I’m just trying to find a place where I fit in and a happy medium. I’m sure you’ll get there—lots of kids do it, so I figure it’ll happen eventually! Good luck

my simple answer is that it will either gradually and eventually go away or you’ll just continue being homesick. But i suggest busying yourself and have fun. If you wake up sad eat something and watch tv. I expeienced this as well a few times but somehow i got over it.

@Pat_thebear89 It’s weird because I can’t eat.. nothing sounds good to me and I don’t get up early enough to watch tv. My roommate and I quietly get ready and then go to class… I’m in class all day… Do homework… Go eat (often with people that I don’t really like or feel like I belong with) Do more work… Sit on facebook for a little while… and then go to bed. I’m not sure where the fun part comes in :( yet I don’t remember what I did at home that was different and made me happier. It’s just a strange feeling like I don’t know where I want to be because I don’t feel like I’d fit anywhere at this point.

@dazedandconfused well there are other things you can do. I mean you could talk and become friends with people you dont know in your class, or you could mostly, after class, go out to a mall, or call home for a bit and talk to your people, even ask a few friends to come visit time to time. If your still feeling sad ,then go visit your home once in a while dont wait for holidays and such. Plus you might be feeling homesick because you DID do things differently than you did in your dorm. You probably had free time, or you were around people you love.

I feel the same way. I am currently a freshman in highschool. Someties I feel afraid to wake up and get back to the feeling again. I always worry about my family wen I’m away from them. I mostly think of my dad because he works graveyard shift at work and he always complains about not getting enough sleep.(he doesn’t live with me) Sometimes I feel sorry for him because he always has to have an ultimatum on either to get some sleep or see me and my sister. I want him to move back in with us really badly, but that’s not my decision. My mom always says I don’t know when I ask her about him moving back in. My dad says it up to your mom. I can’t find anybody at school who feels the same way. Oh and this only occurs in the morning and sometimes right before I go to bed