Homesickness
Any change can be difficult. So it is not surprising that moving away
from home can take some adjustment. Everything is new: people,
buildings, responsibilities, available time, expectations, and the list
goes on! Some people seem to thrive on such change, finding the
challenge of university an exciting time. For many others the
excitement can be mixed in with apprehension.
Some common thoughts and anxieties
- How do I fit in?
- Others seem to be managing fine.
- I miss home.
- I miss my family, pets, friends, bedroom, etc.
- I am alone.
- Will I make friends?
- I’ll never get used to this.
- This is not what I expected.
- Will I like my course?
- Will I manage my studies, exams, money, cooking…?
Homesickness is very common
It can affect anybody in a new
environment. Its intensity can vary from moments of missing home to
overwhelming feelings of being lost and alone, accompanied by a strong
need to be back home.
These feelings may come and go as you adjust to university life; also
the severity of homesickness may change depending on what you are
involved in at the time.
Homesickness tends to pass, and might leave you wondering why you were
ever homesick in the first place, or not being sure when the feelings
of homesickness disappeared. But while you are in the midst of feeling
homesick it might be useful to keep the following in mind:
- There will be others around you that have similar feelings of
homesickness – it is just not easy to tell who they are! (The person
who appears the life and soul of the party might equally be masking
their homesickness.)
- Homesickness is just a reaction to dealing with a lot of change all at
once – give yourself time to adjust. You don’t have to deal with these
feelings on your own.
Be kind to yourself
What would help you? Some ideas are:
- Keep in contact with friends and family at home
- Sit beside someone approachable in lectures
- Take time to know the people you now live with – remember you are just finding out about each other
- Be yourself – you are fine as you are, and don’t need to pretend to be something you are not
- Do continue pursuits that you enjoy – or try new ones – possibly
increasing the chances of meeting others with the same interests
- Anything else that might give you relief from your homesickness – write
your own list of things that are good for you, then you can refer to
the list when you need to. Be creative!
- You could include things like take a bath, go to a public place and
people watch, listen to your music, treat yourself to your favourite.
Believe that you can do this, and that you will find your way.
Would it help to talk to someone?
Do not suffer homesickness alone. Consider who you could share these
feelings with: someone at home? What about someone you have met at
Abertay – a student, or maybe a staff member? You could also talk to
someone at the Students Association, the Chaplaincy or the Counselling
Service. Their purpose is to support students during their time at the
University of Abertay Dundee, and if you need some support then please
use it - contact details below.
Student Association
Student Centre
Bell Street
Dundee, DD1 1HG
Tel: +44 (0)1382 308300
University Chaplaincy
The University Chaplain may be contacted
at the office between 9am and 5pm daily. Contact with other members of
the Chaplaincy team can also be made through the Chaplaincy Office.
The Chaplaincy
Room 2034 (Old College)
Bell Street
Dundee, DD1 1HG
Tel: +44 (0)1382 308447
Student Counselling Service
To make an initial appointment you can come into Student Services,
Level 2, Kydd Building, and ask to see one of our counsellors, or
telephone +44 (0)1382 308051.
Alternatively, you can email
counselling@abertay.ac.uk
The Student Counselling Service is open Monday to Friday, 9am – 5pm including the holiday period.
