Homesickness
Homesickness is a strong longing for home or a person associated with home, such as a parent or sibling.
What is Homesickness?
Homesickness can feel similar to grief, and a person experiencing homesickness is grieving the temporary—or sometimes permanent—loss of the comforts of home. Many people experience mild homesickness when they move, and this low-level homesickness might include brief pangs of longing for home and periodic feelings of nostalgia. However, homesickness can also be an overwhelming emotion that interferes with adjustment and normal functioning. People experiencing this kind of homesickness may be anxious, depressed, cry frequently, or have difficulty keeping track of daily routines.
What Causes Homesickness?
A sudden change in environment can cause homesickness in a wide variety of people. Because children’s identities and sense of security are intimately tied to family and home, however, they are especially prone to homesickness. A child might become homesick while away at camp or when spending the night at a friend’s house.
College students often experience homesickness when they go away to school, particularly if school is far from home or the culture on campus is dramatically different from family culture.
What Causes Homesickness?
The primary cause of homesickness is a sudden transition or separation from home, but some people are more prone to homesickness than others. Children with a history of anxiety and shy children may be especially prone to homesickness. College students who have never been away from home or who have trouble making friends are also more likely to develop homesickness.
Homesickness is not a mental illness, and does not require treatment. However, therapy can help people adjust to new environments. In some cases, homesickness may lead to or exacerbate certain mental health conditions such as anxiety and depression.
Reference:
- Thurber, C. A., & Walton, E. A. (2007). Preventing and Treating Homesickness. Child and Adolescent Psychiatric Clinics of North America, 16(4), 843-858. doi: 10.1016/j.chc.2007.05.003
Last Updated: 08-7-2015
- 10 comments
- Leave a Comment
April c.
January 1st, 2019 at 7:52 PMCan homesickness cause medical problems in adults like yearly illness on the date of moving.
AC
February 28th, 2019 at 5:03 AMi am struggling homesick and about to go to camp ,i have an fear in world camp and I just cru and cry,I wanted to ask for help but since it happened so many times, my parents will scold me and I end up crying all night and depression comes. that made give up on camps 3 times straight,but last time I went to Germany ,I croed but I made it even with a flight delay,2 weeks until it,idk what to do and I wanna jump of a cliff real bad!I wanna get through hoeisck!Help!
The GoodTherapy.org Team
February 28th, 2019 at 7:46 AMDear AC,
If you would like to consult with a mental health professional, you can start finding therapists in your area by selecting your country on our search page at https://www.goodtherapy.org/international-search.html
Once you enter your information, you’ll be directed to a list of therapists and counselors who meet your criteria. You may click to view our members’ full profiles and contact the therapists themselves for more information. If you need help finding a therapist, you are welcome to call us. We are in the office Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Pacific Time, and our phone number is 888-563-2112.
Kind regards,
The GoodTherapy Team
Leave a Comment
By commenting you acknowledge acceptance of GoodTherapy.org's Terms and Conditions of Use.