Homesickness
Homesickness is usually a transient experience that causes some discomfort for a short period of time.
For a small number of students, however, this experience will be more intense and will cause feelings of great distress. If you are one of these students it is not unusual for you to experience feelings of anxiety, palpitations, shaking, crying, sleeplessness, loss of appetite and feelings of desperation.
It is important to remember that - even though it doesn't feel like it right now - these feelings will not go on forever.
The emotional distress you are experiencing is a natural reaction to your new situation. Anxiety is our body's natural response to anything it perceives as threatening. You have left a home environment, which you felt was safe and moved to a new environment, which you do not yet know. Because you do not understand this new environment yet, your brain identifies it as being potentially threatening.
In simple terms, your brain is telling you that home was safe, this new place may not be as safe - so you should go home immediately. The distress you are experiencing is your brain's way of making you pay attention.
However, although going home may help these feelings subside, this may not the best thing for you in the longer term.
Make an appointment to speak to one of us in the Student Wellbeing Service and we can help to you manage your feelings and make some clear choices.
Or you may wish to talk to one of our counsellors.
You may also find it useful to visit these pages
Anxiety