Psychology: understanding and preventing homesickness

A recent Gallup World Poll claims that 1.1 billion people, or one-quarter of the earth’s adults, would like to move temporarily to another country in hopes of finding new employment opportunities. Deciding to live in another country for a period of time can be both exciting and terrifying. During the initial stages of this new journey, we are flooded with mixed feelings such as enthusiasm, hesitation, apprehension and uncertainty however it is the positive sentiment that carries us through the first few months leading up to the migration. Unfortunately for some, the excitement might fade away, resulting in ‘homesickness’.

This topic is particularly relevant for expats in this region since many of them have left their countries of origin to live/work in a setting that is new, culturally different and in most cases lacking familial support.

Homesickness is an interesting emotional experience and state of mind where the affected person has an intense longing for the place and people they have left behind. Some psychologists argue that these people are actually experiencing a kind of loss – a sentiment that something has changed to the point in which they feel misplaced and alone.

What needs to be highlighted is that homesickness may not always be about ‘home’ and neither is it exactly an ‘illness’. Instead it is that we are put in a situation where our security is questioned. The love, attention and comfort we once felt at home is missing and therefore we long for the place where we associate these feelings with, explains Josh Klapow, a clinical psychologist and associate professor at the University of Alabama’s School of Public Health.

The changes in our mood might start several days or even weeks prior to the actual travel but we may not pay too much attention to it because we’re distracted with other practical issues needing our attention. The condition can be placed on a spectrum from mild or severe and it may become worse the more unfamiliar, or culturally distant, the host country is in comparison to your country of origin.

Initially, the symptoms are psychological (however there are physiological ones as well). A few of them are listed below:
• A desire to go back home
• Feeling of loneliness
• Sadness for no apparent reason
• Strong feelings of anxiousness
• Lack of motivation
• Loss of confidence
• Depressive thoughts
• Frequent mood swings
• Sense of insecurity
• Inability to engage in simple tasks

Physical symptoms of homesickness can include nausea, sleep disturbances, muscle aches and pains, repeated illnesses, lowered immunity and frequent headaches.

We might think with the presence and utilization of social utility websites, feelings of loneliness might be lessened. Unfortunately, technological advances haven’t helped defeat homesickness even though studies by the Carnegie Corporation of New York show that immigrants are in closer touch with their families than before. In 2002, only 28 percent of immigrants called home at least once a week; in 2009, 66 percent did. Yet this level of contact is not enough to conquer the sadness that comes with moving abroad.
Perhaps the most difficult part of the journey is when the person questions their decision to move to a new location. This can create much doubt which stands in the way of effectively adjusting. Interestingly as locations change, our cultural identity transforms and we might also question ‘who we are’ and do we feel comfortable with these new additives or subtractions to our cultural identity.

So what can we do to try and get over feelings associated with homesickness? We can start by:
• Understanding what it is and recognizing the signs and symptoms
• Schedule regular conversations with family and friends back home
• Talk about the new country and all the positive aspects of it
• Download your favorite programs from back home
• Have items such as pictures and other objects that remind you of home
• Exercise and release stress on a regular basis
• Try and make friends with people from the host country
• Talk about how you’re feeling – there are many others who probably feel the same as you
• Acknowledge that this is a temporary state and how you manage it will determine how quickly it will fade

As soon as you become more familiar with all that is unfamiliar, those challenging emotions and feelings will evaporate, allowing you to settle in more comfortable so that you can create new friendships, bonds and experiences.