Many students from all over the world dream of studying abroad one day, and many students are living their dreams right now. Studying abroad is a transformative journey that comes with several ups and downs. Since leaving your comfort zone and moving to a new country is not easy, the feelings of homesickness and anxiety can often surface.
In brief, homesickness is the feeling of missing home and things that remind a student of their home. It could be parents, friends, partners, pets, favorite food, and so on. On the other hand, anxiety can be understood as an unknown fear that students often feel when they are away from home. In this article, you will find the ultimate guide to dealing with homesickness and anxiety as a student studying in Lancaster, England.
Home to some of the most prestigious universities and colleges, Lancaster City is one of the leading student cities in the world. Lancaster University and the University of Central Lancashire attract students from all over the world, as they offer world-class education, exciting opportunities, and a student life like no other.
Things to Remember
Before we read about how to deal with homesickness and anxiety, let’s first read a few sentences that international students must remember.
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No matter what happens, you are not alone.
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It is okay to ask for help whenever you need it.
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Feeling homesick or anxious is temporary.
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Always celebrate the small victories, even if they involve getting out of bed at times.
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Acknowledge your feelings, don’t run away from them.
Dealing with Homesickness
Homesickness is much more than just missing home. When the feelings of sadness and missing home start interfering with your day-to-day life, it may be termed Homesickness. The common symptoms of homesickness can include fatigue, lack of concentration, sleeping too much or not sleeping at all, isolation, cry spells, and more. Given below are some tips for Lancaster students for dealing with homesickness.
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Many students ignore the signs and symptoms of homesickness. This can further lead to negative consequences. Therefore, always make sure you acknowledge your feelings, no matter what they are. Remember, you are a human and what you are feeling is normal.
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Instead of closing up on people, try opening up. Many students choose to isolate themselves when they feel homesick. However, doing the opposite can be very beneficial. Tell your loved ones what you are feeling, talk to them, have video calls and stay connected.
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Moving to a new country means experiencing new cultures and meeting new people. Instead of sitting alone and isolating yourself, focus more on getting to know people, exploring Lancaster city with them, going out on weekends, and more.
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Try to shift your focus to the positive aspects of moving abroad, such as having new experiences, making new friends, studying in prestigious universities, and more. Always remember that there are two faces of a coin, similarly every situation has two sides. When feeling homesick, try to shift your focus to the positive side,
Dealing with Anxiety
Feeling dreadful, sad, and scared is normal for students who move abroad, but it is essential to know how to fight these feelings. An international student feeling anxious may experience uneasiness, fear, breathlessness, sleep troubles, restlessness, and more. Given below are some ways to deal with feelings of anxiety as an international student living in accommodation in Lancaster.
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When you feel anxious, try to understand where this feeling is coming from, how did this feeling originated, what triggered it and so on. Whether it was the thought of social life, academic, financial or any other aspect of life that brought these feelings.
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If you feel that you are unable to help yourself in such difficult times, always seek help. Students can reach out to counselors, their professors or loved ones when they are experiencing anxiety and need support.
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While reaching out to people and seeking support is essential, it is also important to learn how to be comfortable with yourself, and how to help yourself. Practice self-care techniques and see which ones help you. These can include meditation, exercise, relaxation techniques, and more.
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Don’t burden yourself with tasks that are not realistic. Don’t promise yourself to complete a task in 2 hours which needs 5 hours. By setting realistic goals for yourself, you will be able to handle your triggers in a better way, and you will feel positive after completing those tasks.
Other Coping Strategies
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