Transitions/Homesickness

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Tell me about the best times of your life

Tell me about your expectations of college

Tell me how the first weeks have been

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An adjustment to major life changes

Anxiety about separation

Frequent thoughts of home, friends, family, animals

Feelings of loneliness Feeling sad

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• Anxiety about performance

• Everyone else seems to be having fun

• Low motivation to study

• Low motivation to make friends

Let’s Talk About WhyBecause in knowing the causes, there

might be some answers

Moving is one of the top 10 stressors for everyone

More than moving everything is different: Family, Friends, Belongings

Day to Day schedule is totally different

Food is not Familiar

Organized Activities have to be started all over again

Roommates: Need I say more?

Moving is one of the top 10 stressors for everyone

More than moving everything is different: Family, Friends, Belongings

Day to Day schedule is totally different

Food is not Familiar

Organized Activities have to be started all over again

Roommates: Need I say more?

Making it Through

Can you think of some solutions form the changes before?› Find familiarity in an unfamiliar place› Give yourself a break and accept that

adjustment takes time- BE PATIENT› Work with your negative thoughts› Find things to do and push yourself to try

them

More on Negative ThoughtsWe have known in Psychology for over 30 years that negative thoughts about yourself, your future, and/or your new environment can intensify unhappiness

A true, transferable life skill is learning how to work with negative thoughts like this:

Negative thought: I don’t fit in here

Working with itThis thought and feelings are normal, I am going to give myself more time to adjust.

I have been sad/anxious before and felt better. (Then do the things that helped before)

More than Homesickness?

Loss of interest in all things Neglecting grooming Significant changes in eating/sleeping

habits Lack of desire to be with others Thinking about dying

The majority of college students experience some degree of homesickness their first semester. Is it homesickness or something more? It is always ok to go in and talk to a counselor to be sure. Here is some of the signs counselors look for:

More Than Homesickness?

Check out our Anonymous Mental Health Screening program

http://counseling.cofc.edu/counseling/assessments

Talk to CASAS, 843-953-5640 Contact A Cougar Counseling Team

Member, M-Th 4-9 pm 3rd floor RSS, 843-953-7411