Coping with homesickness

What are the signs of homesickness?

Homesickness can feel different to different people. Some people may often feel sad and lonely and cry. Other people may find it hard to focus and work. Some people even have physical symptoms like frequent stomachaches or headaches.

I think I’m homesick. What should I do?

If you have physical symptoms, like pain, you should see a doctor or nurse to make sure you are not actually sick. And if you have other symptoms of homesickness like crying, sadness, or not being able to work well, MIT has resources that can help:

• Contact Student Mental Health and Counseling Services: Call 617-253-2916 to speak with a mental health provider.
• Check out MIT Spouses & Partners Connect, where you can join activities that help you make friends, learn English, share experiences and passions, and get information about living in the Boston area.
• Talk to a wellness specialist who can help you learn new ways to cope with homesickness.

There are also many ways you can help yourself feel better:

• Find your peers. If you can find people on campus or in the area who come from the same area and speak the same language, you will begin to feel more at home at MIT.
• Find the best ways to to stay in touch with family and friends at home. Some people enjoy calling home or using Skype; but sometimes calling and Skyping can just make you miss home even more. In that case, find different ways to stay in touch. Use more e-mail or texting or another way of communicating that doesn’t make you feel as sad and lonely.
• Save reminders of home. Find objects that remind you of home and make you feel happy. Keep them where you can see them.
• Use a calendar. Post a “countdown calendar”—a wall calendar that shows the next time you will see family and friends.
• Be active. Exercise can make you feel better.
• Explore! Leave campus, and explore Cambridge and Boston.
• Be social. Participate in social events with your colleagues.
• Get enough sleep. Sleep can be surprisingly helpful. Try to catch up on your sleep wherever you can.