The 5 most effective ways for overseas children to overcome homesickness

Miss people from far away, but can't come home because they run out of tickets or have to overtime? Being an overseas child can be said to be a sweet and bitter life experience. Especially when you feel homesick (homesick) hit by a problem of distance, time and especially money. But if this holiday season you can't go home, don't be sad.

Feel homesick that's natural, really!

There's no need to be embarrassed to admit that you miss home. Moving to a completely new place means that you have to change old habits to adapt to your surroundings. For example, it's as simple as coming home from college or from work. Now you have to find something to eat yourself, while back at home my mother was waiting for you to come home with a plate of warm rice along with your favorite side dish.

These environmental changes can undeniably destabilize your emotional and psychological state. Not infrequently you can feel bored and uncomfortable, so you really want to go home to feel the familiarity as before.

Some people may even experience physical complaints when they miss their hometown, such as stomach pain, difficulty sleeping well, headaches, difficulty focusing and thinking clearly, always feeling tired, so it is difficult to eat.

Feeling homesick perhaps most burdensome to young people who have never lived away from home for a while. The same is true for people who have had a previous history of depression and anxiety disorders, and who do not have enough support from their family or close relatives to leave.

Apart from that, risk homesick also reported highest among women and people who migrate because they are forced or not on their own accord.

Why?

The feeling of homesickness is naturally experienced by overseas children. Because after years of spending your time growing up in one place with people you know close to, it would be hard to say goodbye and build a new life without them.

Since childhood, we have become very accustomed to the mindset that our home is the safest and ideal place of refuge. So when a situation requires us to move away from our home, our subconscious considers this change as stress or a threat to our well-being. In addition, our knowledge of that strange place is still so limited that negative feelings arise about your new place of residence. Starting from fear, anxiety, not feeling at home, to panic.

This thought will continue to exist so that without realizing it, it will lead to a tendency to compare with your hometown. The more and the greater the differences between the two (for example, different languages, different cultures, and different foods), the more negative feelings will feel. This can certainly make you even more frustrated, and feel lonely and isolated.

Tips for overcoming homesickness for overseas children

When you are far from your hometown, feel homesick is a natural thing. However, don't let this longing have a negative impact on your health, both physically and psychologically.

Remember your reasons for leaving. Also think about the long-term effects on your future life journey. When your reasons for leaving are finally over, whether it's college or work, you will definitely feel proud of yourself for being able to survive all the twists and turns of living in a foreign place.

When chat and videocall not effective enough to treat the longing that has eaten away at the soul, try the following tips to get rid of loneliness:

1. Find something new

According to American Camp Association research, one of the most effective ways to get rid of homesickness is to keep yourself as busy as possible.

So, try to find as many positive activities as possible to fill your spare time and take your mind off that longing. For example, "role play" befits a tourist and explore unique places in the area. Also dig up information about events that attract attention, such as sports competitions, music festivals, and theater performances.

It doesn't hurt either to join a club or take a course. Apart from keeping you occupied with new things, it also opens up opportunities to make new friends and connections.

2. Bedroom decor as comfortable as possible

For overseas children, the bedroom is not only a place to rest but also as a place after doing many activities and storing various important items.

Well, try to tidy up and rearrange your bedroom to be as comfortable as possible. If possible, ask the person at home to send you items that will remind you of them and put them in the bedroom as a reminder of home. You can also ask them to send you your favorite food at home.

Make your new room as comfortable and similar as possible to your room in the old house.

3. Confide in fellow overseas children

If homesickness are so strong that you feel sad and want to cry, don't hold back. Cry until you feel more relieved. There is nothing wrong with crying because adapting takes time and longing is natural.

Another way is to confide in someone you trust. Try to share experiences with people who are or have migrated. There are lots of people out there who are on the same side as you so you know you are not alone.

4. Find out the positives about the place

When you are free, sit back and think about the positive things you have experienced so far in a new place.

For example, you may gain freedom that you may not have in the old place of residence. Sulu at home applies a curfew so you can't freely hang out with friends to play or complete tasks. Meanwhile, in this new place, you alone determine the curfew for yourself.

What else? Maybe the air and environment in your present place is much cleaner and more beautiful than your hometown. Now you may also no longer need to eat your liver because you are annoyed at being stuck in traffic like you used to.

Jotting down these positive things will help "reconfigure" your frantic thoughts. That way, you become aware that something new and foreign is not always bad.

5. Consult a doctor

You can also join a counseling program with a psychologist to help reduce feelings of loneliness and anxiety as a result homesick.

It is very important to monitor your psychological condition so that you don't fall into a depression phase. Counseling is also very useful for detecting and overcoming the symptoms of depression that may appear before it's too late