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Beginning life at campus naturally generates both excitement and anxiety for many reasons including the move, academic responsibilities, and meeting new people.

For some, this apprehension is quickly overcome as they adapt to a new environment; for others the transition takes longer and sometimes emerges as homesickness where there is a preoccupation with home-focused thoughts.

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Those who experience homesickness might notice an increase in depressed feelings, anxiety, obsessive thoughts and minor physical ailments. Some students will start by being mildly depressed and anxious several weeks before leaving home, in anticipation of the impending change.

Others will be fine initially, and then to their surprise find themselves feeling homesick later in the academic year, perhaps after the Thanksgiving or semester break, or even at the start of their second academic year.

Low energy or motivation.
Trouble sleeping.
Increases/decreases in appetite.
Having difficulty with school.
Increased use of drugs or alcohol.
Obsessively missing family/friends.
Pervasive unhappiness or displeasure.
Feeling like you "need" to go home.
Lack of interest or involvement in new surroundings.

Causes

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The distance from home – the farther you go, the worse it may be.
A sense of anticlimax – you have finally arrived at college after working toward it for so long.
Unhappiness when things are different from your expectations of student life.
A heavy workload.

Students who are homesick often feel they have no control over their environment
What might help?

Keep in good contact with the people you have left behind, but also give yourself time within the university to begin to get involved here.
Remember that many other students will be experiencing similar feelings

You are allowed to feel sad and homesick!
Be realistic about what to expect from student life and from yourself. Establish a balance between work and leisure
If work is proving too difficult, you may need to improve your study skills or your organization of time.

Remember to get enough food and sleep! These affect you emotionally as well as physically.
Make contacts and friends through shared activities such as sport or other interests.
Give yourself time to adjust - you don't have to get everything right straight away.

Most people come through times of campus and go on to do well and enjoy their time at university. But for some, the best choice may be to head in another direction.
If you stop being able to do normal social and academic things, seek professional help either from your advisor or dean or the counseling service.