Have you been away from your hometown for very long? Whether you’re travelling for work or for leisure, leaving behind, even temporarily, your family, your friends, your home and your roots is really hard. But how can you deal efficiently with their absence, never thinking of giving up and going back home? The answer is simple: homesickness will exist, but it must be dealt with by caring for your mind and building up a new life as good as, or even better than, the previous one. True, living isn’t as easy as writing about it, but we have tips to help you face the challenge.
About homesickness and where it comes from
Originating in the Quicongo language, the word “banzo” was first registered in 1793, representing the feeling of melancholy in relation to one’s native land. The same is true for the English expression “homesick”, representing the dejection, sadness and anxiety one feels when thinking about the home that was left behind. The Portuguese word “saudade”, which exists only in that language, is inevitable when we are far from our country, state and city. In any language, the symptoms are the same: nervousness, anguish, voluntary isolation and a feeling of loneliness.
What to do to adapt?
The treatment begins by understanding the causes. Leaving home, leaving the life one has built up to that moment, represents leaving behind connections with our origins, besides losing one’s feelings of safety and stability. Novelty is, for many people, challenging and exciting, but for others, it’s uncertain and discouraging. In this case, there is a series of measures to be taken. The first one is to give vent to your feelings, and not keep to yourself what you’re going through. This can be done with friends, relatives, or even professional help, with therapy. It’s important to respect one’s limits and know that it isn’t necessary to deal with the problem on your own.
Using technology is a great tip: social networks and apps for conversation may bring closer those you care for. However, use technology with moderation, since virtual life will never replace real life. You can also invite friends and relatives for a visit, taking them around your new town, which is more important than revisiting your old home. Another measure is to avoid idleness and fill your time with activities you enjoy. Do not focus on old memories, rather build up new ones, since your life is not a complete book yet, and there are still many pages to fill in.
Following these tips, find a hobby, whether it is learning how to play a musical instrument, dancing, or practicing sports (it’s important to free endorphin, a chemical element that transmits a feeling of well-being, and combats anxiety and depression). Choose group activities, solving the problem of loneliness by meeting new people. To this end, the next tip is learning the language and/or habits of your new location. Explore the town, assimilate the new culture and discover new passions. Lastly, another measure is to keep a diary as your companion in your new undertaking. Besides recording your life, it’s an excellent way of examining your evolution as time goes by. Thinking and writing about what ails you is fundamental for finding solutions.
