CO
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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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HO
MESIC
KN
ESS
An adjustment to major life changes
Anxiety about separation
Frequent thoughts of home, friends, family, animals
Feelings of loneliness Feeling sad
UN
IQU
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O C
OLLE
GE
• Anxiety about performance
• Everyone else seems to be having fun
• Low motivation to study
• Low motivation to make friends
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