In this article we will discuss how you can cope if you want to go home depression.

We will also discuss the differences between homesickness and depression, and what you can do to cope with homesickness and depression.

I want to go home depression: How to cope?

Some of the ways by which a person can cope with homesickness include:

Seek out support

One of the first things you can do to help you overcome depression after moving to a new place is to reach out to someone you trust- be it a family member or a friend. Talking about what you are going through can help you process what you are feeling, it can also help you feel less alone.

In case you notice the symptoms of depression for more than two weeks and it has been affecting your ability to work and causing problems in your relationships, it is perhaps time to consider meeting a physician or a clinical psychologist to discuss the probability of you struggling with Major depressive disorder.

Create your space

Homesickness can occur due to a lack of belongingness in a new space. The need to belong is a basic human need which when it is not met, it can impact your ability to meet other needs such as achievement and progress amongst other things.

If you feel like you do not belong in your new home, it is time to take matters into your own hands and claim the apartment or house as yours- especially if you are going to live there for more than one year.

That means creating and decorating the space the way you want to- the way that reflects who you are and the way it feels comfortable.

Meet the city

You can choose to be a tourist for a few weeks- get to know the place and familiarise yourself with the routes you will frequent.

You can take it one step closer and truly meet the city by visiting local restaurants that have authentic history in the city.

You can take time to learn about the locality you stay in or even take a moment to visit places that align to your interests- local animal shelters, coffee shops, pizzarias, nursing homes etc.

Try making new friends

Try your hand at making new friends- be it your next door neighbour or a classmate who lives close to you. It is important that you build support systems that can help your adjustment to your new life easier.

Get involved

Join local groups (even if they are on reddit), join some creative classes, attend festivals and events, or even volunteer. Getting involved in the activities around you can bring you closer to your new city and make you feel less alienated.

Manage a healthy routine

If your old routine worked well with you, there is no harm in sticking to it.

Maybe go back to exercising- running, yoga, or join the gym if that is something that worked for you in your old city.

If you commuted by bus earlier, seek out the bus routes. DO things that are familiar to you and when you are ready, try out other things that the new city offers you as well.

Am I depressed or home sick?

To understand whether you are depressed or home sick, let us look at the differences between the two:

While home sickness is caused due to sudden separation from a familiar environment or the persons home and family, depression is often caused by genetics, an illness, abuse or some event that has occurred in their life that has triggered them to develop this mental illness

Homesickness may take a while but the feeling eventually goes away after the person has adapted to the environment; however, depression does not go away on its own through sheer willpower, it requires medical attention of a psychologist and therapist.

The symptoms for homesickness are triggered by the thought of missing home and their environment, while depressive episodes often do not have a specific trigger.

Home sickness goes away when the person is finally reunited with their family while depression does not go away simply due to the absence of the trigger.

Even when the person is homesick it does not affect their involvement in activities and they are still quite alert. When a person has depression, it impact their ability to meet the demands of their daily life and other responsibilities related to work and academics.

Can homesickness cause depression?

Yes. It is highly possible for a person who is suffering from homesickness to experience a bout of depression as research finds strong correlation between homesickness and depression.

A study that investigated the association of homesickness with anxiety, depression, and anger found that homesickness was characterised by severe symptoms of a depressive episode and the researchers concluded that homesickness is a mixed experience of emotions related to depression and anxiety.

How to cope with depression?

Some of the ways by which you can cope with their depression are as follows:

Depression is a serious mental health condition where a person who is affected by it experiences persistent feelings of sadness and hopelessness.

Clinical depression can make it very difficult for the individual to carry out their day to day tasks, maintain their relationships, and manage their occupational responsibilities.

Here are some of the things that you can do if you have been struggling with crippling depression

Reach out for help

If you find yourself struggling with depression and loneliness, we urge you to seek support from a professional immediately.

Here are a few resources form the NHS that you can make use of if you are suicidal, depressed, or engageing in self harm.

Call 116 123 to talk to Samaritans, or email: jo@samaritans.org for a reply within 24 hours
Text “SHOUT” to 85258 to contact the Shout Crisis Text Line, or text “YM” if you’re under 19
If you’re under 19, you can also call 0800 1111 to talk to Childline. The number will not appear on your phone bill.
Self Injury Support webchat (for women and girls) is open Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday from 7pm to 9.30pm
CALM webchat (for men) is open from 5pm to midnight every day

You can also reach out to your local medical service providers or a mental health service provider.

If you are hesitant about reaching out for help, speak to a trusted friend or adult about what you are going through.

Do not hesitate to make use of resources provided to seek out professional support.

Seek out professional help

Depression is not just low moods, it won’t simply “go away”. There needs to be an active effort to work through your condition as well as pharmacological support that you might need in the case there are neurological causes to your condition.

Talking to a therapist and engaging with them to understand what is happening to you does not mean that you have failed in life. It simply means that you need help like everyone else and that does not make you any less of a person.

Your therapist will help you understand what is happening to you, might prescribe you medication if needed, and can help you tap into your own strengths that can help you adapt to challenges, changes, and overcome them.

Actively seek positive experiences

According to positive psychology research, positive feelings are an important aspect of well-being. For a person to engage in activities and other experiences that help them feel positive feelings such as love, belongingness, achievement, and a sense of hope is important.

This could be as simple as watching a movie, petting your cat, taking your dog for a walk, eating ice cream. Do what makes you happy without judging yourself for these choices.

Focus on self-care

Taking care of your physical needs is very important as it is a way to care for yourself. Taking care of your emotional needs is also important and you can work towards emotional self care after taking care of your physical needs first.

Connect with loved ones and let them provide you company when you do not want to be alone- take effort to reach out to them.

Allow yourself to feel loved by people who genuinely care for you and seek out new meaning from these positive and healthy relationships.

You can choose to make new changes that help you feel better or healthier like going to the gym, changing your diet to a more healthy one, going for wants. Sometimes change in routines can also be your way of caring for yourself.

Join a support group

Another thing you can do for yourself is to join a support group of people struggling with depression so that you can experience emotional support first hand within these communities and over time learn how to manage your challenges by learning from each other.

By joining a group that is open, empathetic, and growing towards healing, you and your experiences can be an excellent sense of support to someone else who is also in their early part of their journey.

Conclusion

In this article we have discussed how you can cope if you want to go home depression.

We have also discussed the differences between homesickness and depression, and what you can do to cope with homesickness and depression.

FAQ related to i want to go home depression

Can your home make you depressed?

Yes, your home and living environment can make you depressed especially when there are issues related to housing.

Can I leave work if I feel depressed?

Yes, you can leave work and take a medical leave of absence if you are depressed. If you want to leave work, you should start by taking to your manager or the HR manager about your situation.

Does sitting in a dark room cause depression?

Sitting in a darkroom all day and not going out and engaging with other people and other activities can cause depression. The experience of isolation by staying in your room all day can also cause increased time spent ruminating over issues related to body image, self esteem, and can cause emotional distress.

References

Verschuur, M. J., Eurelings-Bontekoe, E. H. M., & Spinhoven, P. (2004). Associations among Homesickness, Anger, Anxiety, and Depression. Psychological Reports, 94(3_suppl), 1155–1170. https://doi.org/10.2466/pr0.94.3c.1155-1170

‘Homesickness. Good Therapy. Retrieved on 23rd April 2022.

https://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/psychpedia/homesickness#:~:text=from%20family%20culture.-,What%20Causes%20Homesickness%3F,be%20especially%20prone%20to%20homesickness.

‘Homesickness: Effects & 7 Ways to Cope’ Choosing Therapy. Retrieved on 23rd April 2022.

https://www.choosingtherapy.com/homesickness/

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I want to go home depression: How to cope?