Awareness

Homesick

According to the University of Cambridge, vulnerability to feeling homesick is affected by: The distance from home, a sense of anticlimax at finally arriving at university after working towards it for so long, whether the student was responsible for the decision to come to university, unhappiness due to expectations of university not being met, "job strain"-i.e. work overload and low control over it, contrast in lifestyle.

What might help?

1. Talk to someone. If you haven't yet made friends here, then try a tutor,
surpervisor, chaplain, nurse or counsellor.

2. Keep in good contact with the people you have left behind; arrange a time
to go back and see them, perhaps after a few weeks. But also give yourself
time within the university to get involved here. Don't let looking back
actually hinder moving forward.

3. Remember that many other people will be sharing similar feelings, although
you may assume that they are doing fine!

4. You are allowed to feel sad and homesick! You are also allowed to enjoy
yourself-it isn't being disloyal to those who you miss.

5. Be realistic about what ot expect from student life and from yourself.
Establish a balance between work and leisure: you are NOT expected to work ALL
the time-you would soon burn out. On the other hand, if you don't put in
enough time on work, you can very quickly get behind, which only adds to the
stress.

6. If work is proving too difficult, can you improve your study skills or your
organization of time and work so that you gain satisfaction from what you do?
There may be people in your college or department who can help in this area.

7. Remember to get enough food and sleep. These affect us emotionally as well
as physically.

8. Make contacts and friends through shared activities such as sport or other
interests. There are so many clubs and societies within the university and
city, that you are very likely to find osmething that suits your particular
interests. At the start of the academic year many people will be joining-you
won't be the only new person.

9. Give yourself time to adjust, you don't have to get everything straight
right away.

10. Check out that you really feel this university is for you.

11. If you stop being normal and doing normal things, seek professional help
right away! Don't wait until the problem is too big!

Symptoms of Anxiety

by Archibald D. Hart, Ph.D.

Anxiety symptoms fall into three categories: physiological, cognitive and emotional. Count the following symptoms that apply to you:

Physiological symptoms

Do you feel:

• Weak all over?
• Rapid, pounding heartbeat or palpitations?
• Tightness around your chest?
• Hyperventilation (a feeling that you cannot get enough air)?
• Periodic dizziness and sweating?
• Muscle tension, aches or tremors?
• Chronic fatigue?

Cognitive symptoms

Do you think to yourself:

• I can’t carry on. I’ve got to get out of here.
• What if I make a fool of myself?
• People are looking at me all the time.
• I’m having a heart attack.
• I’m going to faint.
• I’m going crazy.
• I can’t go on alone; no one will help me.
• I can’t go out; I will lose control.
• I feel confused and can’t remember things.

Emotional symptoms

Do you think to yourself:

• I’m full of fears that I can’t get out of my mind.
• I feel like something terrible is going to happen.
• I worry excessively.
• I feel uneasy and alone a lot of the time.
• I often feel isolated, lonely, down in the dumps and depressed.
• I feel I have no control over what happens to me.
• I feel embarrassed, rejected and criticized.
• I often feel like screaming with anger.

Scoring

This checklist is not designed to be a diagnostic tool so much as it is intended to communicate the variety of symptoms experienced by people with high anxiety. However, if you are experiencing at least three symptoms in each category, then your anxiety level is starting to be a problem, especially if you experience the symptoms often. If you are experiencing more than three symptoms in each category and are not in treatment for an anxiety-related problem, then I would suggest that you consult a professional right away. It is better to be safe than to regret your failure to take action at a later point. If taking this inventory causes you anxiety, you probably need to get some help.

Medication or Counseling?

by Archibald D. Hart, Ph.D.

The most common stereotype in most people’s minds is that tranquilizers are the only treatment for anxiety disorders. Since many people fear that tranquilizers are addictive and can “control” your mind, they intentionally fail to get treatment that could help them.

While it is true that artificial tranquilizers are sometimes used in anxiety treatment, they play a temporary and minor role overall. Other medications that are not addictive play a more important role in the long term. Furthermore, artificial tranquilizers only work because your brain has its own tranquilizers. Since your brain’s tranquilizers, or “happy messengers,” are being systematically destroyed by stress, it only stands to reason that the artificial equivalent must be supplied in treatment under some conditions.

Seldom, however, are medications used on their own. Usually, professional treatment of anxiety disorders requires a combination of medication and cognitive-behavioral therapy. Treatment is usually individualized for each patient, depending on the severity of the symptoms and level of function

The bottom line boils down to deciding which forms of anxiety should be treated with medications and which should only be treated with good counseling. In any case, you should always be getting some form of counseling even when you are taking anti-anxiety medication.

http://www.counselling.cam.ac.uk/hsick.html
If you feel you are homesick and do not know how to help yourself get over it,
this website offers suggestions as to what to do when homesickness is at its
worse and it will help you overcome any fears you may have regarding
homesickness.

http://www.purdue.edu/CAPS/
This is Purdue's Counseling and Psychological Services website. If you are
having trouble adapting to the new college environment, this website will help
you find ways to get used to it. It will offer places you can go to get help
and it also gives you advice.

http://www.edst.purdue.edu/cd/pcgc
This is the website for Purdue's personal Counseling and Guidance center. It
will help you to understand what PCPG is and the confidentiality surronding
it. You can learn about the different aspects surronding it and any special
fees.

http://www.purdue.edu/push/
This website is for Purdue Student Services. This is where students go if they
are sick physically and they can help you mentally. Many students go here for
every aspect surronding their health. This website will give you advice on the
fees, services, and things they offer to you as a student.

http://www.psych.purdue.edu/Pptrc
This is Purdue's Psychology and Research Center. It will tell you about the
different clinics Purdue offers such as ADHD, Anxiety, Depression, Opposition
Behavior, Problem Solving, and Smoking.