Homesick? According to Doctors this is a Real Illness!
By Jshean20
@Jshean20 (14348)
Canada
January 2, 2007 3:22pm CST
I read an article this afternoon which went on to say that homesickness is really an illness. They explained a story of a young girl away from home attending college for the first time. She would drag herself to class but when she got home she would sleep off the rest of her time. According to this young girl, she felt so depressed and would sleep away her time thinking about when she'd finally return back home. I thought this story was heartbreaking! It's gotta be tough for a kid leaving home in the first place without having to experience this..
Source: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/16437570//wid/11915773?GT1=8921
Do you think it's far fetched to say homesickness is a real illness? Have you/your kids ever been in a similar situation? What happened?
8 people like this
52 responses
@toonatoons (3737)
• Philippines
3 Jan 07
i think it becomes a full blown illness when it's allowed to get out-of-hand, you know. for instance, the person becomes so depressed he/she refuses to eat or something like that.
i've never been away from home for a long time. the longest was like only 3 days when we went for a vacation, and i didn't get homesick then.
@yorb24 (2179)
• United States
3 Jan 07
I believe it. It's only human nature to be homesick when you are away from your family for the first time. I don't have any kids but it would be sad to think about it if my child went through it. But it's life.
@greengal (4286)
• United States
2 Jan 07
Hmm, I think it is too much to label homesickness as an illness. Few people can hold up being away from home and some just can't. I've been away from home for over a year now and in another country and I feel home sick very often. I miss my family a lot and feel very bad when I miss family occassions and weddings in the family. But I get over it quickly, sometimes I become depressed and my hubby cheers me up:)I was away at a boarding school for 7 years and those were the toughest years. I often felt the same way as this girl. I definitely was thankful when it was over and I came back home for good. But because of this experience I've learnt to manage without my family. I know of friends who can't be away from home for more than two days at the most!
1 person likes this
@xmanofsteel69 (458)
• Canada
3 Jan 07
I believe it is quite possible for something like this to be a mental illness, much like depression. If you look at it from an abstract point of view, picture someone who was diagnosed with claustrophobia. This person, if trapped in a small room or compartment, can easily freak out. Now picture this person, stranded from home. They know nobody around them and have nowhere to go. It is as if they are "trapped" within a small room in their mind.
1 person likes this
@tnsonshine (56)
• United States
2 Jan 07
Jshean20, I always got homesick when I was younger. I cried until I was in High School when I went any where for the night. I am now 41 yrs. old and still hate being away from my own home for more than a night. My little girl is the same way!!!
1 person likes this
@prasang (43)
• India
3 Jan 07
ya i would agree with this............actually it is so obvious in my case as i am a hostelite staying away from my home..........whenever you feel homesick you are completely disoriented.....i mean you cant concentrate on studies and likewise.......
1 person likes this
@aksthebeast (50)
• India
3 Jan 07
i dont think its really a sickness.......its all in the mind......if u hav nothin 2 do at home ur obviously goin 2 feel sick.....keep ur mind busy in somethin and u feel gr8
1 person likes this
@Lydia1901 (16351)
• United States
7 Jan 07
Yeah, that's so sad. I used to get homesick, but I didn't get depressed like this poor lady.
@hockeygal4ever (10021)
• United States
5 Apr 07
The human mind is an amazing thing. It can make a person sick or get them well again. I am not at all surprised by this find and to be honest I've always thought it was a real feeling!
@bonnielass (484)
• United States
3 Jan 07
I lived all over the world and i guess at times i had homesickness. I think its more longing for things your used to at home then anything else. One time i did sleep time away waiting to get home. Though i dont know why as i hate home..lol
@arseniajoaquin (1732)
• Philippines
3 Jan 07
I believe that homesickeness is a real illness. I suffered from that when I was young. We went to another barrio from far ours and were supposed to be there for some days to attend a wedding feast. I didn't understand what I felt, just cried and cried, didn't want to face people, etc. and so uncomfortable until the elders were forced to bring me home and all of us went home.
Some friends who went abroad related also how they felt homesick and could hardly work. Accordingly others became mentally sick.
@princeworthy (1909)
• United States
25 Mar 07
I know that I experienced all of those symptoms when I moved 800 miles away from my family and friends. I still experience these symptoms from time to time. I haven't seen my family in 3 years... I really miss my mother...alot!
@hazbung (17)
• United States
25 Mar 07
and i was thinking that i was not handling my homesickness well...looks like that girl handled it worse than me! i just moved here in the united states 7 months ago and IT HAS BEEN THE MOST TERRIBLE DAYS OF MY LIFE!(and counting..) i cant explain in words how dreadful it is to stay here feeling so helpless. i am now a legal resident and currently attending college. it has been tough really. but i feel a little better knowing that i am not alone... i am still struggling to survive here though... doing my best to stay sane... can anybody help me out with what im going through? i need advices badly...
