super homesick....
 

i know i've mentioned before that i'm in london and all that... but i've been here almost three weeks and i'm still having a difficult time adjusting. I'm really homesick for my friends at school and my mom... i miss my car- everything that is familiar to me (even though i came here with two of my best friends....) i've been having severe panic attacks too... they are really freaking me out- i haven't had a one in about a year and i'm even on medicine for it- but its not helping... i don't know waht to do and i feel like a huge freak that i can't get used to this- i like this city but all i want to do is go home. i've been going out to clubs- seeing the sights and all that (the panic attacks just started a few days ago... but i'm still trying to work through them) but nothing is helping... i'm fine one minute and the next i'm spazzing out... i'm a psych major so i know that i'm just super anxious.... i just.... am so frustrated and upset... and talking to my friends at home seems to just make me want to go home more and doesn't make me feel any better. does anyone have any advice...? :(

People who moved around frequently probably have some good coping tips.

What worked for me?
NUMERO UNO-Find a love interest-even if it's someone you just think is a real looker! Some cutie that can make you smile and look forward to the thought of merely catching a glimpse!;)

Find a room where you can cry like a baby-no one can hear or see you and you can weep and wail! Get it all out.

Make it your quest to find some little trinket for those you are missing. Make something arty or practice a recipe. Each time you work on or think about this, it will help take your mind off missing them so much as you focus on the excitement of giving them something special when you see them again.

This helped me when my kids left for college.

Take photos of your daily routine and prepare a collection. It will help you see the humor in your situation. Try not to focus so much on how you feel, but how it will be when you return and everyone says-"Gee you look terrific!" or "Wow, have you ever changed." Look at it as an opportunity to do the "unexpected" without shocking people or being stuck in your pre-pegged hole.
You have the chance of a lifetime to gain some unique experiences. Don't throw it away by dwelling on what is TEMPORARILY absent.

How long are you staying in London? When are you coming back to the states?

Did your school or study abroad program give you a packet on ways to prepare for the sort of homesickness and adjustment problems you're having? If not, I'll see if I can fish mine out and PM them to you. It's a pretty common phenomenon. I didn't have a huge amount of homesickness during my JYA--but then, I was used to being abroad for longish periods of time, and I went to school so far away from home, so I was kinda used to it.

Like justamom said, this is an amazing opportunity, and the adjustment issues you're having are all very normal--even though it doesn't seem like it.

Your homesickness like normal - normal but horrible of course. :)
Keep busy, e.g. on the tube read a book to help with the panic attacks. Try to do different sorts of things and go to different types of places. It's possible if you do standard tourist-y things you'll pressuredly think "I should be enjoying this, this is what people studying here, do." London is a rich vibrant city but it's easy to lose yourself in it.

[Try to] Stop talking to your friends at home!! It'll only make you more homesick, like those people who go home from college to their parents every weekend and never really settle in.
Wear sunscreen.
Read justamom's good advice.

http://www.peterjoneschina.com/steiff/Paddington.jpg

Maggie, sometimes it can be hard far away from home. Whether you are from Peru or NY State. London is filled with nice people though; I met some nice folks called the Brown family. I hope things get better for you over the next few days. :)

When I was in Australia for a semester, our advisor kept us busy the first few weeks so we wouldn't have time to feel homesick. I left behind my new sisters, my family, and my boyfriend (now fiance) of then 5 1/2 years, and I didn't see any of them for 6 months. I found that talking to someone from home every other day helped. Also, once you are feeling a little more comfortable, you'll make friends. I know in London, as in Australia, a lot of young people hang out at the pubs. Find out from some people where the good ones are and meet people there. Once you have friends there, you'll feel comfortable and will never want to leave. Also, if you're sad the whole time you're there, you'll come home and regret never being happy. Two girls from my school who were in Australia with me got on a plane and came home the day their classes were over. Now they look at all my pictures from travelling and prolonging my time away, and they regret being so homesick while they were gone. Have someone from home send you your favorite snacks that you can't get (it was blue-lemonade koolaid and goldfish crackers for me), and find new favorite things there. It will make it feel like home!

my sister has studied abroad a lot. 2 semesters in france, 2 in germany......and her 1st trip to germany was her 3rd abroad trip, and she still got major homesick and culture shock. she noticed herself washing her hands an unreal amount of times in one day, and then she realized what was going on.

take some more tours, go out, remember how excited you were about going in the first place, and focus on that. i would kill to be in your shoes right now....i know it's hard to be away from those you love (i've moved 4 times in my life, it's hard for a while)...but you won't be over there forever, and you don't wanna have any regrets when you get back to the states.

just ease yourself into a fun daily routine of seeing the sights and meeting new ppl. my sister ended up rooming with a girl she met on the bus in germany for her 2nd semester in germany. the time of her life!

also what might help (although it is super dorky, but oh well)....get to a computer lab with a scanner....scan some pictures, make a website. it's a good way to stay connected to home b/c ppl can see what all you are doing and leave you messages in your guest book. take a look at my sister's site from her last semester in germany. there is another link to her first semester there, as well as her own homepage. i think that helped her get her mind on both germany and home....it created a fun balance for her. just check it out. it's a good connector btwn the two worlds. :)

good luck!! have fun! let us know how it's all going!

Try to fill your hours with so many things that you don't have TIME to be homesick. Explore the city; see the sights; find new things; meet people! Find some unique, quirky things to do there and enjoy yourself. The more time you have doing nothing, the more time you'll have to be miserable.

Hope this helps. And I hope it gets better soon! *hugs* :)

thank you!
 

awww you guys are so great and the advice has really helped me feel better... it seems stupid but yesterday i went to see a tarot card reader and it really helped me sort through some of the stuff i had been going throught (doubts about my major- staying here- not having a guy:rolleyes: , missing my grandpa who just passed away, and the lack of money!) even if it was bogus- it still helped all the same so thats good at least. Thank you all so much for advice and help.... i'll keep you guys updated- and when i get a chance i'm going to set up a sight like alphagamdiva's sister did (p.s. tell her her sight looks great!)- but i'm trying not to talk to everyone so much- b/c even though i want to- i know its making it worse... anyway- i have to run to class- thank you!!! :)

ditto to all others. give yourself every opportunity to enjoy the ride. there are a whole lot of interesting people out there. also e-mail is a terrific thing. that way you can keep in touch, but lessen the tie a little bit.