does homesickness ever go away?

Question

I left my home in 7th grade and only seen it once since then.
I'm going to be a senior in college and I still can't tear myself away from it. When the weather gets a certain way, or if I smell certain things or hear certain things, I get caught up in nostalgia and it can make me miserably depressed for days or weeks at a time.

I went to one counselor about it and she said I should move back there, but that's completely unpractical and I'll most likely never see the place again.

so should I be preparing to feel this miserable the rest of my life or is there some way to overcome this?

it's unpractical to move back there because it's a small third world country on the other side of the planet and it's very unsafe right now (and probably forever more) so even if I had the 2000 dollars to spend on a round trip ticket, I still couldn't go for safety reasons.

Answer 1

I don't think it ever goes completely away it just fades a little once you start your own family. Then you'll feel a sense of permanence and the homesicknessness turns into fond memories.

Answer 2

Homesickness doesn't last forever. As you live and gain more experiences in places you love or develop connections to, you will have other positive memories and experiences that will help ease the pain of missing home.

It sounds like you have some powerful memories about your home, so much so that when you are reminded of it you feel nostalgic and eventually miserable. It may be worth thinking about what exactly it is that you miss about home, and if there is any way you can access those things from the place you reside now.

I hope you'll feel better soon, I believe you will. Try to build good memories where you are, so that your enjoyment of where you are is more powerful than your feelings of homesickness. Good luck!

Answer 3

Memories are masters at distortion. What we remember is rarely the way it is or was. So you have romanticized your homeland, remembering only the good.

Embrace today - be grateful that you are no longer living in a 3rd world country and have a home that is safe.

The saying 'You can never go home' should be changed to, 'You should never go home'. Memories are lovely things. Cherish them and move forward.

Answer 4

Why don't you try visiting there a lot? If you find after visiting that you can live without it, then you can go on. If not, try getting your own business started or something that would be an asset to your home, and move back there, making it practical. Remember that where there's a will, there's a way!

Answer 5

The best next thing would be to find "expatriates" from you country of origin. Even in a foreign country, people have a tendency to "find" each other in certain neighborhoods and through social clubs, cafés, and other religious or cultural places. An excellent way to "touch" home base.

Answer 6

Yes, i left home when i was 17, it took some time but you will eventually let go. if you don't that means you need to for closure. I ended up going back, my parents and i know have the best relationship ever. it was the right things to do on all parts. hope this helps

Answer 7

you say moving back is impractical, but you don't say if that's for now or forever, and you don't say why. you have to take control of your situation, don't let your situation and feelings control you...that's why you stay miserable whenever you think of home. my suggestion is to get to know the area where you live now and find some things about it that are unique, likeable, enjoyable and comparable in some way to your hometown. re-create some of your hometown likings where you live now...whatever they may be. you have to find and create your piece of heaven where ever you are.

Answer 8

no. I still miss our old house.... :( I has so many good friends there. but knowing something good about where i live now, it eases the pain.