Homesickness is a a feeling of despair, distress and depression caused by being apart from a certain place, thing or person. Effects can range from mild, temporary discomfort to debilitating stress and withdrawal, depending on the person and their attachment to their prior setting.
People often feel homesick while traveling. The classic example is a kid missing home while at summer camp. Homesickness is more serious when it affect movers, though.
For those who move to another city, state or country, homesickness can be a major problem. If the person was forced to move for job (link to New York Times article) or family reasons, they might severely miss their old home and friends. Worse, unlike the kid at summer camp, they won’t be returning home anytime soon. The only way for that person to avoid feeling homesick is to “get over” their old home, at least to a healthy extent.
There is no pill that cures homesickness. Though psychological help might eventually be necessary, the first method for curing minor homesickness is simply to try to embrace one’s new setting. If a person can become comfortable with calling their new home “home”, then their deep, penetrating feelings for their old home may wane. If not, they should consult a professional, because homesickness is a real condition that can severely limit one’s enjoyment of life.
