For many, the thought of Freshers鈥� Week conjures up images of non-stop partying, a whirlwind introduction to university life and new places, opportunities and friendships.
But for some students it also brings a feeling of anxiety, isolation and the start of a long battle against homesickness.
This doesn鈥檛 have to define your university life, says our member Louise Knowles, Head of the University of Sheffield's counselling and psychological wellbeing service.
There are ways to get through it, she adds.
Culture shock
鈥淔resher鈥檚 Week can be a culture shock. Some students relish this and enjoy the excitement, but others are like a rabbit caught in headlights.
鈥淲e鈥檒l get students who come through our doors earlier on who are wobbling and feeling homesick. All that鈥檚 needed is a light touch and encouragement. There are others who come to us later in the academic year where it鈥檚 more entrenched. It may be related to other issues too.鈥�
Louise adds: 鈥淏eing isolated affects your psychological wellbeing. When they start at university, many students have lost the comfort of home, someone to cook for then, that structure they had, their community of family and friends for support.
鈥淚t鈥檚 especially true for marginalised students 鈥� such as international, disabled or mature students. They can feel at a loss. They will wonder 鈥榠s there anyone else like me here?鈥� or 鈥榳here can I get support?鈥�
Louise says having a sense of community can be key to helping a student overcome homesickness.
Sense of belonging
鈥淭hey need to build up that sense of community, that sense of belonging.
鈥淪ome students can be very reserved. They might not be comfortable in large social groups or going out clubbing all the time with lots of new people.
鈥淭hey might find it easier to join smaller, informal groups, and look for activities on a smaller scale to join in.
鈥淲e have to push ourselves a little bit to put ourselves out there and build a new community, but not to the depths of despair.鈥�
There are university societies to pretty much cover every interest and hobby, as well as for specific groups of students, and they can often help people form a much-needed community to help them settle in.
Another thing that can help is preparation, said Louise.
Preparation
鈥淪ome students haven鈥檛 had much preparation for university. If they鈥檝e accepted a place through clearing they may not even known where they were going until a few weeks before. It does help to familiarise yourself with where you鈥檙e going and what life鈥檚 going to be like before it鈥檚 thrust on you in the first week of term.鈥�
She adds Freshers Week and the following few weeks can be a bit of a blur.
It can be really exciting discovering all these new things. Some people want to jump in and do everything. Others want to familiarise themselves with university life more slowly.
鈥淚t鈥檚 important students remember to take it at a pace that they are comfortable with.鈥�
To find a counsellor or psychotherapist听visit our Therapist Directory.
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