Homesickness, especially in its severe form, is classified as an adjustment disorder. According to the American Psychiatric Association, itโs often mixed with anxiety, sadness, acute longing for home or parents, depressed mood and sometimes even fear. This disorder is commonly found in children, but can appear in adults as well.
Homesickness is also something a lot of people who stay away from families and their native homes experience during a disease outbreak, pandemic, curfew, lockdowns, etc. With the COVID-19 infection wreaking havoc across the globe by spreading to 178 countries as of April 2020, and with billions of lives at risk, most countries have not only imposed partial or complete lockdowns but also put a ban on local, national and international travel.
This has inevitably left people who have loved ones staying in a different part of the city, country or world feeling anxious, scared and homesick. Social distancing and not travelling are some of the best ways to prevent the further spread of COVID-19 and give healthcare providers across the world a chance to contain, and maybe even cure, the disease.
Such a travel ban, however, can lead to psychological distress and homesickness, especially if you have older parents, sick relatives, children or loved ones with disabilities and underlying conditions living away from you. Hereโs how you can cope with distance while taking ample care of your mental and physical health.
Read more: Mental health tips for those who are self-quarantined