let_'s embrace nostalgia

Let’s embrace nostalgia
--Everyone suffers from homesickness, but it’s something we can deal with and learn from. September is an exciting month in every college freshman’s life. For many, it’s the first time they leave home to live in a new environment. But after the hustle and bustle of the first few weeks, excitement gives way to less enjoyable emotion ---homesickness.
Homesickness manifest s itself in many ways. You may miss mum’s cooking, your pets, or even your old bed. All this becomes a fond memory of the past. Homesickness can be a bitter feeling, espcially when faced with the challenges of settling into an unfamiliar environment.
But remember, you’re not alone. According to a recent BBC article, 70 percent of British college students experience homesickness. In this increasingly globalized world in which people migrate to far away places for education, work or a relationship, homesickness is a feeling shared by many adults.
Relocating to a new place is not an easy process, particularly if you don’t speak the local language or are not familiar with local customs.
Homesickness can have similar symptoms to depression, explains psychologist Caroline Schuster in an interview with the BBC. In extreme cases it can develop into a panic attack, she says, while it can also result in social withdrawal, sleep disruption, nightmares, and concentration problems.
The most famous adult to have suffered from homesickness is probably Odysseus, the hero of Homer’s epic poem, who spent 10 years on a journey trying to get home. It was the memories of his family that helped him get through those difficult times.
But the term homesickness, or nostalgia, wasn’t invented until the 17th century. It was considered a disorder by a Swiss physician, who attributed soldier s’mental and physical discomfort to their longing to return home, “nostos”in Greek, and the accompanying pain, “algos”.
Back then, people saw homesickness as a dangerous and even fatal disease, says Susan Matt, author of Homesickness: An American History. Gradually, it came to be considered childish and immature, she says, ill-fitting to a culture of capitalism and imperialism that required people to travel and explore.
Studies in recent years, however, have shown that nostalgia may have some benefits to our mental health.
After a decade of surveys and research, Constantine Sedikides, a US social psychologist, found that nostalgia is what makes us human.
In an interview with The New York Times, Sedikides explains that nostalgia can counteract loneliness, boredom and anxiety. It makes people more generous toward strangers and more tolerant of outsiders. Couples feel closer and happier when they share nostalgic memories. Sedikides admits that nostalgia has its painful side, but the net effect is to make life seem more meaningful. When people speak wistfully of the past, they typically become more optimistic and inspired about the future. The trick is not to become obsessive about the past, but always to live life forward.
hustle and bustle熙熙攘攘，忙忙乱乱manifest出现，显示migrate移居
disruption中断，分裂nostalgia思乡病fatal致命的imperialism帝国主义
tolerant宽容的wistfully渴望地，希望地
How to cope with being away
*Value friends as you make them. Be open to new friendships even if they can’t replace the family and friends you miss.
*Talk to friends about how you feel. Remember, you’re not alone.
*Sign up for campus societies.
*Homesickness can affect self-esteem. Give yourself credit for what you’re doing.
*Phoning home frequently works for some, but others say it should be avoided. Experiment to discover what works for you.
*Give yourself permission to enjoy life on campus, even if you miss home a lot.
*Look after your physical well-being. Sleep, food and exercise are all important.
*Be organized and keep a diary to check your progress.
*Write down three new things that you’re grateful for every evening, as well as three things you’re looking forward to every morning.。