Studying abroad is a phenomenal way to network professionally and leisurely, develop a better understanding of different countries and cultures and may provide an additional boost of interest to your degree as it did for me.

While the experience is absolutely worthwhile, coming back home might be a bit odd. Returning to your country and your university will feel weird, and maybe even be upsetting.

Reflecting on my own post-study abroad blues, I thought it worth informing you of what ‘symptoms’ you may experience when returning home; some of which unavoidable, but always manageable.

1. Focusing on the negatives

When you get home you’re instantly going to see the differences. Some changes will be obvious like the weather and currency, but others may be more subtle like different social attitudes and ways of interacting.

For some, this will actually be more welcoming as it’s a return to the world you’ve grown up in, but others might find the difference in culture a bit of a shock. You might miss the larger differences like the climate and how the country looks, and you may interpret these changes negatively; only focusing on how your study exchange location has better weather or scenery, which can be very discouraging.

How to manage this:

Remember that this feeling will pass! If you’ve just gotten home it’s going to be sort of culture-shock, but getting back into your regular schedule will help dissolve this feeling by getting you used to things again.

But try to remember that, in many cases, there isn’t really a better; only variation! Ensure you reflect on what makes your country a great place to live in because there’s always factors you do really like about it.

2. It might feel like it didn’t happen

I spoke to my university colleague, University of Hertfordshire student, Sarah Judd about this odd sensation; one that makes you feel like everything was over in a flash. She said: "In a weird way it feels like it never happened -- there's no one around you that you actually experienced your study abroad with and it's a whole other life that you had and no one knows anything about."

It sort of goes into the back of your mind like a memory of a vacation: you had a great time, you did some cool things and may have learned a lot, but now you’re back home as if you’ve never left. But...

How to manage this:

Remember how much you’ve experienced! Not only did you leave your home country independently you most likely experienced a different education, met new kinds of people and made tons of new connections.

Sarah reflected positively upon her experience, explaining that, "I loved my experience abroad and [after] coming back home I realize how much I've changed, and the world isn't as scary as I thought. it's made me want to continue traveling and experience more cultures in the future. "

3. Jet lag will initially make it worse

When you travel to a different time zone your body’s internal clock is not going to automatically adjust to it and because of this, you’ll experience jet lag. As expected, one will experience a sort of "lag" in your body’s awareness of time because your circadian rhythm will still assume you’re going to be active at your abroad times, with common symptoms being fatigued, experiencing memory issues, and find it hard to concentrate.

These symptoms may enhance your depressed state, making you feel even worse than normal, and no doubt contributing to the feeling that your study abroad was almost a dream, or that everything kinda sucks at home. While this isn’t a valid turn off for studying in another country at all, it does add to the blues you’ll maybe already be experiencing, as it certainly did for me.

How to manage this:

Jet lag treats itself, your body taking a few days to get its circadian rhythm back in order, but doing things like spending time outside, going to bed at your home destination’s actual night time and getting back your regular routine will alleviate your symptoms quicker.

Also, remember that the crumminess you’re feeling about being home again is likely being made worse by your jet lag and that you’re going to feel a lot better when it has passed.

4. Difficulty getting back into the swing of things

With jet lag being a draining condition, and the negative mood you may currently be in, getting back into your regular schedule is going to be tough. Firstly, you’ll probably be uninspired to do so: getting back to work, college or both after being in a completely different country is a little disorienting at first because you won’t be used to it.

Secondly, your dysrhythmia (throw that 5 dollar word at your friends to impress them) will make doing stuff a little more effortful, even if it’s hanging with friends or putting on laundry: things will feel kind of ‘meh’.

How to manage this:

You’ll hate me for saying it, but the only way of combatting this is by… getting into the swing of things! Treating your jet lag is the first step, and that comes naturally, and in turn, you’ll get a hang of returning to your regime.

Again, this doesn’t mean your negative outlook isn’t valid, but how you’re feeling now will pass. Talk to family and friends back home about how you’re feeling, and get back into your social circles. You may feel a little upset, but that’s normal: it just shows how good the experience was.