Hi there,
Thanks for your letter and sharing how you are feeling. At any time of year, it can be really hard to be away from home, the people you care about and the things that are familiar to you. It can be especially difficult at Christmas time and Im not sure if you had a say in whether or not to be away, as being allowed to choose can make a really big difference.
If you do start to feel homesick, you could consider contacting someone you are missing. It might help you to know that they are missing you too. Some people in a position like the one you describe might talk to a trusted adult who they are staying with to let them know they are feeling alone or homesick. Sharing how you feel with others can be a great way to find support with any problem.
You say you feel locked away in your head and it could help to explore this a bit more. How would you feel about speaking to one of the ChildLine counsellors to get some extra support?
You can ring ChildLine free on 0800 1111 or log on for a 1-2-1 chat with a counsellor online. You can speak to ChildLine any day or night and if you feel lonely and unsure who to turn to, the counselling team would love to hear from you.
Being in a different place at Christmas can be exciting too. It might help to think about what new things you could do to celebrate Christmas away. Also you might like to remember that Christmas is for a short time and then you will be back to your usual routine. If being away at Christmas is a one-off opportunity, it could be worth thinking about what might help you make the most of it.
I do hope Christmas is enjoyable for you and please remember you are never completely alone, theres always someone you can talk to.
Thanks again for your letter and take care,
Sam
You can talk privately to a counsellor online or call 0800 1111 for free.
You can ask me about anything you want, there's nothing too big or small. I read every single letter but I can only answer a few each week. My replies are published here on my page.
