Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) deal with their daily work challenges abroad, but homesickness and loneliness add up to the challenges they have to endure.
More than two million Filipinos choose to leave their families behind and work abroad and for psychiatrist Joan Rifareal loneliness is normal for those people who leave their loved ones.
“May mga moments talaga na we feel lonely, we miss our family, mami-miss natin ang ating mga friends,” Rifareal told ABS-CBN News.
The expert said that it would always be good to reconnect with their families back home.
Thanks to technology, talking and communicating from across the seas has gotten easier.
“Kung mayroon access to any form of internet or social media, nakakatulong iyon to reconnect,” the doctor said.
In the absence of internet or connectivity, the OFW can still strengthen his or her relationship with fellow Filipino workers.
Here’s how: “May mga Filipino community dito sa country kung saan ka napunta, makakatulong ‘yon na mayroon kang makakausap na mga kababayan,” Rifareal said.
The psychiatrist added that through these steps, the OFW can always feel at home.
“Para ma-feel mo pa rin na kasama mo pa rin mga kapwa mo Filipino,” she added.
She also suggested that OFWs who have yet to leave the Philippines to bring with them small things and reminders of their loved ones like pillow case, stuffed toy, and pictures.
Homesickness can be felt by anyone and it doesn’t choose age, gender or number of years abroad.
