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The opinions expressed in this article are the writer’s own and do not reflect the views of Her Campus.
This article is written by a student writer from the Her Campus at UPRM chapter.

The feeling that a person develops when they no longer feel connected at where once was their safe place is… confusing. 

Sometimes we feel that we no longer belong to places where at some point we felt safe. It may not feel right, it may not feel normal, but I believe it’s part of our growth. Here’s some tips that may help you to understand and make a decision for your mental peace. 

  1. Analyze how it feels to be in that place.

Think about, how it made you feel? Why did you feel that way? What changed? It is very important to accept how you feel. 

Disclaimer: the answer to it may not make you feel good, but remember that your feelings are valid!

  1. Don’t be afraid to express how you feel.

If it’s your safe place, and the one that brings you happiness, expressing your feelings shouldn’t be torture. Be open about how you feel, tell others, they might be able to help!

  1. Are you going to be ok?

Everything is a process, the answer to that it’s one that you are going to find out. You are going to be ok. Every once in a while we may feel like we aren’t, but you’ll see. Just keep moving forward.

  1. Don’t be afraid to leave your comfort zone, it’s part of life.

As living beings were constantly evolving, growing, and learning, change is part of our lives! In our journey, some paths are meant to end before we even realize that our time is up, and that’s normal. Embrace the change.

  1. Seek for help.

If you need, seek for help, reach out to a close person to you or even a therapist can help you through your process.


Reminder: You are going to be okay!

I know this statement is very popular and it has been used many times (I did already), but I can promise you, you are going to be able to heal, it’s a non-linear process, but totally worth it. 

It’s okay to not fit in places where we used to be our best self, but, for better or worse, it’s part of life. If you feel left out, don’t be afraid to ask yourself: 

“Do I feel comfortable enough to keep going to the same place that no longer defines me?”. 

Julianis Gracia Ruiz is a writer at Her Campus at the University of Puerto Rico Mayagüez Campus. She writes monthly articles mostly related to experiences or feelings that may be happening in college and in Her20’s, where she promotes the importance of mental health and shares some tips for improving ourselves. Beyond Her Campus, Julianis is a member at the Industrial Microbiology Student Society (SEMI) where she learns every week about topics of science in the industry and attends different educational talks. She is currently a junior at the University of Puerto Rico at Mayagüez, majoring in Industrial Microbiology. In her free time, Julianis enjoys listening to music and discovering new motivational podcasts. She also enjoys baking and trying new recipes most of the Sundays. Julianis shares a special bond with the beach, that's the place where she feels more at peace. She likes to go on road-trips and discover new local places such as coffee shops, restaurants and stores and take pictures for the memories.