He keeps saying he wants to go home, but the truth is, we’re already there. This phrase can carry a deep and complex meaning beyond just a physical place. Sometimes, when someone says they want to go home repeatedly, it’s not about the actual house or location—it’s about a feeling or state of being that feels lost or unreachable.
Home is often thought of as a safe space where we feel secure, understood, and at peace. But what happens when someone feels disconnected from that sense of safety even while physically present in their home? This can happen for many reasons—emotional pain, trauma, confusion about identity, or feeling out of place inside oneself.
When people experience loss—whether it’s losing a loved one, going through major life changes like illness or moving—they might feel like they don’t belong anywhere anymore. Their internal world becomes unsettled; their sense of who they are shifts dramatically. Even if they are surrounded by familiar walls and faces, inside they may feel adrift and long for “home” as something more than just bricks and mortar.
Sometimes this longing to “go home” reflects an inner dissociation—a mental disconnect from reality caused by overwhelming stress or trauma. The mind tries to protect itself by mentally stepping away from painful feelings or memories. So even though the body is in one place physically (home), the person might be somewhere else emotionally or mentally—somewhere safer in their mind.
This repeated desire to leave despite already being “there” can also be tied to how memory works with trauma. Trauma clouds everyday functioning; it makes simple things harder because the brain is busy processing deep wounds beneath the surface. The familiar environment doesn’t automatically bring comfort if those wounds haven’t been healed yet.
In these moments, “going home” becomes less about geography and more about finding peace within oneself—a return to emotional stability and belonging that has been disrupted by life’s hardships.
Understanding this helps us respond with patience rather than frustration when someone keeps saying they want to go home but seems unable to settle there emotionally. It reminds us that sometimes what people really need isn’t just physical presence but connection—to themselves first—and then maybe through others who understand their struggle without judgment.
So while we may already be standing inside our front door together physically,
the journey toward truly feeling at home again
can take time,
compassion,
and gentle support along the way.
