anxiety from moving interstate

[Mellyn]

Hi. I'm new to this forum and was wondering if anyone else has suffered anxiety from moving away from your support network and how did you overcome it?

[butterfly82]

I am also moving cross country in about two weeks and I'm so nervous. I'm going to take the trip slowly, only 5-6 hours a day then relax in a hotel, watch some movies, read a book, take my meds and get extra sleep. Once I get to my destination, I will make an appt to meet with a therapist and look for support groups.

[missath]

Hello,
I have moved to so many new places in the last 3 years, its incredible for someone who has Generalised anxiety disorder..My comfort zone used to be so different, but now it is what I make it...I moved from London back to my hometown in Greece, after 10 years of living abroad, stayed for a year near my dad,continued therapy and met my now fiancee there.He works at universities in the international department, so for this reason we have moved around a lot..When the heat of the summer and the financial difficulties in Greece got too much, my fiancee got a job at a university in the UK, so we moved to a remote part of Cornwall for 6 months, which i HATED. It was 6 hours to the nearest airport and took over 7 hours to get to family and friends..Hated feeling so cut off and had never relied so much on a partner like that before..(we had only been together for 6 months, when we moved in together and had so much to learn about each other we argued all the time..
I decided to start taking Sertraline again because of that stressful time, and since then I have felt so much more stable and less terrified of everything..After that, we moved to Bournemouth where I found a job after 3 months and made friends..That really helped the situation..Stayed there for a year...Having a job and making friends always helps distracts you..Its harder having lots of time on your hands..
I then decided that I wanted to do a masters, so in order to enable that my partner got a new well paid new job but in Germany!! I never thought I could ever live abroad, especially when i dont speak the language, however i've been in Cologne now for nearly a month and finding it very exciting..My partner works and I cook and clean..I got accepted to do my MASTERS but will defer for a year, so I can learn German, get a small job and save up money too...Learning a language is challenging..I don't really like not being able to communicate here with everyone, however the quicker I learn, the better I will feel..I dont have any responsibilities at the moment, so that helps..When I learn enough German however to get a small job that will be scary..
Also I was sick the other day and had nausea for 2 days after and felt so awful being out of my comfort zone..I don't have healthcare here until we get married, so relying on doctor's back home still in UK..(as i'm not officially living here)..
In order to adjust in a new place, it helps to create a support network..Whether that be an online forum, finding a therapist, or joining an expat group if you are abroad like myself..
I also made sure that I had all my comforts (my favorite films, books, foods, drinks, cosy blankets..even familiar homely smells help..
The faster you learn a language, get a job and meet people, the better you will feel..Set yourself a goal for each day..Something small that may scare you, but that is manageable.For instance, my first trip to the post office here in Germany was a little scary..Luckily they do speak English..Today I am meeting a German girl, who offered to help me with my German, if I help her with her English..Will take the tram on my own for the first time, to meet her..Its always scary at first, but the more you do, the better you feel..
Let me know how else I can help..