Moving abroad with anxiety
Hello everyone and thanks in advance for reading me,
I'm a 21 year old girl who never away from parents' house. Next week I'm going to work in France and I'm having anticipatory anxiety because I think I'm a person who has developed social anxiety. I've been like this for one month moreless now.
I am currently under medication treatment. But it is just a superficial solution, the problem has not been solved.
I am being waited for there by colleagues and more people, but I am completely terrified... My family no longer knows what to do with me and neither do I (for example, now I feel pretty bad because I've seen a story on i/g of some of the girls that are going to live with me going out for a drink and I've been filled with anxiety). I don't see myself capable of doing it but at the same time I'm afraid of feeling rejected because of weird or shy personality, having anxiety or a panic attack in front of them..
So, basically, it is all completely about the social part. I think I have a trauma after having lived a great loneliness during the university not making friends. This changed when in my third year I got a boyfriend, I felt very accompanied, fearless and unstoppable and that's when I decided to take advantage of this opportunity. However, we have broken up and now I see myself again very alone and with the same social anxiety as in 2019.
In my house I am so depressed that I don't even want to get out of bed and I haven't even arrived to France yet. Any advice you can give me? Do you think all this is a good idea? I know that no one forces me to stay and I can go home whenever I want, but that may not be the best idea because then I will feel like I have failed and I will find myself even more alone.
I am attentive to your answers. Thank you very much <3
Hey, I know how you feel, as I have social anxiety too. Please don’t feel the need to agree with this, but I think this trip to France is a wonderful idea! I feel that this would be an amazing experience outside of America and our comfort zones. However, if you feel too overwhelmed or stressed, please don’t be afraid to cancel. Your mental health is more important. Sending support - sparkly kitten
@bestShip6789 I think France is just what you need to clear your head! Social anxiety can be hard to deal with, but I think it's all about making good habits.
@bestShip6789
Hey there thanks for sharing this with us, and I agree, it must be really hard to be in a situation like this especially when the prospect of studying abroad has so many opportunities and fun only to be met with this anxiety that prevents you from starting. There isn't a great solve it all solution or advice that I can give, but I send you the best support that you'll be able to make the best decision for yourself. It's of note that sometimes I tend to overthink before the event starts of all the things that could possibly go wrong which fuels my anxiety to avoid it, however once I start I find that it's completely different in a better way. The human body is amazing including our ability to adapt to these kind of pressures, sometimes we underestimate our own capabilities!
@bestShip6789
Hey there! I understand how difficult it can be to meet new people in a completely different environment that you are used to. While I may not be able to give you advice, it’s easy to think about all the things that could go wrong and all the “what ifs” that could happen especially since people have let you down before and it’s hard to have trust in people again. However, you should know that you are stronger than you realise and the fact that you even consider going to France already shows your fighting spirit and who knows, you might be able to gain new friends along the way. You just need to take it one step at a time, challenge yourself day by day to eventually open yourself up to these new people. The journey will be tough at first but if it means being able to gain that support system you need then wouldn’t it make everything worth it?
