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Too scared to move in any direction

User Profile: anxiouschocolate2711
anxiouschocolate2711 October 29th, 2021

Next week I'm supposed to travel to a new country to study there. I'm also terrified and I have absolutely no idea what to do. (Sorry. It's a long read) I haven't been diagnosed, but I'm pretty sure I have social anxiety. I used to think the reason why I've always struggled in social situations was that I just haven't learned the necessary skills and I needed to try harder. It still didn't work. And it wasn't just about having fun and making friends and whatever, I've missed out on so many opportunities to improve myself or learn some skills just because it involved people. I've seen two therapists, but I wasn't lucky with neither of them. (They were both convinced that I'm not suffering from anything and that I only needed some guidance. The first one actually told me that I read too much about mental health issues and therefore I was trying to convince them that I'm suffering from something. It was online therapy [not even online, it was on the phone] so maybe it was more difficult) The thing is, if I decide to stay and try therapy again, not only will I miss out on another great opportunity, but I'll also complicate things even more. I've graduated from high school two years ago, so I'm already in a lot of pressure from my family since I haven't done anything (I started college but then dropped out). There are also the social pressures, and obviously watching your friends and relatives (even the ones who are younger than you) move on with their lives and already start achieving things and meeting new people. My family and relatives already put many plans based on the fact that I'm going to that country. For example they are looking at it as a possible destination to maybe settle in there in the future, or send their kids to go study there. And they want me to go and like explore it or whatever. So now I feel like I'm just going to let everyone down. There's also a chance that I might not be able to find a job if I stay, which is the only thing that would allow me to go to therapy, because it could be extremely difficult sometimes to find one where I live. But the worst thing is that I don't know how to tell my family the truth. Where I'm from there's no such thing as mental health. You're either sane or you completely lost your mind and need to be institutionalized. So I'm gonna have to lie to them and tell them that I haven't learned the language or whatever. It's not like my family are forcing me to go there, I applied for a university there on my own. But that's because I thought by the time I actually had to go there, I would've already learned how to deal with my anxiety (And actually figured out what I want to study). But on the other side, what if I do go, and I fail to do it on my own again? Basically wasting more money and more time? I've already went there 5 months ago to finish registration and it was the worst experience in my life. I spent a month there and everyday I thought I could I do it, but I couldn't. I spent the whole time crying in my hotel room, binge eating, watching porn or whatever, and only going out when I absolutely had to. The only thing that kept me going was knowing that I'm only there for some procedures and then I'm going back. I can't go to therapy there because I don't know the language, nor how much it might cost. Basically I'm too afraid to be alone, but I'm also too afraid that'll disappoint myself and everyone again, for nothing. So, what should I do? Should I just go, not causing any drama, and hope that with time I'll grow out of it? Or at least learn how to deal with it on my own? Or should I stay, find a job (which again, could be difficult sometimes) and then attend therapy and finally get to the bottom of this, but miss out on another great opportunity while also lying to my parents and disappointing everyone along the way? Thanks. [I apologize again for making it this long. I don't know who to talk to. Everyone will think that I'm just overreacting. Thank you so much for taking the time to read it and I'd be grateful for any advice. And it's okay if you skipped it, I understand. I would've done that as well tbh]

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User Profile: anxiouschocolate2711
anxiouschocolate2711 OP October 29th, 2021

I always use spacing between paragraphs but for some reason it just never works?! And it always looks stacked and messy?! Or is this only on the mobile version?

User Profile: intuitiveMelon1062
intuitiveMelon1062 October 29th, 2021

Hey! As someone who also has social anxiety I can totally relate. There’s always that trade off between pushing yourself too far anxiety-wise or missing out on great opportunities. That really sucks that they don’t acknowledge mental health issues where you’re from and that you can’t tell your parents. Is there anyone close to you that you can talk to about this? I’m also sorry that the therapists you worked with were so dismissive of your concerns. It sounds like they were not a good fit (or just bad).


My advice would be to stay and find a job since it was very difficult for you the last time you went. That way you can take some time to improve your mental health. It’s definitely worth it. And I’m also a college student and what I’m learning is that there will always be other opportunities so don’t beat yourself up if you’re not able to take those things on just yet. And I hope the people in your life will respond in an understanding way but if not, just remember that you are doing what is best for you and you deserve to feel better.

User Profile: greenfrog3
greenfrog3 October 30th, 2021

Listen to yourself, and listen carefully. I would say you probably shouldn’t go away from home to a foriegn country where you don’t speak th3 language just to please other people… you need to be careful about putting yourself in a situation where you will be very vulnerable, and your health will decline to the point where you will need health services - in a foriegn country on top of that .. I would say really think this through … choose what’s best for your health and mental health. 🙂