<p>Oh, moms across cc are rejoicing! You sound really well, taking lots of good steps and figuring out what works for you. A good night’s sleep makes such a difference. </p>
<p><em>waving at your mom, who might be reading this, too!</em></p>
<p>Justadrizzle’s Mom: What a wonderful daughter you have! </p>
<p>Justadrizzle: You are doing EVERYTHING right. It is a comfort for sure to have a roommate who’s going through the same thing; that’s enormously helpful. And the strong song – love it. Your counselor knows what he/she is doing. Keep working the plan. </p>
<p>Look how far you’ve come. You’re doing great.</p>
<p>Stay healthy …go home. If home makes you happy than that is where you need to be. You will undoubtedly do better in an environment you are happy with. </p>
<p>@justadrizzle – glad things seem to be looking up! Remember this when the anxiety or depression attacks in future. I know it can feel like there’s no way out and you’ll always feel like this, but now you can remind yourself that these things do pass.</p>
<p>I wonder if you would feel comfortable mentioning which school you’re at? It sure sounds like their counseling department is great and very supportive! Having 2 daughters with anxiety myself, it would be interesting for me to know.</p>
<p>Arcadia University, for anyone who wants to know! They’ve got an amazing support system, and it’s really a magical place. They deal with a lot of international studies and offer students great opportunities, so that’s why they have to have such a strong counseling team. </p>
<p>Oh yay, I know someone who just started there! She’s really excited about the studying abroad opportunities too. </p>
<p>justadrizzle:</p>
<p>You are doing marvelously. Congratulations. First, reaching out and talking and also posting here is very helpful. Cathartic. And you can get through this. </p>
<p>We are southerners and my kid went to college in New York and freshmen year was awful. so much sickness and drama…but by march she was much better and seeing the light. She adjusted to college stress, the aggressive and ambitious New Yorkers and just being homesick. It wasnt easy. We had to make two trips up there…almost pulled her out. She stuck it out and graduated Phi Beta Kappa! Then to Boston for grad school. Now doing wonderfully.</p>
<p>You have an illness, its not your fault or your parents. Its just an illness. Like the flu. Eat healthy food (okay, ice cream can help too! 
) and stay active. Sleep right. Talk to roomies and RA’s and counelors and professors. Much of what is going on is very normal. Its a shock leaving home and being far away, its scary and a new city and new culture and everyone is a stranger. But it DOES get better. Trust me. You are doing all the right things. And you are making progress. </p>
<p>You are NOT alone. Learn to laugh…a lot. At yourself, at life and other funny people. God is with you and so are your friends and family and the CC members. </p>
<p>Stay in touch. Keep us posted. Believe in yourself. The college believes in you or they wouldnt have accepted you. Dorm life is a huge change. But its fun and everyone is going through it. </p>
<p>We are cheering you on to success! God bless.</p>
<p>Justadrizzle, congrats on your steps forward!</p>
<p>One thought for the evenings is to get your roommate or another person from your floor to go study with you at the library. It can be in the quiet area or the more casual area of the library. </p>
<p>It sounds like you are getting sleep now–and I am so glad for you. But if you do have insomnia occasionally in the future, it is one of those things that feeds on itself, because you become subconsciously panicked–“I can’t sleep! What am I going to do?” And what you need to tell yourself instead is “Okay, I have insomnia for the moment. Big deal.” </p>
<p>Then develop a ritual over time of what seems to calm your brain and make you drowsy. You may need a small pen light for reading so you don’t disturb your roommate. (Also lower levels of light are better to make you sleepy again.) Keep a magazine or a couple of your favorite novels for rereading a few chapters. </p>
<p>I will be rooting for you!</p>
@justadrizzle - Could you give us an update? As a mom of a senior in HS, I have some anxiety about my D going far from home. Have you settled in? Have you transferred? Just curious as to how you have fared.