Severe Anxiety About Leaving Home for College

<p>I am currently a freshman at a community college and I really dislike it so far. All of my close friends have left home and are having a really good time at their colleges and I feel like I'm missing out and am now regretting my decision to go to a community college. I would really like to transfer to a university next fall but I keep having so many mixed feelings. The college that I'm looking at is only about an hour and a half away. Some times when I think about transferring it's really exciting but most times all I can think about is leaving my home and parents. It feels like my stomach drops and my heart races. I have dealt with anxiety and depression issues before so I feel like that has something to do with it. I am so frustrated with myself that I can't just get over my fears. I'm afraid that I'll make the wrong choice to leave home next year instead of staying at my community college. Has anyone else felt like this?</p>

<p>Have you talked to a therapist about your anxiety and depression issues? This is something they have a lot of experience with. If you are emotionally fragile, your mental health is the most important thing to consider. You should also discuss this with your parents, if you haven’t. Finally, if you just need a bit of a support system in order to make the jump, that may also be available at your new school. Talk to your guidance counselor at the CC as well. They too may have experience in working with students who needed a bit of help to make the transition to a 4 year school.</p>

<p>Remember too that there are no ‘fatal mistakes’ here. If you were to stay another year, you could transfer later. Or if you transferred and discovered it wasn’t working for you, you can go back to the CC.</p>

<p>Since the college you might transfer To is so close, can you work it out to spend sometime with a friend there, maybe a few days…so you can get a real feel for what it would be like, making it more familiar? Another thought, if part of the problem is just not living at home…perhaps you can find a roommate and get an apartment while finishing up at the cc so you can have that step toward independence, but very close to home first.</p>