Anxiety...leaving home.

Hi everyone..I'm new here but I have a problem I'd really really appreciate some help on.

I'm 19 years old and I just found out from my university that I HAVE to go away for a minimum of five weeks in order to complete my French degree (which I have as my major right now). My university offers a 3 months program or a 12 month program in St Pierre or France, neither of which I wanted to do. They accept a 5 week program though and I thought about doing that.

Problem? I have separation anxiety. Bad. I haven't even gotten accepted into the 5 week program yet and I'm already completely ready to have a heart attack, cry and change my major to something else. I really just don't want to leave home, I'll be in Ontario, which is a long way away from my family and my fiance. I am terrified.

Does anyone have any tips on how to deal with this? I'm ready to just change my major to a minor so I don't have to go away. I've tried talking to my mom but she doesn't understand why I don't want to go. I'm pretty much at rock bottom and I just need some advice on what to do to deal with these feelings, or whether changing my minor is what I should consider doing.

I really don't have an idea how it feels like to have separation anxiety. But I can only give you a hug and hope things turn out better for you.

Hey, have you tried talking to a therapist or doctor about this? He/she might help you!

<font color="purple">Clandestine</font>

Set up now a plan to communicate with the ones behind from your new location. It should not be hard to do that.

Hello Lesleigh, nice to meet you. Therapy might be useful in your situation, I used to be almost completely housebound until I started therapy and got on some good meds. Good luck I hope you can conquer your fears.

What a bummer! Are you in any kind of therapy? Someone who could help you figure out a strategy? Can you talk to your advisor? They might be able to work out an alternative for you.

Before you get any more freaked out, see if you can explore some possibilities. Taking control of the situation should give a measure of relief.

Best wishes.

Thanks so much for the advice so far. I do have ways to contact my family, as I'll more then likely be bringing my laptop and I' do have some family living near the university that I mgiht be attending. So..communication isn't the problem

I think it's just the idea alone of being away that frightens me the most. I don't even like being separated from my fiance for more then a few days.

I think it stems from when I was 14, I went away to kids camp for ten days and came back with my grandfather missing, only to find out he's died a week after returning. He was my biggest role model and I think my fear is that it'll happen again and I won't be home. If that makes sense at all. I have this driven fear that if I'm away then something bad is going to happen.

I think I'm going to make an appointment with my doctor though, and soon so I can see what can be done to help me. I think I'll just about go crazy if I don't have someone show me how to cope.

Again, thanks for the advice so far.

i know how you feel i have to leave home soon and get my own place and i am sonervous but i keep telling my self to take itone step at time so do the same take it one step at a time and relax it will be ok

I have the same,it's awful, unless I'm in the comfort of my own home I panic. I feel for you