[Medicated]

I just made a cross-country move for school. I've lived here before, so I'm familiar with the area and I know some people, but I am really REALLY homesick right now. It's been two days and I miss my family, I miss my kitty, I miss the security of my therapist and psychiatrist... Heck, I miss my own car.

I don't know what to do or who to reach out to. I feel so isolated and so silly. And I can't stop crying.

This is only for five weeks, but it feels like an eternity lying ahead of me, and I don't think I can face it.

When did I become such a softy?

[Anneinside]

You need to recreate your support system. Start out by finding a new psychologist and psychiatrist.

[widgets]

Try and speak to as many people as you know in the area, and plan things for the five weeks ahead so u have things to look forward to.
Plan phone calls to people at home, so u also have things to look forward to.
Even if its hard try and keep busy, the busier you are the quicker the time will fly by!
Keep posting on here. There's always someone to talk to and that will keep your mind occupied!

[Ryask]

I agree with widgets, reconnect with people you do know and keep yourself busy...maybe you can be too busy to have time to be homesick.If however you really feel homesick sometimes maybe calling your friends and family and keeping in touch can be a comfort for you. Hang in there!

[sundog]

(((((((((Medicated)))))))))))))) I'm sorry you're feeling so homesick. Moving is soooo stressful. I'm really glad that this move is only very temporary though. I know 5 weeks seem like an eternity right now, but I'm certain they will go by quickly. This is the hardest part, the first couple of days. It's great that you do still know people in this place. I really hope you're able to start getting together with some of them. As the others have said, keeping busy is the key.

Are you able to email your pdoc and therapist? Perhaps that would be a good way to stay in touch? In the meantime, we're here for you too!

Hope the 5 weeks fly by

[Medicated]

Thank you all for your thoughts. I do indeed intend to be extremely busy in these upcoming weeks... and that is part of what scares me. I'm here for my OB/GYN rotation for school and it's looking like it's going to be very hard and a lot of work. I'm not sure if I will be able to keep up with it all. So not only am I homesick, but I am quite overwhelmed.

Although I know people here, that doesn't mean that I'm very close to them. I'm not very good at making friends, but I have lots of friendly acquaintances, if that makes any sense. There are really only one or two people I would feel comfortable hanging out with...

I can communicate with my pdoc via email, but he's really just the medicine man. I don't know how helpful he'd be if I were to write and tell him I'm homesick and really intimidated by my schoolwork. Unfortunately, I don't have an email address for my psychologist and our last/farewell appointment was canceled (because his father passed away unexpectedly). So aside from calling his office, I don't have any resources or good way of contacting him... and he's the one I'd really want to talk to.

Although I hate to do it, maybe I need to take more klonopin for a while until I settle down a bit. I hate relying on drugs to get me through hard times, but I don't know what else to do.

I feel like I need to just march onward with faith that it will all be okay.

[Ryask]

Originally Posted by Medicated

I can communicate with my pdoc via email, but he's really just the medicine man. I don't know how helpful he'd be if I were to write and tell him I'm homesick and really intimidated by my schoolwork.

Even though they prescribe medication they still have all the educational background to actually provide counciling. With that being said, most of them don't do a whole lot of counciling. You said you dont know if he would be helpful, well you could always ask him and see what happends. There really is no harm is asking if he wouldn't mind helping you work through some troubling feelings. If he says he's yes then that might be a great comfort, and if he says he's really too busy then you can do something else.

Originally Posted by Medicated

So aside from calling his office, I don't have any resources or good way of contacting him... and he's the one I'd really want to talk to.

It seems like you have actually solved this problem on your own. Is there something preventing your calling his office? If you can get in touch with him maybe you can see if you can do e-mail or phone sessions for the time you are away?

Originally Posted by Medicated

Although I hate to do it, maybe I need to take more klonopin for a while until I settle down a bit. I hate relying on drugs to get me through hard times, but I don't know what else to do.

The medication is there for you to use. However, it wont or shouldn't be a replacement for real support. Maybe you could e-mail your pdoc and that could get the ball rolling as to whether he could council you, you could maybe let him know your planning on using the medication to relax you a bit since your feeling overwhelmed?Maybe he will offer the council on his own.

Originally Posted by Medicated

I feel like I need to just march onward with faith that it will all be okay.

That's a really good mindset, and a positive attitude like that will definatly take you far. I hope you can find some support, because along with that attitude i think you will be more then ok.

Please post back i'd love to hear what you plan to do.
best of luck!
Ryask

[sundog]

((((((medicated)))))))) I'm sorry you're feeling overwhelmed. I think that being busy will really help though. And hopefully, once you get into the swing of it, it won't be so overwhelming. It'll just be absorbing and interesting and a positive challenge. Personally I don't think there is anything "wrong" at all with taking extra meds at times of additional stress. So it's really good you have the Klonopin and you know they help.

Wishing you lots of strength to keep marching forward!!!! You can do it!

[Medicated]

Originally Posted by Ryask

Please post back i'd love to hear what you plan to do.
best of luck!
Ryask

Thanks for everything, Ryask.

My plan is to get up tomorrow, take 0.25 mg klonopin to calm my nerves, and go off to school pretending that I'm not scared out of my mind and that everything is okay in my head and in my heart.

I don't think I'll be contacting my psychiatrist or psychologist unless I have some sort of emergency. Yes, I'm in distress now, but I'm not in crisis... yet. I know my psychologist doesn't like doing phone appointments, but we never had a chance to discuss the options at any length because of that cancellation. Besides, my insurance probably wouldn't pay for a phone appointment, and I can't afford to pay for a visit out of pocket right now.

The psychiatrist would probably be glad to see me finally using the klonopin that he's been prescribing for months, but then again, it couldn't hurt to send him a quick email asking if he has any magic cures for homesickness/being overwhelmed by school... What's the worst that could come of it?? Him thinking I'm silly? But then again, I just don't want to, you know?

I just want to sleep and pretend this isn't happening.

[Merlin]

Does the university offer short term counselling?

Originally Posted by Medicated

Although I know people here, that doesn't mean that I'm very close to them. I'm not very good at making friends, but I have lots of friendly acquaintances, if that makes any sense.

Ummmm, perfect sense? Same for me.

Originally Posted by Medicated

... Unfortunately, I don't have an email address for my psychologist .... So aside from calling his office, I don't have any resources or good way of contacting him... and he's the one I'd really want to talk to.

Aside from calling his office? I'd definitely do that! Aside from nothing! Even if you don't use it, it can be a comfort to know the address is there, you know?

Originally Posted by Medicated

Although I hate to do it, maybe I need to take more klonopin for a while until I settle down a bit. I hate relying on drugs to get me through hard times, but I don't know what else to do.

That's why we have them for, isn't it?! Heck, *ordinary* times can require med tweaking, you know? Been going through a very stressful, nearly surreal time lately myself, and tell you what. I have needed to medicate (alprazolam) to even get to a number of my shifts lately. If I *didn't*? Things would be even worse, because I couldn't get there, couldn't do the job... you get the picture. If functioning requires a bit different med routine, so be it.

Originally Posted by Medicated

I just want to sleep and pretend this isn't happening.

Tell me about it!

If your pdoc *does* have a magic cure, he might just say.... "Call me Harry. Harry Potter."

[sugahorse1]

Hey there.
I hope your day is going a lot better. You seem to have a very decent plan there to tackle these 5 weeks and i wish you all the strength to follow through - you can do it.
Meet up with your acquaintances (I'm also like that with regards to friends); While they may not be close friends you can confide in, they will help time pass and give you something else to focus on.
We're also here for you!
And don't feel bad about taking the Klonopin - I also do when necessary - it's a lot less stressful on your body in the long-run