[ForeverLonelyGirl]

This whole moving ordeal has been traumatic but I got through it and was fine for about a week. Now everything seems all wrong and I can hardly stand to be in my own skin. Everything that I have to do, such as banking business, grocery shopping and dealing with people on the phone just seems exponentially difficult. I've been hanging up on people and just cannot deal with life right now.

I hear traffic noise in my new place and it really is bothering me, plus the light comes in my bedroom so bright in the mornings that it is disturbing my sleep. I cannot afford to get curtains to block the light at this time, am truly flat broke after the move. Cannot afford to do much of anything but buy a few groceries. I do feel lost and like I don't belong here at all. I have felt really depressed before after moving. It took me a long, long time to feel like the last place I lived in was my "home". My anxiety about driving and traffic is out the roof too. I have a long list of problems right now associated with the move that just seems a bit overwhelming. No one gets why I am so anxious and unhappy about everything.

[gayleggg]

Change is hard. I don't know why some people don't get it.

[smoothielover]

I know you don't like moving but you should move out to the country to get away from the noise, traffic and crowds! If the city bothers you so much why did you move there?

[ForeverLonelyGirl]

It may sound crazy smoothie but I had no choice. I searched high and low for a place that I could afford and came up with nothing. This was the only place with affordable rent that accepted my income. It is a nice enough place inside, it's just a huge adjustment. I wish I could do better for myself.

[ForeverLonelyGirl]

Originally Posted by gayleggg

Change is hard. I don't know why some people don't get it.

Change IS hard, especially such a major intrusive. Picking up and moving everything you own to a strange unpleasant location is really like turning the fruit basket upside down!

I very much relate to what you are experiencing. Two suggestions:

Buy a box of foam earplugs from your local drugstore. They are very inexpensive and helpful to reduce noise and getting overstimulated.

A panel or two of blackout drapes for your window....nothing fancy but they truly work and are usually about $10 from WalMart.

Xoxox

[kindachaotic]

So sorry you're struggling.
Something cheap like taping aluminum foil or cardboard to block light.

[Thunder Bow]

Depression comes with change and moving. Once you get your own things up on the walls, and your own furniture arranged the way you like it, you will feel better. Make it Your place the best you can. Tape cardboard or newspapers over the window until you get the curtains you like. Music and earplugs for the traffic noise. Next time you move, consider those factors.

[avlady]

i remembered when i moved, i had to get used to where everything was like the silverware, what was in what cupboard etc.. it drove me crazy until it came second nature.

[Walking Man]

Moving is tough, and I've done it a lot. I've moved 12 times (not counting moving back to the same house where I lived before). I have to move again very soon. I'm sure it's even harder for people who have lived in one place for a long time. This might help...

Last year I was living with my mother and sister. My mother retired and my sister moved, so I had to move out too. To keep a long story short my best option was to move to a small town half way across the country for school. When I arrived the apartment I found was a total disaster, and I didn't take it. I had to stay at a hotel that night. The next day I found a place with a guy I had spoken with earlier. I knew it wasn't going to work, but all my stuff was coming and everything else was taken so I got stuck there. It was less than ideal. He kept me up all night, and it was very stressful. I had the opposite problem you do, I didn't have any window at all! Well, I survived that and eventually got an apartment of my own. Now sometimes I get cigarette smoke from the neighbors and they keep me up at night! I even called the police one time (it was the right thing to do). For the most part it's ok, but it's stressful. Now, to keep a long story short, I have to move again. I don't know where I'm going to go or what I'm going to do. It's so depressing. I thought that I would be at such a different place in my life. I know exactly what you mean by, "I do feel lost and like I don't belong here at all."

The best I can say is do your best to make it home by arranging your stuff, cleaning, etc. Try to do something, no matter how insignificant, to get to know some people. Do whatever you can to be comfortable with your place, while keeping your identity and aspirations. Keep in mind that the way you feel is totally normal.

[MoxieDoxie]

I just moved from NH to VA so I know exactly what you are going through. My anxiety was over the top and I just did not think I could survive the emotions. One day at a time, one thing at a time......so much that has to get done when you move. I just can't leave the house and drive anywhere without the GPS because I have not built up a mental map of the roads and where everyhting is in relations to where I live. Big big adjustment. They say it takes 5 years before a place feels like home!

[possum220]

I am sorry to hear that things are so hard for you. There are some good suggestions here for the light problem. Taping cardboard onto the windows until you can get some black out curtains from walmart.

It does take a while to settle into a new place. I find that having a radio on inside my place helps my brain to focus on the inside of a place rather than the outside. Also while getting to sleep I have the radio on softly (White noise) to also change my focus. Ear plugs are a great idea too. Do you have an eye mask that you could wear to block out the light while you are sleeping?

People kept on telling me that I would get used to the noise. It does get better even though I am still aware of it.

Are you in contact with your doctor still? Maybe you could take some valerian root to help you sleep or ask if the doctor has any ideas. Releasing the tension is hard. Can you watch something sad to help you cry?

I do hope you feel better sooner rather than later.

[ForeverLonelyGirl]

Originally Posted by Thunder Bow

Depression comes with change and moving. Once you get your own things up on the walls, and your own furniture arranged the way you like it, you will feel better. Make it Your place the best you can. Tape cardboard or newspapers over the window until you get the curtains you like. Music and earplugs for the traffic noise. Next time you move, consider those factors.

As I mentioned prior to your reply, I had no choice but to move here. No other place in town would accept my income. Your income had to be 2-3 times the amount of the rent. This place is the most affordable place I found. I did consider the noise and the busy area. I ran out of time also to find something within my price range.

[ForeverLonelyGirl]

Thanks for sharing your story with me walking man. So sorry to hear that you have to move again. That is tough! Hope things go better for this next one!

Since writing this, I seem to be adjusting better. The noise is bothering me less and also the light. I do realize that all this is just pure anxiety. I know why I have such anxiety and I do believe that it is going to resolve and get much better as each day goes back.

One thing that is probably silly, is that I have dreaded people to see where I live. I feel embarrassed about it. It is fairly nice inside but not at all my dream house. It is really a new place, 2 bedrooms and not at all cramped, except in the bathrooms. Why they took so much space away from the bathrooms is strange but I can adapt to that too. What I need to do is find more to do outside of home and stop living my life on my couch.

I am so out of shape from being sick for over 2 years that I get exhausted just doing anything, so moving was really rough. I wish my anxiety would let up just enough that I could go join the Y and start slowly with an exercise program. Maybe then I would not feel like such a lump and like I look so bad.

Thanks all for the supportive comments, you guys are great!!!