[littleyellowspider]

I am a Sophomore in a college 20 minutes from my house. I chose my school for a number of reasons but part of the reason was because I struggle a lot with depression and I wanted to stay close to my family. I live on campus but my family is near by if I need them, my dad occasionally comes to take me to lunch and because I don't have a car my mother sometimes drives me to buy groceries or do something else. I don't go home too often and I don't see my family all the time, but I see them enough. I feel like it's been very helpful for me to have them near by.

My father just lost his job and as a result, in May my parents and my little sister are having to move 1,000 miles away. I will stay here at school. Now instead of being 20 minutes away they will be around 17 hours away. during the school year I'll only be able to see them during spring and christmas break. I am extremely anxious about this. I don't want to transfer school for my Junior year. My credits will not all fully transfer so i would have to graduate a semester (at the least) late and I don't want to jump in to a class where everyone has been together for 2 years already. I want to stay and finnish up my education here but i am really worried about being without my family. My mother especially. I worry i won't have the support i need. also I'm about to start going to therapy again but next year when my family is gone I'll have no way to get there because I still won't have a car. I'm just really really anxious. i don't want to be on my own.

Hello, littleyellowspider. I can imagine how anxiety-provoking the move is. Can you stay in touch with your family using an instant messenger or email? Is Skype an option? I assume there is public transportation to get to your therapy sessions?

Perhaps you can find some ways to make the move less stressful? Please keep in mind too that many here will welcome the opportunity to talk to you and offer support. Good luck!

[Rohag]

Hi, Littleyellowspider! Despite your anxiety, I think it's great you are giving thought now to constructing a revised support system for yourself. Byzantine has excellent suggestions; hopefully others will come forward with more.

You're wise for accepting you need support.

[perpetuallysad]

I think wanting to stay in your current school is a great sign that you are ready to take the necessary steps to part from your family a little. I know that public transportation isn't an option in most towns, but a lot of universities do have shuttles that take kids into town to the grocery store, mall, etc. You could look into this and see if there is a shuttle that goes anywhere near your therapist's office. Also, you could contact a school counselor and find out if they know of a way for you to get to therapy. I am sure someone would be willing to help you get there. Maybe a friend with a car could help if you can give them a little money for gas (gas is way expensive!). Byz is right, you can stay in contact with your family in lots of ways without losing the closeness of that relationship. I think you need to focus on working things out in your own life. Is it possible for you to get a job on campus? If so, maybe you could do that and save up to buy a beater car (an inexpensive car) that you could use for transport around town? Don't despair, I know that you will figure out what works best for you.

[trevorzero]

Feeling some anxiety in your situation is entirely natural, even if you weren't depressed. This will be your opportunity to find out how well you operate on your own. You might surprise yourself at how well you do. Don't let your fear build up to the point that it overwhelms you. Have some faith in your ability to cope and to succeed.