[brackenbeard]

I'm going to be attending classes this coming Spring at a school near NYC, and moving out of my parents house nearly 3 years after my first psychotic break.

I am mildly fearful, which is the antithesis of how I've felt all my life about living independently. For instance when i first got home three years ago I demanded a living arrangement where I would be on my own. I've been fiercely independent since I got my first real job at 19. But now I am a mixture of excited and afraid. I mean not really really afraid but nervous about how I'm going to deal with such a big change in my life, and also how my illness is going to react to moving out to a new place and being with a different safety net. (I am moving in with my grandmother and uncle, so it's not full independence, but a step towards it.)

I'm looking for any advice people might have on going through big changes like this. How to maybe ease the transition. I'm already checking out Meet-up.com out there to find a way to get out there meeting people, and having activites to do. I'm also planning on getting involved with clubs and groups at school.

For those people who live with illnesses independently what kind of things would you tell me?

thanks.
- D

[madisgram]

i wish you well on this upcoming life change, brackenbeard. i know i've felt the same as you when and even if the change was progress. having family members living with you can help you feel less insecure. the way i've viewed my life is there are sometimes challenges but as i went up the ladder to independence my confidence grew. there were emotional upheavals but none were as bad as i had assumed they would be. so try to look at this as a "promotion" and enjoy it for what it stands for.
your awareness of self...fear..anxiety etc is normal. change feels somewhat foreign at first. when i started rebuilding my life i was very anxious of living on my own. turns out it was wonderful. but it never hurts to be on our toes as long as we don't focus just on that instead of enjoying the journey.
i hope this may be helpful to you and hopeful too.
PS i forgpt to mention-purchase something for your new home. doesn't have to be expensive. just somethng that personalizes you new environment. i did that and felt so good inside as a result.

[wing]

BB...I can't think of anything else you could possibly do to prepare for your move and settle in at school! You've made a detailed, realistic plan that should serve you well!