Easing anxiety when moving away from home

Whether you’re heading off to university, going travelling or starting a job somewhere new, the thought of moving away from home can be really exciting, but also a little nerve-wracking. Saying goodbye to your friends, family, familiar hangouts and home comforts is a lot of change to navigate, and even if you’re ready to get stuck into new experiences, it’s normal to feel apprehensive as you move into this next chapter.

If you’re feeling anxious or uneasy about moving away from home, here are some tips that we hope will help to ease your nerves and support your mental health.

Before you go:

Research your new home

Getting to know your new country, town or city can help it to feel more familiar and less daunting when it’s time to move. If you’re moving to isn’t far away, you could plan a day trip to get a head start on checking out the local pubs, shops and parks. If that’s not an option, you could always use TikTok to explore it virtually - there’s a guide to almost everywhere on there!

Before you go:

Talk to someone about how you feel

It’s totally normal to feel nervous about moving away from home, and it can help to talk to someone about how you’re feeling. Perhaps you could chat to your parents or a family member that’s already been through it, or, if your friends are in the same position, you could reach out to them and see how they’re feeling. The chances are, they’ll be nervous too and you can support each other.  

Before you go:

Plan your new room or living space

Planning your room can help you to get excited about your new home. Don’t feel the pressure to make it ‘Pinterest-perfect’, it just needs to be a safe space where you can switch off and relax. Maybe you could make it cosy with fairy lights and cushions, or put up photos and your favourite wall art to make it feel more familiar.

Once you’re there:

Get into a routine, early on

It might sound basic, but having a routine can actually reduce feelings of stress and anxiety. If you’re off to uni, it might be hard to create healthy habits during freshers week, when you’re bound to have more late nights than usual, but make building your new routine a priority as soon as you can.

A healthy routine doesn’t need to be complicated; the simple things are the most important. Make sure that you’re getting plenty of sleep, waking up and going to bed at the same time each day, eating balanced meals three times a day, moving your body, getting fresh air and making time for self-care.  

Once you’re there:

Stay in touch with people at home

At first, moving away from home can be a little lonely. You might be used to living in the same house as your family and having your friends just around the corner, so when that changes, it’s normal to feel homesick. Staying in touch with your people can help you to feel more supported and more like yourself. Make sure that you’re phoning home often and sending your mates five-minute voice notes/ podcasts to keep them updated.  

Get to know new people

While it’s great to stay in touch with home, it’s also important to make new friends and build a support network once there. Joining a club/ activity/ hobby that you enjoy at home and invite new housemates to eat together or explore the area. It’s worth remembering that most people at are in the same position of not knowing anyone.  

Once you’re there:

Remember to rest

When you move somewhere new, it can be hard to say no to social events where you have the opportunity to meet new people. It’s only natural that you want to make new friends but just make sure that you’re carving out time to rest as well. When we don’t rest, we risk getting burnt out, and this can wreak havoc on our mental health. So, don’t be afraid to say no to things when you need to, there will always be more chances to socialise.

Once you’re there:

Get on top of your workload

Whether you’re studying or starting a new job, it’s a good idea to get organised with your workload sooner, rather than later. Deadlines and projects can be stressful, and when you’ve already got so much going on, it’s important to stay on top of things. If you’re struggling, there’s some great free online project management tools out there!

Signs you might be struggling

As we’ve said, it’s normal to feel a bit anxious about moving away from home, but sometimes these nerves can become something more serious. If you’re having the symptoms below, you might be experiencing an anxiety disorder.

Physical

• Pins and needles

• Shallow breathing or breathing rapidly (hyperventilation)

• Feeling nervous, restless or tense  

• Panic attacks

• Feeling sick or dizzy  

• Trembling

• Experiencing gastrointestinal problems, such as IBS

• A fast, thumping or irregular heartbeat  

• Trouble sleeping

• Sweating or hot flushes  

• Feeling weak or tired  

• Muscle tension

Mental

• Feeling like you can’t stop worrying, or that bad things will happen if you stop worrying

• Difficulty concentrating

• Having a sense of looming danger, panic or doom

• Worrying about anxiety itself (worrying that you’re worrying too much)

• Worrying excessively about the future

Emotional  

• Feeling like you’re losing touch with reality

• Feeling tense, nervous or unable to relax  

• Feeling like the world is speeding up or slowing down

Behavioural

• Avoiding everyday situations that trigger anxiety

• Being unable to enjoy leisure time, such as time off work, holidays or hanging out with friends  

• Being bad-tempered

• Missing lectures, not participating in lectures/ seminars, and avoiding social situations

When and where to get professional help

Ask yourself: is anxiety affecting your everyday life? Are you constantly worrying? Are you struggling to manage your symptoms? If the answer is yes, it’s time to speak to a healthcare professional. Remember, there’s absolutely no shame in asking for help; everyone has ups and downs with their mental health.

To access support, you can make an appointment with your GP who will talk you through treatment options and possibly refer you to a mental health service. If you’re at university, most campuses will have mental health services where you can go for advice too.

One thing to think about is that there are often waiting lists when it comes to receiving mental health support, so if you’re looking to get help quickly, you might want to check out ieso’s professional cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) service. We offer talking therapy for a range of mental health issues, including anxiety.

You can refer yourself on our website and we’ll put you in touch with a therapist in days. All of our sessions are online and our appointments are flexible and designed to fit around you. You can speak to a therapist via our secure portal by typing back and forth. We also offer video calls in some areas. Find out more about how we can help here.

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