Studying Abroad

[Grindog]

Hi there...

This is my first post so let me introduce myself a little bit. I'm 24 and I'm from Malaysia. I have social anxiety since I was 12 or 13.

I'm having a big problem right now. I'm kinda lost, I don't really know what to do.

I went to pursue my studies in Melbourne, Australia. I arrived almost 2 weeks ago and I'll finish in 16 months. I thought I'd be able to handle it but it seems that I can't. I had my anxiety under control back in Malaysia, I had my family, friends, girlfriend, etc. Things were going quite well.

But the past 2 weeks was a nightmare for me, since I arrived here. I don't know anybody here, I came here alone and I have to settle so many things myself... I'm having a hard time doing things that I was able to do before I came here, like taking the bus or going to buy food.

I'm in a new school, I'm staying in a student accommodation, and I can't talk to anybody there. I can't talk to anyone and I can't even eat properly anymore since I'm so scared to order food anywhere.

I have to confront so many situations that make me anxious everyday and I have no one to talk to when I get back "home", to my room.

I'm also having a hard time in classes. I have a few presentations to prepare and there is NO WAY I can do that right now. NO WAY.
I arrived in the middle of the year so all my classmates already know each other. No one bothered talking to me. I'm trying so hard to talk to people but I can never finish my sentences, I just get paralyzed.

I don't know what to do... I just feel like stopping everything and go back to Malaysia.

I need some advice from you guys

 

[Lea]

2 weeks is not much, just wait for a couple of months and see if it got better. Adjustment in a foreign country takes time.

 

[UnOccupied]

That would be a scary, challenging situation for anyone with SA. The best thing to do is to take your tasks one thing at a time. Don't focus on everything at once. Break things down into smaller tasks. And, if you have a lot to do in one day, make a list and schedule your day.

One very important thing i do now is i force myself to feel relieved when i get something done, or accomplish something. For instance if i have been putting my laundry off for a few days, and i finally get it done, i stop, sit down for a few minutes, and take the time to feel the actual feeling of relief for a minute or two.

Hope this can help you, even if its only a little tiny bit