Moving house today and feel riddled with anxiety over it

[Lefmry]

Like the title suggests we are just moving house today. We needed to move, we’re expecting our third child so needed to go from a 2 to 3 bed and the new house is closer to my partners new job. I can’t help but feel absolutely sick to my stomach over it though and like I’ve made a huge mistake.

I suffer badly with anxiety as it is and I’m about 99% sure I’m ND in some way as along with many others things I cannot cope with change at all, it physically makes me ill. I’ve woken this morning convinced I have a stomach bug but I’m sure it’s just my brain.

We last moved 4 years a go when we only had our eldest who at the time was 2 and it didn’t feel as bad as this. Please tell me at some point it’ll feel better? 😖 We still have some things at the old house we need to get and I can’t wait because it means I get to go back to the place I feel is my home.

Any advice or positive stories? 😩

I have the same reaction to moving house, and also suspect I am autistic. I find even rearranging furniture in a room difficult to deal with. My last move was terrible, I had constant panic attacks and couldn't stop crying. The new house just felt wrong, smelt wrong and just didn't feel safe. I was in such a state I ended up having to go to my parents to be calmed down whilst poor DP dealt with the removals men adding guilt into the mess for not being able to pull myself together.

What I can say to reassure you is that it does pass - I can guarantee that you won't feel like this forever. You just need to take it one day at a time. Try to see it as like a physical illness like a bug. It's not your fault that you've go this anxiety, you just need to endure it, look after yourself and it will get better.

Also, bear in mind that empty houses feel really disconcerting and things get better as you bring your furniture and belongings in. I don't think there's a house in the world that feels like a home when it's empty, and that gut reaction when you get the keys and walk in to an empty house and just can't imagine living there is a horrible feeling that is probably the trigger for the anxiety spiral.

I had screaming nightmares the week before we moved house. I also don't deal well with change.
A month in with all my familiar things around me I was more settled.

You have described me perfectly honestly. I am currently sat in the car with the kids whilst my partner deals with telling the removal men where to put things. I am using the excuse that it’s keeping the kids out the way whilst they unload the van but really it’s because my car is familiar to me, I know what it smells like, what it looks and feels like. I know that when I go in that house it’s completely unknown! 😩 I don’t know what it smells, looks or feels like and I hate that.

I honestly feel so, so ill over this. I actually really wanted to move believe it or not, I hated the idea of being in that small house with a newborn. I actually can’t believe how badly I’ve reacted to this! 😩

In a week or two once you've acclimatised things will feel so much better! I think some people are able to move and just take it in their stride and compartmentalise any anxiety they have, but I think it isn't uncommon to find it horrendous.