Cant stop crying over going to uni

[tess1pink]

Advise needed. My daughter has place to go uni (3hours away). Really wants to go but is extremely scared so much that she breaks down every time she thinks of being away from home. She says she know she should go and wants to. I have suggested deferring but she doesn't want to waste her time and she says she wondered if she did that whether she would go next year. Suggested going and trying it and if she cant get over the homesickness then come home, at least she would then know for sure if uni was for her. She wants to get a degree and a career and knows if she doesn't go now she will regret her decision when she is older but her continual crying is heart breaking. I feel like telling her not to go and to stay at home but I know it would be best for her to go and I am sure she will have a wonderful time. She has already made friends with her new flat mates and students on her course. Just a very bad case of homesickness. Any advice?

I think this is a good outcome. Students who are not ready for university have a very difficult time and won't do themselves justice. The very fact that she has the self awareness to recognise this is a good sign that in twelve months time she will be ready to go.

It sounds sensible that she has deferred if she was getting that upset about it.
She maybe overestimates how excited most teenagers are at starting uni though. My son is pleased to be going and ready to go but he's not been particularly excited. Also anxiety and excitement both trigger the same hormone adrenaline, so what one person perceives as excitement maybe perceived by another as anxiety.
If she gets anxious alot cognitive therapy may help her reclassify her anxiety as excitement and be less afraid of the feelings of apprehension racing heart etc.