My eldest daughter is going to Camp America and it's making me ill

[NattyHen]

My eldest daughter has just turned 18 and is going to Camp America at the beginning of June. Last year when we started to look into it I was so excited for her and the opportunity seemed amazing, but now it's only weeks away I have turned into a mess. I suffer with anxiety anyway and it has raised its head ten fold. I'm crying myself to sleep at night, I even started sobbing in the car on my way to work, I'm so overwhelmed by emotion that I'm finding it hard to function. My daughter doesn't know how I feel because I don't want to deter her, but I've even wished that she'd break her arm or leg or something so that she can't go. My husband is very laid back and he doesn't seem worried at all. He doesn't know how I'm feeling although he has noticed that my mood is different. My daughter has never flown before, although she has a trip to Barcelona booked for a few days next month, I hate flying so I think that is part of my anxiety. Apparently she will be flying out with other camp members and she has been speaking to them on a WhatsApp group so that's reassuring, but I am so scared that we'll get to the airport and she'll be flying alone. I don't think I could cope with that. Even now, writing this I'm crying again...

Thanks, yes I've pushed myself to do things over the last 3 years that I thought I would never do and learned that whilst its not always pleasant at the time, sometimes the lead up is worse and when you're actually getting on with it you slowly start to feel more confident and then the buzz afterwards is amazing.

This is different because its going to be for months but it's prompted me to look at my current anxiety meds and realise they don't do much for me and maybe there are better ones - I'm on one med and have been for years, I didn't realise there were different medication types, I presumed these don't work and short of going up the doses which doesn't appeal I thought I was just stuck this way and it was the best I would get.

Get some counselling for your anxiety op.

Hi, I just wanted to say that I feel exactly the same as you. I have an anxiety disorder which I’m medicated for and my daughter is going to America for 9.5 weeks to do Camp America and I feel sick with anxiety. I think once I know she’s settled and happy, I’ll be fine but it’s the not knowing. She’s an anxious girl too who has a history of panic so hoping it doesn’t get on top of her. She’ll be homesick for her long term boyfriend too. I want her to have the best experience but it’ll be hard having her away so long x

Like you op I have been very anxious at my 18 year old dd going . I just came back to let you know my dd has arrived at camp. She was anxious about getting a connecting flight with a short turn around but she has done it, the first time flying on her own. She has arrived at camp and says all the staff are lovely. It all seems well organized. MY dd has gone to a camp in North Carolina and the area looks beautiful.

I just wanted to say my daughter is much younger (nearly 14) and wanting to do lots of stuff and I am terrified. Very similar level of anxiety ! It's just horrible isn't it. I am on HRt and antidepressants. I think I actually need more HRT.
I think it is linked to the menopause but also I didn't get on with my mum and I'm worried history will repeat.
I just want to wish you luck. If you can't get under it, over it then sometimes through is the only way. I like to tell myself 'this is hard but it won't kill me' x