<p>I don't know if this is the right forum but I wanted some serious replies..</p>
<p>I am an international student and I live in the boarding school.. It was hard to seperate from my family at first but now I am okay with it. My issue is that I always think something bad is going to happen to my family. I used to check up on them several times a day to make sure they are alive, but I call them less these days since I am so busy with all the college apps but if I don't check on them, I get so nervous I can't get on with other things.
I also think I am always in danger... I have to sleep late everynight because I wait until my roommate is asleep so that I can sleep with the light on and my door locked. I haven't been tramatized by anything..I haven't been able to tell anyone about this at school. No one knows this side of me. I hold leadership positions at school, play sports and have many friends. I can't get work done or sleep properly because of this..Is this common in others or is this something I should take seriously?</p>
<p>Check out OCD or Obsessive Compulsive Disorder.<br>
Wikipedia has a starter section that might be helpful. Do let your roommate know that you seem to need to go to sleep after her and that the light seems to be important. That way he/she won't unconsciously keep you up or mess with your light in the middle of the night. </p>
<p>Sleep is really important. Without adequate sleep, you may move to lots of sugar and/or caffeine to pump your body up during the day. Definitely check in with the school nurse/dr and get help. These things are always easier when help is sought on the early end instead of the deep end.</p>
<p>Definitely see a doctor. The thing about anxiety is that when it keeps you from sleeping, the sleep deprivation triggers more anxiety-- especially if you do end up resorting to stimulants to stay awake during the day. I have had anxiety treated before just with techniques to help me sleep, that alone would make a difference for you.</p>
<p>Your post reminds me of what parents feel (at least me) when their kids go off to college. It's that feeling that something is happening in their life, and I'm not a part of it. What I am describing isn't any particular paranoia, just that feeling that we are drifting away. The difference between your feelings and mine may simply be that you're a kid and not "supposed" to think about those things. You probably have a very warm homelife, and you have a vivid imagination. You are separated a great distance, and often add that distance in your fears.</p>
<p>Here's what may help: speak to a teacher or a mentor (RA?) about your fears. You need to reach out and begin to make a connection with someone else who can help to replace (substitute) that feeling you have at home. It's that feeling of safety. It's not that you have any specific a feeling of danger, it's just a feeling that you're not all alone.</p>
