Why am I so scared to leave my hometown?
Leaving a lifelong hometown triggers intense fear and anxiety that often causes plans to fall apart right before a move or trip. This physical and emotional overwhelm stops people from experiencing new places or pursuing changes they genuinely want to make.
What people tried
Every workaround mentioned in the threads below. We haven’t tested any of them — and nobody here is claiming they worked.
- 1thinking it through and being intentional about the new location
- 2taking a few trips to see how you like the potential new area
- 3Starting with smaller domestic trips or nearby destinations as a trial
- 4Choosing less populated or more familiar regions to reduce culture shock
- 5Consulting with a medical professional or therapist for anxiety treatment
- 6Relying on family's ability to fly out a couple times a year and stay for a while
- 7Reminding oneself that the move is a dream, adventure, and smart financial decision
- 8Reassuring oneself that moving back is an option if the distance is too difficult
In their words
Unedited, most upvoted first, each linked to the thread it came from.
“as much as I want to move, there is a level of anxiety about moving for me.”source ↗
“I’m just a little anxious because other than a few years in college, I’ve always lived in my hometown town…”source ↗
“anxiety through the roof about leaving TN for the PNW”source ↗
“My biggest worry is about moving away from my family.”source ↗
“I think knowing so far in advance that we are leaving is giving my mind too much time to wander.”source ↗
“I get the idea to go somewhere, research different places, create a map, calculate my budget, and then… I get scared of actually doing it, and the whole thing falls apart.”source ↗
“I’m afraid that during those 2–3 weeks away, my partner will somehow forget about me or stop loving me.”source ↗
“I’ll end up in a foreign country feeling nothing but anxiety and won’t be able to enjoy the trip at all.”source ↗
“I also have a very sensitive nervous system and tend to get overwhelmed by too many impressions and experiences very quickly.”source ↗
“Leaving my hometown is something that has many reasons. My wife and I don’t truly feel connected here.”source ↗
Where this came up
People with this problem also raised
- 2How to move abroad or travel without leaving your pets behind
- 2Is it worth leaving the airport during a long layover?
- 2Why is traveling to a new place so mentally exhausting?
- 2Handling hostile outgoing IT providers during migration
- 13Why does watching kids grow up make you feel so sad?
- 4How to deal with loneliness during solo travel