All of us experience feeling anxious at one point or another. Anxiety is an emotion, and emotions exist to guide us in how to react to different situations. The purpose of anxiety is to warn us to get ready for some future threat. Anything which takes away the feeling that you have control over your life can be anxiety-provoking, and a lot of anxiety comes from not knowing what is going to happen in the future – both in relation to specific events and just in general.

When living away from all that’s familiar, it’s common to feel anxious, with so much new information to process and so many decisions to make. Sometimes, though, excessive anxiety damages your quality of life. It may cause symptoms that you don’t expect. Chronic sleep issues, irritability and having difficulty concentrating might show up in your everyday experiences and interfere with daily functioning. If this sounds familiar, counseling can help you better understand the sources of your anxiety and how to cope, helping you feel less overwhelmed and more in control.