Welcome to Gaia! ::

I'm taking a big step here and I think it's about time I do. I can't live with my parents forever and that's all. For one thing, it's pathetic to be 30 and still there. Another thing, kids shouldn't live with their parents as long as they live. Plus the parents won't be there forever and heck they even need more alone time as far as I'm concerned. I started with applying for hud and they put me on a waiting list. I'm going to call for a screening so i can get a ny application for benefits like health and food stamps. A therapist at Partial is helping me through the process. We made checklists and even a unofficial budget which seems to say i'll have over $100 left over each month to do with what I please. Best that I save bit of it, too though. Right now I have an obsticle of paying a speeding ticket, but in all likelyness they won't even be ready for me to start looking for some place for a while. I will start saving money from now on, but possibly put most if not all of my tax returns into a credit bill I owe on. So what's everyone's first experience with moving? How was it? I expect I'll probably be crying alone for awhile till I'm used to it and staying strong at work, which I have no problem doing, since every time I've had problems and had to go to work anyway, I had no problems at work.

I moved out of home when I was 17 and it did a world of good for my mental health. Since I was still in education my parents paid my rent so I didn't have to worry about that which was nice.

The sense of accomplicement that came with being independent was fantastic though. Simple things like being able to sit back and think, 'I'm doing my own washing' can do a world of good.

With mental health problems you can often feel very much out of control. Taking some of that back, even just in a purely practical way can be really useful.

I have to say for myself though, I don't know how I'd cope if I weren't living with friends, thats more to do with the nature of my problems though, its nice to have somebody stop you (sometimes forcibly) from going to play in traffic xp
But hey, I won't know until I try!

I've recently moved out, too. When I was younger I thought I would never be able to live on my own and take care of myself. Moving out really changed things for the better, and made me more independent. I got a huge self-esteem boost from it, to know that I could do this just like everyone else. If you move out and at first think, "What have I done? I can't do this..." just hang in there. I felt like that at first, that will pass as you get more used to it and get into the new rhythm of living on your own. Money's pretty tight for me too, but I've learned a lot about what I need and what I don't, and when to treat myself to something special and extra just for the heck of it.

Don't be afraid to do it at your own pace, though. Don't worry about being "pathetic." Even though I'm independent now, I still sometimes go back and stay in my mother's home for a night or two if I'm having a hard time. Do whatever you need to do to feel comfortable and don't be afraid to ask for help, it's good to push yourself, but not so much that you get overwhelmed and break down. I'm sure you know the cycles of your illness better then anyone, though. Just pay attention to your own needs and you'll be just fine. It gets a lot easier as time goes by, and I bet it'll be easier then you might think. Good luck!