My daughter is studying abroad in Italy this semester. I didn't expect to be this panicked about the distance.

"She usually only comes back for holidays like Thanksgiving or school breaks, so I assumed I'd be fine with the distance. But I didn't factor in how different it would feel with her in a foreign country where she doesn't speak the language, with a six-hour time difference (almost half a day), and the reality that I can't easily get to her if she needs me."

"The time zone difference is making this all more difficult Her day in Italy is winding down while mine is only half begun, which makes it tricky to find a good time to check in. When she was at college in the same time zone, she usually FaceTimed me after dinner. Now, we both keep forgetting each other's time. On a recent call, when I told her I had just eaten lunch, she laughed and said, "Oh, I forgot you haven't finished your day yet.""

"I'm reminding myself that my anxiety is normal As I read, I came across the "Stages of Transition" and realized I could relate to the "Gray Zone," the stage when students first arrive and face normal challenges adjusting to a foreign country. I then realized that my time zone checking, constant worrying, and dreams about booking a heroic rescue mission were normal."

A parent feels intense anxiety after their daughter left to study abroad in Rome. The parent imagines worst-case scenarios and cannot quickly reach or help the daughter. The six-hour time difference disrupts usual check-ins and increases worry. The parent compares the experience to college drop-off and finds the distance and language barrier more unsettling. The parent reads about the "Stages of Transition" and identifies with the "Gray Zone" of early adjustment. The parent normalizes time zone checking, constant worrying, and intrusive thoughts while acknowledging that safety is the primary concern and hoping for the daughter's safe return.

Read at Business Insider