Dear Hella:

“when I have come back I have felt this strong sense that all the worries I have in regards to this common friend group just disappeared”-

It is often the case that young people are distressed after leaving home, feel nostalgic about their childhood home, go back, experience relief/good feelings, and too soon, the old distress of living in their childhood home returns just like it was before.

“I just worry that I’m running away from things by not being in my hometown”-

-sometimes running away is the thing to do. For example, a deer better run away when chased by a mountain lion.

I wonder if by not running away, by returning to your childhood home (or living close to it, being there often) and hometown, you will be trying to fix and change your relationships with your siblings, and/ or with your parents, and friends, as well as their attitude if/ when you date a woman there?

anita