Hi Jana. Welcome to the forum. I've been finding it very interesting and helpful since I joined, as well.
At least now you've got a group that'll be you'll be able to keep in touch with when you go away to University. If it's any help to you I can tell you about some of my experiences when I was a mature student.
I was dreading the first term, because I was sure that everyone else would be 18 and not interested in speaking to me at all. I couldn't imagine how to start a social life and really began to wonder what I was getting myself into.
In fact, I found that there were lots of other people who'd worked for years before going back into education - many of us had been told by 'helpful' teachers that we weren't degree material anyway! I found that everybody, young and more adult, felt very strange at first and we were all glad to just get chatting and going along to the Freshers' Fair to see what clubs and groups were on offer. I just couldn't believe that there were no age or sex barriers to people being friendly. We all just got talking about subject choices and options and went off to the bar for a drink together.
Join a few things, and go along to a meeting or two, just out of curiosity. You'll have proved to yourself that you can do it, even if your're not over thrilled. As a mature student you're also elibible to join any Post Grad Society of any university, so take advantage of it. I really had a good time there as lots of the members are from all over the world, so you can make good friends and contacts for future travel.
The Student Services will have a counselling and support department, so you could think about contacting them before you get very anxious to let them know that there are times when you need extra support. They're experts in the field of people being away from their home support system and will be able to off good help and constructive ideas as well. You'll find that the teaching staff are also very sympathetic if you're feeling low because it's not uncommon, especially at certain stressful times when people are studying.
You're on the threshhold of a wonderful and creative periiod of your life, where you'll grow as a person and discover your potential for unlimited development. Just take a great big deep breath and go for it!
My love and good wishes go with you
Starship
Hi, am new here & wanted to say hello. I have suffered with anxiety attacks for near on 8 years now. I have ben on various meds to help, & am on a mild anti-depressant at the moment, well, I've been on it for 5 years now! I have seen a pyschologist twice, I have attended cognitive behaviour therapy.... which was awful, made me feel 
as I didn't seem to click with anyone in the group nor did I have any sympathy for them. I have tried some alternative therapy, aromatherapy helped a little. Reading through some of the messages here, I do agree with the fact that our minds seem to accept help, but then they wise up & continue to torture us again. I also suffer with depression.... just to top things off! The meds I'm on actually help to control my mood swings. I'm due to start university soon, but am dreading the fact that I will have to venture further outside my home town. I have started to read thru the first chapter of the Panic Attacks Prevention Program, it seems the same as the cognitive behaviour therapy programme, but perhaps I will be better doing it solo. Anyway, that is it from me for now. blessings to all, Jana