Tuesday, May 6, 2014

Empty Nest Syndrome

  1. Empty nest syndrome - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

    en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Empty_nest_syndrome
    Wikipedia
    Empty nest syndrome is a feeling of grief and loneliness parents or guardians may feel when their children leave home for the first time, such as to live on their ...
  2. Empty Nest Syndrome | Psychology Today

    www.psychologytoday.com/.../empty-nest-syndrome
    Psychology Today
    Definition of Empty Nest Syndrome: Empty Nest Syndrome refers to feelings of depression, sadness, and/or grief experienced by parents and caregivers after ...
  3. Empty nest syndrome: Tips for coping - Mayo Clinic

    www.mayoclinic.org/.../empty-nest-syndrome/art-20047165
    Mayo Clinic
    Apr 18, 2012 - Empty nest syndrome — Understand how to deal with sadness after your last child leaves home.
     
    This is the second time in my life I have been through Empty Nest Syndrome. The first time I was in my early 40s and it was one of many reasons that ended my 2nd marriage. So, if you are married and want to stay married just understand that if this is your last or only child leaving the nest for college or whatever it is difficult for "Real" parents who devoted their lives to raising their children for 18 years to cope with. 
     
    For me personally I'm less afraid this time because my wife and I are more mature and likely better able to cope with this on multiple levels than my ex-wife and I were. However, that doesn't mean it isn't daunting. For example, it is hard to value yourself when your child goes away to college or moves out, it is harder to make sense of who you are and where you are going. 
     
    Now people who have never had children might wonder what all the fuss is about but until you are responsible for someone from birth to help them survive and prosper to age 18 (or the rest of their lives if they need you for one reason or another) they might not understand what this is all about.
     
    But, for me, I have been raising one or more children since I had my first biological son in 1974 and I just turned 66 and my youngest will soon be going away to college. My wife is friends with the mothers of my daughters best friends too. And all three of the mothers are having a tough time right now. However, luckily I just have to make sure my own wife makes it through this even though the other two mothers are mutual friends of both I and my wife and have been since our daughter were in about the 8th grade at their private school which is quite a while now.
     
    Here are some tips that might be helpful:
    Products and services
    The Mayo Clinic Diet book

    Empty nest syndrome: Tips for coping

    Worried about empty nest syndrome? Find out how an empty nest can affect parents, what you can do to prepare for the transition and how to cope. By Mayo Clinic Staff
    If your last child is all grown up and about to leave home — or he or she has already moved out — you might be experiencing some mixed emotions. Understand why empty nest syndrome happens and what you can do about it.

    What's empty nest syndrome and why do some parents experience it?

    Empty nest syndrome isn't a clinical diagnosis. Instead, empty nest syndrome is a phenomenon in which parents experience feelings of sadness and loss when the last child leaves home.
    Although you might actively encourage your children to become independent, the experience of letting go can be painful. You might find it difficult to suddenly have no children at home who need your care. You might miss being a part of your children's daily lives — as well as the constant companionship. You might also worry intensely about your children's safety and whether they'll be able to take care of themselves on their own. You might struggle with the transition if your last child leaves the nest a little earlier or later than you expected — or at a time different from when you did. If you have only one child or strongly identify with your role as parent, you might have a particularly difficult time adjusting to an empty nest.

    What's the impact of empty nest syndrome?

    In the past, research suggested that parents dealing with empty nest syndrome experienced a profound sense of loss that might make them vulnerable to depression, alcoholism, identity crisis and marital conflicts.
    However, recent studies suggest that an empty nest can also provide parents with many benefits. When the last child leaves home, parents have a new opportunity to reconnect with each other, improve the quality of their marriage and rekindle interests for which they previously might not have had time.
     end quote from:

No comments: