Empty Nest Syndrome

Not only does the new college student need to acclimate to his new surroundings and situations, so do the parents. This is probably the first time the student has been away for a long period of time and it can be problematic for the whole family. I like to refer to this adjustment period as “The Empty Nest Syndrome” and hope that I can survive the ordeal without too much discomfort or tears. Time will only tell.

They say this is not a critical condition, but many parents feel grief and loneliness when their children leave home. These symptoms of empty nest syndrome often go unrecognized and this can result in depression and a loss of purpose for parents, since the departure of their children from "the nest" leads to adjustments in parents' lives. Symptoms of empty nest syndrome can include depression, a sense of loss of purpose, feelings of rejection, or worry, stress, and anxiety over the child's welfare. Parents who experience empty nest syndrome often question whether or not they have adequately prepared their child to live independently. Empty nest syndrome is especially common in full-time mothers. Adults who are also dealing with other stressful life events such as menopause, the death of a spouse, or retirement are also more likely to experience the syndrome. Source: Wikipedia.org

Since I am a full-time mother dealing with menopause, the death of a parent, and my husband constantly travels for work (3 weeks out of the month), my prognosis is somewhat bleak. To help me cope, I use Skype, text, emails, etc. to enable communication with my son. I primarily text MONK so I would not bother him and kept my texting down to a minimum to avoid unnecessary aggravation for MONK and to allow him to adjust being on his own and becoming independent.

To cope with the inevitable, I sought help.

wikihow.com- How To Recover From Empty Nest Syndrome (8 Steps)

1. Prepare for the departure.
2. Shift aside the terrifying thoughts.
3. Explore the ways that you intend to keep in touch with your children.
4. Understand what empty nest syndrome is, so that you can recognize the symptoms in your own situation.
5. Accept support.
6. Start looking to your own needs.
7. Rediscover the love of your life.
8. Focus on some of the positive points of your kids moving out.


I took the initiative and took matters into my own hands. IF I focus on the positive, prognosis is good. As stated earlier, time will only tell.