Empty Nests Support Group
Empty nest syndrome is a general feeling of depression and loneliness that parents/other guardian relatives feel when one or more of their children leave home. Empty nest syndrome has become more prevalent in modern times, as the extended family is becoming less common than in past generations, and the elderly are left living by themselves.
So I checked this board every day for months. As my second son prepared to move out I did not handle things at all well. Once he was gone I was constantly depressed and had panic attacks frequently. Then in Sept my son's fianc moved in with me. She has been with me for 7 months and my son is here at least 3 days a week seeing her so it is like having him back as well.
Now the wedding is two weeks from today and I woke up at midnight with a major panic attack. I am so upset that my youngest is going off to a concert tonight and it will be just me and my husband. I don't know when he is leaving or when he is coming home and I am worried about vacations this summer and who will be able to come and who won't.
I am freaking out about the wedding too and having so many people around and if we will have a family dinner or if my son will just hang out with his friends.
So many thoughts and feelings running through my head. Could not sleep. Finally got up and took some sleeping pills. Now I am stuffy headed and headachy this morning.
How do I do this again? I hadn't even made it to a stable place when she moved in and now I have to lose her and my son again. I don't know want to go back to that place again.
Now the wedding is two weeks from today and I woke up at midnight with a major panic attack. I am so upset that my youngest is going off to a concert tonight and it will be just me and my husband. I don't know when he is leaving or when he is coming home and I am worried about vacations this summer and who will be able to come and who won't.
I am freaking out about the wedding too and having so many people around and if we will have a family dinner or if my son will just hang out with his friends.
So many thoughts and feelings running through my head. Could not sleep. Finally got up and took some sleeping pills. Now I am stuffy headed and headachy this morning.
How do I do this again? I hadn't even made it to a stable place when she moved in and now I have to lose her and my son again. I don't know want to go back to that place again.
I think I was visualizing them leaving and never coming back. That tore me apart.
My oldest son just moved out last week and he's already been back twice to get things and hang out.
I had a lot of panic because I was afraid I'd feel lonely and afraid. Now that he's out, I'm making his room into a guest room and I'm looking forward to inviting friends to come and visit. I'm also planning a bunch of little day trips with friends.
The key for me was, instead of preparing to be sad and lonely when they left, I prepared to have fun when they left.
I have been fortunate to have them staying close so that has helped me alot and even though they r getting older,i'm not in full empty nest attack yet.
I think one key that helps is if you have a loving spouse...who can hold you and give you the hugs and kisses your kids used to give you. Unfortunately I don't...so when my kids leaves some day...the hugs and kisses I used to receive from them will go unfulfilled...which will make their leaving even more unbearable.
I hope when my kids leave, that I find it as an opportunity to do things and meet people I didn't have a chance to while raising them. If so, maybe I'll have a tiny bit of reprieve from missing them so much.