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.

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Shaynesmom 03/25/2017

My 23 year old son just left home today with friends who flew up from FL to help him move there from here, VT. He has lived with us full-time since high school and I can't stop crying. I feel so isolated despite having a wonderful husband (his step-dad) and great friends. My stomach is in knots and my mind is racing. How do you cope with this? We are very close and have had a great relationship. Over the moon happy for him as he is excited for this new chapter in his life. We repainted his room and got it cleaned...I can't even look at it because I see him in there on his computer or watching t.v. Now hubby is asleep, our 15 year old daughter is grappling with her own sadness upstairs and I feel lost and completely alone.

highwood 03/27/2017

I hear you! I just posted above you. My stomach is in knots to the pointI feel like throwng up. I have had trouble sleeping and eating. I want to get out of this funk.

britberlin 05/06/2017

My son is just about to move 500 miles away and although he does not want to leave our home city I encouraged him to take the job and now I am regretting it so much. I cannot stop crying and he is still here. I feel for you.

AllIsOk 05/15/2017

Hi there, hope you are feeling more positive since you've posted. I guess it's about what we are focusing on....yes, its hard for any parent to see their grown up child go. Just wondered, what interests do you have that you could put your focus on?

Ruby52 05/24/2017

Right there with you! Does anyone else think about how unfair it is to be dealing with the craziness of perimenopause at the same time?? I wonder how much it affects our ability to cope with this, too.

Calimom3 06/01/2017

I can't agree with you more! My stomach has hurt since Sunday when my daughter left. I don't want to leave the house. I wish there were some next steps we could take to find some sense of peace. I am also spending my nights worrying about the what if's.....let's hope we can heal quickly and find our new place as observers in our kids lives.

great.karma 06/10/2017

I am also going through the grief of moving away from my children. I know that I am experiencing grief.

"The five stages, denial, anger, bargaining, depression and acceptance are a part of the framework that makes up our learning to live with the one we lost. They are tools to help us frame and identify what we may be feeling. But they are not stops on some linear timeline in grief. Not everyone goes through all of them or in a prescribed order. Our hope is that with these stages comes the knowledge of grief ‘s terrain, making us better equipped to cope with life and loss. At times, people in grief will often report more stages. Just remember your grief is an unique as you are." On Grief and Grieving, by David Kessler

tldean65 06/19/2017

I just posted my story also. It is a feeling that you can't explain and would wish on no one. I also agree that menopausal symptoms probably aren't helping. My stomach is in knots my mind won't stop racing. It feels almost like dealing with a death. I am looking for a support group in my area but have not been able to find one. God Bless everyone.

asw1207 06/26/2017

I feel you! I know exactly how you are feeling! I am 50 and menopausal as well! Don't blame your grief on anything other than being a loving mother!

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