Empty Nest Syndrome - Depression When a Child Leaves Home

FYI Health Tip

Empty Nest Syndrome is real and it can impact both mothers and fathers.

We’ve all heard of Empty Nest Syndrome, and yet it’s not actually a clinical “syndrome.” Empty Nest Syndrome is a term used to describe the sadness you may feel if your child is getting married, going away for college, or even leaving for sleep over camp.

Health Poll

Loading ...

The spiral of sad emotions that get set off can lead some parents into a severe clinical depression. Though it was thought that Empty Nest Syndrome was felt harder by women, because fathers today are equally involved in their children’s lives they also suffer from empty nest syndrome.

There are a variety of reasons you may feel sad, and one of the reasons is your routine both physical and emotional has changed. Any time there is a major shift in someone’s routine sadness can occur. From waking your child up every morning to worrying where they have been late at night, your thoughts days and night have been filled with parenting. According to MSNBC’s Dr. Gail Saltz:

“THOSE MOST AT RISK FOR THE EMPTY NEST:

Those who have difficulty with separation and change.
Full-time parents.
Those who also struggle with menopause, retirement, and aging parents.
Those who feel their child is not ready to leave home.”

Risk factors aside, if you are suffering from Empty Nest Syndrome try and focus on developing new routines. Take up a hobby, maybe go back to school, take a vacation, and remember your baby bird will fly home again soon— they’ll need to borrow money.