- What are the signs and symptoms
- What to do
- 1. Accept the moment
- 2. Keeping in touch
- 3. Seek help
- 4. Practice activities
The empty nest syndrome is characterized by excessive suffering associated with the loss of the role of the parents, with the departure of the children from home, when they go to study abroad, when they marry or live alone.
This syndrome seems to be linked to culture, that is, in cultures where people, especially women, dedicate themselves exclusively to raising children, their leaving home causes more suffering and feeling of loneliness, in relation to cultures where women work and have other activities in their life.
Generally, people in the period when their children leave home, face other changes in their life cycle, such as retirement, or the beginning of menopause in women, which can aggravate feelings of depression and low self-esteem.
What are the signs and symptoms
Fathers and mothers who suffer from the empty nest syndrome usually show symptoms of dependence, suffering and sadness, associated with depressive conditions, loss of the role of caregiver for their children, especially in women who have dedicated their lives exclusively to raising their children, being very difficult for them to see them go. Learn how to differentiate sadness from depression.
Some studies argue that mothers suffer more than fathers when their children leave home, because they dedicate themselves more to them, having their self-esteem lowered, because they feel they are no longer useful.
What to do
The phase when children leave home can be very difficult for some people, however, there are some ways to deal with the situation:
1. Accept the moment
One must accept the children leaving home without comparing this phase, with the phase when they left their parents. Instead, parents must help their child in this time of change, so that he can succeed in this new phase.
2. Keeping in touch
Although the children no longer live at home, this does not mean that they do not continue to visit their parents' homes. Parents can stay close to their children even if they live apart, make visits, make phone calls or arrange tours together.
3. Seek help
If parents find it difficult to overcome this phase, they should seek help and support from family and friends. People with this syndrome may even need treatment and for that they should see a doctor or a therapist.
4. Practice activities
Generally, during the period when the children live at home, the parents lose their quality of life a little, because they give up carrying out some activities they enjoy, they have less quality time as a couple and even time for themselves.
Thus, with extra time and more energy, you can dedicate more time to your spouse or even perform an activity that has been postponed, such as going to the gym, learning to paint or playing a musical instrument, for example.
