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If you have a child, it’s not if, but when, your child grows up and it will be a new season of change because they will be moving out. It could be to a college dorm, getting life experience moving out on their own, and/or the more traditional getting married, and there is no way you and your partner are living here (not that they would want to). During this season of change, it can suddenly dawn on a parent that the home is about to get a whole lot quieter and that you are going to be the one having to take out the garbage after all these years of good solid parental upbringing (at least that’s what I keep telling myself as one of my kids are moving on out.).

Empty nest syndrome is a term that comes from way back in 1914 by an author named Dorthy Canfield and then later became a popular term amongst therapists to identify parents who are dealing with sadness, depression, low self-image, and feeling suddenly very alone in life.

This can be an extra challenging season as well for parents if they have focused all their energies on their child and wake up to their partner and realize they have no idea who is in the bed beside them.

On the contrary, a parent can spend so much time on their child that if there is trouble brewing between the partners, they might be staying together for just the child and now that they are grown up the relationship is now in crisis.   

 Overcoming the empty-nest Syndrome can be difficult, however, to get started, lets take a look at some very quick tips from couples counselling Calgary to deal with the blues of what may feel like losing your child.

Couples Counselling Calgary Tip #1: Reconnect with your partner.  

Couples Counselling Calgary Tip #2: Develop a Safety Network of friends and family that are safe in your life.    

Couples Counselling Calgary Tip #3: Develop new couple’s goals in your relationship.

Couples Counselling Calgary Tip #4: Use time that may now be more available to support an organization of your choice and consider volunteering.

Couples Counselling Calgary Tip #5: Increase your exercise, healthy eating habits and cultivate a routine of self-care.

Couples Counselling Calgary Tip #6: Consider professional therapy to support any anxiety, depression, stress, or relationship challenges.

Dealing with the empty-nest syndrome can be difficult for a parent to navigate through, however, it can also open up new doors of opportunity that may not have been seen before due to focusing your energies on that little one that is now not so little.

If you are still finding the empty nest syndrome is dramatically affecting you or your relationship, it may be time to seek out a qualified counselling therapist, clinical counsellor, or psychotherapist and begin to walk in New Life.