What Is Empty Nest Syndrome That Actor Gwyneth Paltrow Has Been Experiencing?

Gwyneth Paltrow's empty nest Recently, actor Gwyneth Paltrow was in the news for announcing that she has been feeling 'incredible sadness' and a 'deep sense of impending grief' after becoming an 'empty nester'. A term used to define parents of kids who have reached a certain age, empty nester or empty nesting means a house where one or more parents live after their child/children have left home to settle elsewhere for studies, work, etc. Paltrow, 51, revealed in a recent interview with The Sunday Times that after her son Moses leaves for college this year, and her stepson Brody also leaves for school, her morning will drastically change with no kids in the house. There is a name for the grief parents feel: 'empty nest syndrome'.What is empty nest syndrome? Empty nest syndrome basically describes the sadness that parents feel, coupled with some amount of distress, when their children move out. It is quite common in the West, where children often move out when they attend college, or settle elsewhere for work and to build a life of their own after they reach a certain age. People experiencing empty nest syndrome may display sadness, a feeling of loss, grief, irritability and anxiety. It impacts both men and women.Signs and symptoms As a parent, how will you know if you are experiencing empty nest syndrome? Watch out for the following signs: frustration over a lack of control (especially for helicopter parents), a loss of purpose, emotional distress, marital troubles (especially if the couple's marriage revolved around their children), anxiety about children and their well-being.How to treat it? Parents need to first realise that re-adjusting to this new life may take some time, weeks and even months. They must acknowledge their feelings. But, if they feel too overwhelmed, they may seek therapy. A licensed healthcare professional may help them deal with feelings of fear, loneliness, depression, or sadness, especially if these feelings are impeding their everyday life.Coping with empty nest syndrome Parents must make peace with this new aspect of life. As mentioned earlier, if they are struggling, they can see a mental health professional. Besides that, they can rearrange their life, go back to pursuing a hobby, stay in touch with their children as much as possible, exercise self-compassion, etc. If it gets too hard, they may even reach out to their friends and peers who are experiencing something similar, start a journal of feelings, practise mindfulness and meditation, and exercise during stressful times.

What Is Empty Nest Syndrome That Actor Gwyneth Paltrow Has Been Experiencing?

Empty nest syndrome basically describes the sadness that parents feel, coupled with some amount of distress, when their children move out.

Gwyneth Paltrow's Empty Nest