As children leave home for higher education, many parents, especially mothers, face a challenging transition known as empty nest syndrome. This emotional period requires time and adaptation as parents adjust to a new phase in their lives.
“It felt like my life had come to an end,” said Leeza George, a UAE mother who struggled with depression and a lack of motivation after her son Aditya left to study Medicine at the University of Sheffield in England. She described her experience, saying, “I felt lost and uncertain about my purpose. It’s as though my life has come to an end now that my child is grown up and has left. It was depressing. I felt so empty and missing him was overwhelming.”
Empty nest syndrome (ENS) is not classified as a clinical diagnosis or mental health condition but is a common and natural experience for parents. Experts emphasize the importance of understanding and coping with this transition. For Leeza, the departure of her only child intensified her feelings of loss. She recounted spending hours in bed, avoiding social interactions, and feeling deeply demotivated. “Now that I’m feeling much better, I realize I should have considered therapy, as I was deeply depressed and demotivated,” she admitted.
Leeza found solace in mindless TV shows to avoid thinking about her son.
Although her friends suggested joining social circles, she was already occupied with work. She advises other parents to explore new hobbies and activities they’ve always wanted to pursue during this period.
Similarly, Sajida Al Bashir, a Palestinian expat, experienced the same feelings of emptiness when her sons left for Canada for college. “I can still remember the day I dropped my boys off at the airport. They were leaving for Canada for college. As soon as we got home, the house just didn’t feel the same. It felt empty,” she shared. Sajida missed the lively atmosphere her sons brought to their home, including their conversations and laughter.
Sajida’s sons, Amjad and Ahmed, left home the same year. The absence of their daily routines, like having lunch together, made the transition even harder. “I started missing the conversations and laughter we shared in the car while going to school together. We used to come home from school and have lunch together, but all that changed, and my schedule also shifted,” she recalled.
Although Sajida acknowledges that it gets easier over time, she remembers her anticipation when her sons returned for their first vacation. “My heart raced and tears welled up when I saw them. It felt like my world had returned as I watched them sleep peacefully in their room. Sometimes, I would quietly open their door just to reassure myself that they were really home,” she said.
To cope with empty nest syndrome, experts recommend maintaining open communication within the family, staying positive, and seeking support when needed. Dr. Nada Omer Mohamed Elbashir, a consultant psychiatrist at Burjeel Hospital, Abu Dhabi, explained, “Encouraging open communication within the family, maintaining a positive outlook, and seeking support when needed can all contribute to a smoother transition.”
Dr. Shaju George, a psychiatrist at International Modern Hospital Dubai, advised parents to prepare for this stage in advance. “They need to learn to prioritize themselves without feeling guilty. People can do this by finding and indulging in new hobbies or doing things that they are passionate about. They can try and make new friends, try to find solace in spiritual things, and must stay connected to friends and family members,” he said.
