HEALTH + WELLNESS
We respond to new schedules , preferences , health and education needs . We add and edit and sometimes groan about the sheer effort involved .
We celebrate and weep and lose sleep . We are surprised and energized and stupefied and exhausted . We organize and re-organize and re-stock , and then one day — it all stops . Or seems to stop . Or we anticipate it stopping and panic .
When the nest empties — either because our children have gone away to school or work or have left us in some other way — it can be excruciatingly abrupt . Or not . People have different responses , all of which are very , very normal .
Some people anticipate a big adjustment and start grieving or planning early . Some people get smacked with big emotions when the day finally arrives for a daughter or son to move on and out .
Some people feel primarily relieved and excited ; some feel primarily lost . Either way , we all feel a whole host of emotions all at once — even if we don ’ t recognize them all . This is how it always is . We are always feeling a masterful mix of emotions at once ; we just tend to focus on the one that is taking up the most space and energy .
Lisa L . Cashion , MA , MDiv , LCMHC , NCC
Carolinas
Wellness Collective — Working with Individuals , Couples and Families for Mental / Emotional / Relational Wellness
But it is likely that an empty nest causes pride and relief and regret and grief and hope and joy and fear and loss and excitement and confusion and curiosity and despair and gratitude — all at once .
And because each of these singular emotions has its own physiological component , well , the result is a pretty uncomfortable physical , mental and emotional disorientation .
So , if you have felt like that or are feeling that now , you are normal . Yes , normal .
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