How to Treat Failure to Launch Syndrome

Currently, 36 percent of all young adults ages 18 to 31 are living with their parents, either having moved back or never having left in the first place, according to Pew Research.  A recent Gallup poll touts that of this number, 12 percent are married couples live with the parents of one of the spouses too.

Many parents wrack their brains in frustration over how to appropriately handle an adult child living at home. While some parents are ready to be empty nesters and can’t get their children to leave, others feel just the opposite and do whatever they can to aid in their children staying with them. In those situations, a lot of enabling behaviors generally take place on the parents’ part, and likewise, the adult child takes advantage of the situation.

Negative Consequences

Delaying moving out of the family home and becoming independent hinders the entire family as a whole. The natural progression of life includes raising children to become self-sufficient, and when a child isn’t prepared well for that, they may be fearful of leaving and have a lot of self-doubt regarding their capabilities to support themselves. Likewise, parents who assume the role of caretakers for adult children often lull their offspring into a false sense of security. Truthfully, some adult children move home due to more appropriate circumstances — like losing a job — and end up staying for other reasons, like all the money they’re saving by not paying any bills.

The Hidden Culprit

The Washington Post reported that the number of young adults living in their parents’ homes in 2008 had risen to over 5 percent more than the previous year, showing an increase in this trend. Don’t assume that your son or daughter’s disinterest in moving forward is merely who they are, or that you did something wrong. Often, the solution to ending your adult child’s dependency is another disorder, which can cause a great deal of self-loathing and really depreciate how someone feels about their self. Some of these disorders are:

When mental health or substance abuse disorders are treated, a lot of the problematic side effects of such will disappear. This leaves the young adult with a clear mind and maybe even some ambition and a streak of independence, rather than a clouded mind of worry and a general lackluster outlook on life. While medication may be necessary for many of these disorders, other component causes of failure to launch syndrome — like the person’s upbringing, environmental factors, and psychological and emotional factors — are also weighed heavily and assessed for treatment. Beyond all of this, Psychology Today points out the importance of encouraging forward movement in the life of the delayed young adult; putting even small plans into action can be the first step toward moving on.

Getting Back on Track

At Optimum Performance Institute, we understand how it feels to be both the adult child who hasn’t launched out into the world on their own and the parent of that child. We have the utmost confidence in the treatment programs we offer to young adults and know we can help to deliver successful results.

Our inpatient program centers on helping young adults to find the courage they need to overcome their fears and accept reality. During your stay here, you will participate in a variety of activities that will help to build your self-esteem. We will assist you in all walks of life; from continuing your education to finding a job, we can help. Please don’t hesitate to call and speak with us today about the path to an independent life.