Hi everyone! I am new to this forum. I have struggled with different forms of anxiety since my childhood. I want to know if any of you adults suffer from separation anxiety from your children? I have been a full-time stay-at-home-mom since our first child was born. Looking back now, I have had what I think is adult anxiety separation since our first son was born. I actually didn't leave him alone with my husband (or anyone else) until he was 10 months old! He is now 17 and our other son is 15. When our oldest turned 16 and started driving last summer, I started having anxiety and depression. I worried so much about him driving, going to his job, walking in parking lots alone, etc. At the end of each school year, I go into a depression because I know that our boys are one year closer to leaving home. Many parents can't wait for their kids to leave, I don't want ours to ever leave. I know that is not right and I can't even enjoy them "today" because I have so much fear and anxiety for the future and their leaving home. I guess I thought that everyone else's kids would grow up, but not mine. Pretty stupid, huh? Kind of like, everyone else is going to die, but not me!

I can remember having separation anxiety from my parents when I was around 7 or 8. When they would go out on their date nights, I would cry or scream and one time broke a necklace. I was so afraid that they would die in a car wreck and not come back. I would wake up on those nights in the middle of the night and run to their room to make sure they were in their bed. Then, I could relax...that is till the next date night.

So, somehow, this separation anxiety has carried over into my relationship with my kids. Am I afraid of being alone? What is the core/root to this type of anxiety? Is it a feeling of not "being in control?" Can anyone else relate to me on this topic and have any advice for me? Thank you.

Lori