Gwyneth Paltrow has admitted that the prospect of becoming an 'empty nester' is giving her 'a nervous breakdown'. The actress, who attended her son Moses's high school graduation with ex-husband Chris Martin, told The Hollywood Reporter: 'I started being like: Oh my God, I need to quit my job and I need to sell my house and I need to move. It's putting things into turmoil.'
Paltrow, whose daughter Apple is now 20, said: 'My identity has been being a mother... I've oriented my whole life around them and their schedules and when school starts.' She is not alone among celebrities: Gordon Ramsay confessed he was so 'gutted' when his son Jack left for university that he sat on his bed wearing a pair of his pants. Rob Lowe, Elizabeth Hurley and Heidi Klum have also spoken about their torment over empty nest syndrome.
Dr Scott Lyons, a holistic psychologist, says parents go through phases of 'independent distancing' as children become less reliant. 'While some parents might sigh in relief... many others feel an ache, a sudden emptiness, or a gap in connection.' Celia Dodd, author of The Empty Nest, agrees it is 'such a momentous change' but says it is possible to manage the transition by embracing the new dynamic. 'The empty nest is usually seen as an end, but it's actually the beginning of a whole new adult relationship with your child.'
