Can "empty nest syndrome" also apply to a 40 year old woman who never had the children she wanted?

Answer 1

No empty nest syndrome is what people feel when there last child grows up and moves away, what you are feeling is most likely depression over the fact that you never had children. I suppose that some of the symptoms are the same, depression is depression the only difference is how sever and over what!

Have you ever thought about becoming a foster parent? There are a lot of children out there who need a family or a nice safe place to stay while there family gets it together. It can be a very rewarding thing to do for a child and for yourself. If not become a mentor, that is a cool thing to do also, again there are a lot of kids in need of the many talents you have to offer,

Just because you do not have children of your own does not mean that you can not make a huge impact on a childs life.

Answer 2

You are feeling grief for the children you never had. Empty nest is also a grieving process. I thought so many years ago I couldn't go another night without sleep. Now at 46 and 2 grown children I feel a great sadness deep inside. I believe you are feeling a loss of something you never had. I am very sorry.

Answer 3

You know what, I disagree with those other two(2) answers and I'll tell you why. If you've ever owned a cat you might have seen this strange phenomenon. A female cat that has been spaded before she has any litters will do this as she gets older. She'll settle on one, maybe two(2) items, usually shoes or heavy socks, maybe slippers, they'll disappear, you won't be able to find them. When you do, shes got them some place dark and out of the way........like she would if they were her baby's. She treats them just like that, when you find this place it becomes clear what she's doing. I'm not the only one who's observed this, as I was growing up we always seemed to have cats, so my Mom and brother have also watched this. We had a hard time getting those things away from her, when we did.....she'd find some more "baby's". I would imagine some women were supposed to be "mothers", they held this feeling so deep that they would actually feel as a mother might feel in respect to certain things. I wouldn't let it bother me if I were you, it'll pass. Just as God prevents a woman from seeing the birthing process as a painful thing, maybe it's his hand that's making you feel the "empty nest" feeling, you get to experience it without it being so....LATER>>>

Answer 4

Well, technically, you have to fill the nest before you qualify to get the blues because the fledglings have all flown. The expression is situation-specific.

HOWEVER, it isn't necessarily too late for you. I had my last at 39. My older daughter had her last (I hope!) at 39. And my younger daughter, never married, never pregnant, is searching sperm donors right now at the age of 39. It's still possible to have a bird in that nest of yours!