"When parents contact me for coaching about their struggling adult children, I know one thing for sure: Even when a child is grown and lives their own life, the parental radar does not turn off. You may notice symptoms such as distance, defensiveness, reactivity, or exhaustion, which can be clues that your adult child is struggling with an emotional battle. Let's look at five overlooked signs that your adult child may be hurting."
"The sign: Your son or daughter has stopped responding or only sporadically returns texts or calls. They used to be up for joining in family activities, and now you hear, "I don't know, I'll see how I feel." Why it matters: Although it is not a healthy option, retreating leaves adult children feeling like they are escaping the need to explain what is bothering them. In this sense, their withdrawal is a sense of self-protection."
Parents commonly notice distance, defensiveness, reactivity, or exhaustion as indicators that an adult child may be emotionally struggling. Five overlooked signs include pulling away from connection, unpredictable moods, masking stress that appears sideways, persistent self-doubt, and other subtle behavioral changes. Withdrawal often functions as self-protection and can show up as sporadic communication or avoidance of family activities. Responding with gentle curiosity and offers to listen can reopen emotional connection more effectively than guilt. Persistent self-doubt can signal depression, untreated trauma, and decreased self-esteem requiring attention and support.
Read at Psychology Today
Unable to calculate read time
Collection
[
|
...
]