When Your Young Adult Seems Stuck

"When your young adult is living at home and seems stuck, it's one of the hardest things a parent can face. After years of making sure homework gets done, carpooling to practices, and helping your child reach for every opportunity, it's heartbreaking to watch your capable young adult seem lost, unmotivated, or uninterested in building their life. Whether your child struggled through school and needed support or was once self-driven and ambitious, seeing them spin their wheels can leave parents feeling helpless."

"If your young adult isn't engaged in work, education, or a treatment program addressing the barriers to independence, it's time to bring in professional help. As unhappy as you may feel as a parent, they are often more unhappy-stuck in confusion, shame, or fear. It's human nature to move toward independence and autonomy. When that drive stalls, it usually means something deeper is in the way- anxiety, depression, executive functioning challenges, or developmental delays."

Some young adults take longer to achieve independence and may return to or remain living at home. Lack of engagement in work, education, or treatment often signals underlying barriers such as anxiety, depression, executive functioning deficits, or developmental delays. Professional assessment and support from a therapist or coach can identify obstacles and guide small, meaningful steps toward autonomy. Parents should validate their own difficult emotions, accept their child's current state, and balance patience with clear accountability and boundaries. Maintaining parental self-care and steady expectations supports gradual progress while avoiding rescuing behaviors that hinder independence.

Read at Psychology Today