When you’re young, all you want to do is become a grown-up so you can do whatever you want. You probably remember thinking that same thought. And you probably also remember someone telling you be careful what you wish for or not to rush it along.
Both of those hit pretty hard as you approach your adult years. Being an adult and having to “adult” is hard! As you approach that state of independence, there are a lot of changes that come with it. Having real-world responsibilities, higher expectations, and less of a safety net can be overwhelming.
If you’re feeling anxious about adulting, fear not. You’re not alone in these feelings. Here’s some information to help you through.
Separation from Parents
For most of your childhood, your parents/parental figures have guided your life practices. Their schedule and routines are yours. Their traditions and ways of completing certain tasks are yours.
When it comes time for adulting, you need to figure out some of these things on your own. You have to decide whether you want to keep these practices or form new ones of your own. The transition towards independence means separating from the old, dependent bonds and paving your way forward.
Fear of Responsibilities
More than likely, your parents/parental figures have been key players in your life up until this point. You’ve lived under their roof, maybe received an allowance, had your meals prepared, and your laundry was done. In the grand scheme of things, it’s not too bad of a gig.
During the adolescent and high school years, the only things you truly needed to worry about were going to school, studying, and maybe working a part-time job. You could enjoy extracurricular activities and bounce around your social calendar without much care or struggle.
Transitioning to adulthood means you now have to handle more of these responsibilities on your own. You are faced with moving out of their house and into your own residence. You’ll have to pay your bills, cook meals, do your laundry, and keep up your own space. You also need to decide whether to pursue further education or enter a career. Finding time to date and keep up with social activities is no longer easy and carefree.
Fear of Feeling Alone
As you transition to adulting, there are multiple reasons why you might start to feel alone. Aside from starting to separate from your parents, if you’re moving at a different pace than your peers, you may feel like you’re on a solo journey. You may also experience some separation from your friends as you move in different directions or on different journeys.
The natural progression after maturing is to find a mate to share your life with. As you become more of an adult, you may fear ending up alone or find a dislike in your time already spent alone.
Exploring Other Possibilities
With each generation, movement along major life milestones becomes more and more delayed. Your parents may have been married and bought a home at a very early age. That was considered normal. Nowadays, there are way more options available that can put a wrench in the “traditional” timeline.
People are staying single for longer, they are exploring other possibilities, and they are taking longer to settle down. The options in adulthood alone can cause anxiety for just about anyone. Taking your time and not hitting these traditional milestones can cause feelings of anxiousness.
If adulting, or the thought of adulting, is getting you down, reach out to us to schedule a consultation for anxiety therapy.