Transitioning into adulthood comes with a sudden and often overwhelming amount of responsibility along with the newfound independence. This can not only be anxiety-provoking, but it can also often be completely handcuffing for young adults. Those who struggle to successfully transition into this new period in their life or are simply unsuccessful in doing so are colorfully known as having Failure-to-Launch (syndrome). Often those who fail to launch are unable to get or keep a job, can’t seem to plan for their future, haven't moved out of their childhood home, find themselves chronically depressed, and may even be self-medicating with various substances. They may stay up all night hiding from their stressors deeply enveloped in the fantasy world of video games or lost down a rabbit hole of YouTube videos. 

Failure To Launch is more than just a Rom-Com Starting Matthew McConaughey and Sarah Jessica Parker. It’s a real social and emotional issue dealt with by one in five families according to a 2016 analysis by Jamie Anderson, according to Zillow analysis of American Community Survey data. And now while in the second year of a global pandemic where young people were asked to plan for an even more uncertain future while participating in most or all of their classes virtually. But what is Failure to Launch Syndrome? Well, it’s not a Syndrome per se, but rather a term used to describe young adults who struggle to transition into adulthood and venture out on their own. The causes and triggers can range from diagnosed social-emotional difficulties such as Autism Spectrum Disorder, or Generalized Anxiety Disorder, but more often are not based on any diagnosed disorder, but rather based on a series of compounding events making preparation and activation on plans to begging their adulthood separate from their families even more difficult with every day and every failed attempt. This wonderful article by the National Center for Biotechnology Information correctly restates the term “Failure to Launch” as “adult children living at home and highly dependent on parents.”

We must take into consideration that this is not a diagnosis, it is not a result of bad parenting, it is not about failure, and that these young adults arent’s simply lazy, but rather have real conscious and unconscious issues contributing to their struggle to manage the transition. There may be undiagnosed or misdiagnosed mental health or learning challenges, there may be chronic self-doubt or a history of bullying. They may feel they live in the shadow of an over-achieving parent or sibling. Regardless of where the challenges are stemming from, they are unquestionably impacting the young person’s abilities to take these important developmental steps.  

What are some symptoms or indicators that my child may be struggling to create this plan for independence?

• Lack of ambition or motivation

• Feeling “stuck” or “stagnant”

• Constant and pervasive procrastination

• No apparent direction

• An inability to make decisions or constantly add new directions or options

• A poor work ethic academically or in past jobs

• Self-centeredness that may be accompanied by explosiveness when things don’t go their way

• Difficulty managing stress

• Challenges with emotional regulation

• An inability to take responsibility, ownership, or accountability

• Constantly comparing themselves to others or too high standards and using these as a reason to not even try

While causation is as unique as the individual, these may be some of the most common and visible symptoms of transition challenges and may be accompanied by an internal struggle that the individual is unable to verbalize. 

We at Integrated Creative Therapy continue to use outside-the-box and strength-based thinking to support young people as they navigate the complicated strategical, administrative, organizational, and emotional skills necessary to see themselves successful in an intimidating world away from their families. Utilizing aspects of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, and powerful executive functioning and social-emotional support allows us to support our young clients as they develop actionable and manageable plans to transition into the next phase of their lives and the independence so important to young people.