As a young adult…
- Do you struggle with motivation to pursue school, personal goals or career aspirations?
- Are you socially awkward and do you withdraw or isolate from family or friends?
- Do you still live at home?
- Is your sleep routine reversed or off?
- Do you rely on your parents for financial support, decision-making and daily tasks?
- Are you unhappy with how you’re living your life but lack realistic ideas or a plan to improve things?
- Do you avoid responsibilities such as keeping your room clean, paying bills, scheduling appointments, managing your time or finances, or making long-term plans?
- Do you spend endless hours with technology?
- Do you struggle with low self-esteem, anxiety or your mental health in other ways?
If you answered “Yes” to these questions, you may be experiencing Failure to Launch Syndrome.
What is Failure to Launch Syndrome?
Failure to launch Syndrome refers to a situation where young adults face significant challenges in achieving independence and transitioning into adulthood, and it can manifest in various ways:
- A lack of motivation or ambition
- Social anxiety and/or social avoidance
- A disrupted sleep-wake cycle (staying up late at night and sleeping most of the day)
- Difficulty maintaining employment or staying in school
- Withdrawing from family, friends or social activities
- Overuse of video games, social media, etc.
- Impulsivity
- Defiance or moodiness
- A poor work ethic or difficulty completing tasks
- Feelings of being stuck
- Low self-esteem, self-worth or self-efficacy
- Substance use or behavioral addictions
Potential Causes of Failure to Launch Syndrome
While there is no single cause to Failure to Launch Syndrome, research in this area has revealed that the following factors can lead to significant problems in developing appropriate independence, autonomy and agency in young adulthood:
- Psychiatric or psychological disorders (e.g., Depression, Anxiety or Substance Use Disorder)
- Neurodevelopmental disorders (e.g., Autism, ADHD)
- Overprotective or enmeshed family relationships
- The rise of screen culture and the gig economy (e.g., wanting to be a social influencer, a professional gamer or doing drop shipping from home)
- Personal traits (e.g., low motivation, a poor work ethic, a lack of ambition)
- Past trauma where an unresolved traumatic experience disrupted normal development
- Parental divorce or disruptive family relationships
- Frequent relocations as a family
Treatment for Failure to Launch
- APPS is comprised of mental health clinicians who have extensive experience in treating individuals with Failure to Launch Syndrome. Our approach involves both assessing and treating the challenging syndrome for the individual in need, as well as providing support to involved others (e.g., parents) when appropriate.
- During your initial phone consultation, a team member will gather in-depth information to determine if you are a good fit for our program.
- In your initial consultation, the appropriate clinician will meet with you for a clinical evaluation.
- That clinician will then develop a treatment plan to address your specific needs. This may include a combination of coaching, family and/or individual therapy, psychological testing and/or psychiatric medication (if warranted). The focus of the treatment will be to identify the root or underlying cause(s) to your failure to launch and to then work with you toward developing the skills and coping mechanisms needed to become a fully functioning adult.
