Feeling disoriented and empty is normal when the kids leave home - especially for parents who have been heavily child-centered for a couple of decades or more. If you have felt like this for only a few months, don't worry about it; just let the loss and grief work its way out of your system. However, if it's been 5 months since the kids have been gone and you're actively hurting, then I'd suggest seeing a mental health professional. Sometimes we just have to work through the issue more consciously and with guidance before we can chart a new path for ourselves. Professional counseling really helps people, giving them renewed energy, purpose and optimism. A mental health professional can also assess whether your problem is situational or related to a chemical imbalance - although if you've never been prone to depression in your life before, it is unlikely that you are suffering from it now. However, get a professional to help you determine what is really going on and to find a remedy for it.   Sarah Chana