Peter Pan Syndrome is a term used in psychology to describe those who have difficulty growing up. These people often struggle with adult responsibilities and maintaining adult relationships. Many people have difficulty with adult responsibilities. The term Peter Pan syndrome was named after the boy who never grew to be a man. It first appeared in Dan Kiley's 1983 book The Peter Pan Syndrome, Men Who Never Grown Up. This term refers to adults who are physical but not emotional. Peter Pan syndrome is also known as a failure-to-launch syndrome. Adults with this syndrome avoid adulthood's personal and professional responsibilities.

Peter Pan syndrome can lead to a person not being able to do the daily necessities of life such as paying bills, chores around the house, helping their partner, or co-parenting with children. However, Peter Pan syndrome is not a recognized mental disorder or any official diagnosis made by the World Health Organization (WHO). If you are doubtful about Peter Pan Syndrome, talk to an Online Counsellor and get to know more about Peter Pan Syndrome through Online Counselling. 

Ways to recognize Peter Pan Syndrome

Peter Pan syndrome is a condition in which adults hold on to the joyous, carefree youth of their life. Peter Pan syndrome is a condition in which adults are unable to accept the responsibilities of growing up. This includes financial, emotional, and career obligations. It's actually a term that describes a set of behaviors that includes avoiding responsibility, prioritizing pleasure, and shirking responsibility.

Peter Pan Syndrome can affect both men and women, although it is more common in men. The disorder manifests in an inability to accept responsibility, make promises, or take action, excessive concern about their appearance and self-esteem, and a lack of confidence. If you want help from the best “Psychologist near me” for addressing these concerns, talk to the best Online Counsellor and seek help.

People with the "Peter Pan Syndrome" are known for constantly switching partners and seeking younger ones. Other common traits are:

• Avoid making major or important decisions. Not accepting adulthood. Avoid making decisions in major life areas, such as relationships and career paths. It also includes not being able to plan long-term goals or make plans. 

• Being emotionally unavailable. Someone with this syndrome resists maturing and might not be emotionally available. They might not want to be in a relationship with someone they care about. They may avoid relationship problems in healthy ways, or leave relationships if they find them too difficult or serious.

• Poor financial management. People with Peter Pan syndrome might not have developed a sense of financial responsibility. They might be financially inept. They may lack the work ethic and earning potential, have poor money management, waste money, be careless about their possessions, or seek instant gratification.

• Not having a career or professional goal and not making progress. Peter Pan syndrome adults may lack a strong work ethic. They might lose their jobs frequently, skip work or be late for work often, or they may move around from one job to the next without learning new skills. They might even refuse to work or not make an effort to find a job.

• Living in unrealistic professional goals. People with Peter Pan syndrome might have unrealistic or lofty ideas about their work and careers. For example, they may feel that they "should" be a professional musician or athlete. Without the necessary education or work experience, they may feel that they are "shoulder" to be a CEO. They might have aspirations and dreams, but they don't put in the work to realize them.

Overcoming Peter Pan Syndrome

Although there is no single cure for Peter Pan syndrome (or any other condition), there are steps suggested by Best Psychologist in India, which can help you to take action to improve your outlook and grow.

1. Learn why you might have Peter Pan syndrome. Understanding your symptoms and motivation behind not maturing emotionally, can help you to find new ways of approaching things and dealing with them.

2. Work on developing core life skills. Harvard University experts say that core skills are essential for the successful management of work and relationships. Such skills include: being capable of setting and meeting goals; paying attention to the important things; being capable of managing emotions and stress.

3. Awareness: Evaluating the people and situations around you and finding our place in them can help you become more emotionally mature. Being able and willing to adapt to changes can also help you to overcome peter pan syndrome.

4. Develop executive function skills.  Executive function is a way to organize and self-regulate. This can make you more independent and productive. These executive skills can help you achieve many things. The Executive functions skills include Prioritizing; Initiating tasks; Completing tasks; Self-awareness; and Self-control.

You can improve your executive functioning by using calendars and planners, setting goals, holding yourself accountable (or asking others for help), visualizing the week, month, and year ahead, planning accordingly, and using journaling strategies to track impulse control.

Talk to the best psychologist in India. 

A therapist or an Online Counsellor may be able to help you if you are having trouble accepting responsibility for your own life and growing up. Top Psychologist in India can help you identify the root cause of your struggles. They can also assist you in choosing the right course of action. You may also be able to identify co-existing conditions such as anxiety, depression, substance abuse disorder, ADHD, and trauma.

Contribution by: Dr (Prof) R K Suri, Best Clinical Psychologist & Life Coach & Mr. Utkarsh Yadav, Counselling Psychologist