I'm a psychologist and Eldest Daughter Syndrome can leave women not wanting children later in life - because they've 'already parented younger siblings'

Dr LePera 述べるs how the oldest daughter often becomes the 'protector of the family', and can grow up feeling like a 'little adult'.?

Years later, those feelings, she?explains, can manifest as 存在 a grown-up who 'thinks it is your 責任／義務 to 直す／買収する，八百長をする everyone and everything around you.'

Although a 称する，呼ぶ／期間／用語 that's been around for １０年間s, Eldest Daughter Syndrome seems to be ますます recognised as people are more aware of their mental health.

On Rani's re-地位，任命する, the 称する，呼ぶ／期間／用語 certainly struck a chord.?

One woman wrote: 'I felt every word of that. The 激しい, 激しい 解除するing done as the oldest girl is 不公平な. 特に if your other siblings are brothers.'

Another 追加するd: 'I wish they taught this stuff in schools ーするために break these cycles at an earlier age!'

BBC 無線で通信する 2's Woman's Hour presenter Anita Rani 株d Dr LaPera's 地位，任命するs, 説 she knows it will 'resonate with 負担s of my brown 乗組員'?

Rani herself wrote: 'I had to repost for my South Asian sisters (and of course everyone else) but I know this will resonate with 負担s of my brown 乗組員…特に the eldest daughters.'

One who saw it agreed, 説: 'So true. It's only now as an adult that I am learning to just 高く評価する／（相場などが）上がる my life and myself. It's difficult to get out of that mindset.'?

On TikTok, a raft of memes, some dubbed 'eldest daughter 核心', also discuss the 問題／発行する, with some firstborn women 説 they chose not to have children of their own because they'd helped raise siblings and 'were done parenting'.?

TikToker @Melissallgall 株d a montage of the 役割s that eldest daughters feel like they have to take on, 含むing helping younger siblings with homework, 存在 a nurse, maid, server and discipliner.

TikToker Melissa Gallagher 地位，任命するd a montage on what it's like to be the oldest daughter in the family, 説 役割s 含むd 存在 a 'nurse, maid, server and homework helper'

Many firstborn daughters have 報告（する）／憶測d not wanting children in adult life because they spent time parenting younger siblings?

The 傾向 has 誘発するd thousands of comments on the 衝撃 Eldest Daughter Syndrome has on people's lives.?

One person wrote: 'First gen, eldest daughter, w/ a strict しつけ, about to turn 27 next week and I can’t even IMAGINE another human depending on me rn'.

Another woman 追加するd: 'Yep, eldest daughter. I carried a lot as a child and I just do not have the energy to parent another human.'?

So, is anyone 現実に at fault? In 2009, the Netmums Birth Order 報告（する）／憶測 調査するd almost 10,000 mothers and 設立する that they had much higher 期待s of their oldest children when it （機の）カム to academic and career success, 説 they had 少なくなるing 期待s with each new その後の sibling.?

Such high parental 期待s made the eldest children more susceptible to 苦悩 or 不景気 later in life, 研究員s said at the time.?

FEMAIL asked 借り切る／憲章d Psychologist Dr 示す Rackley to explain more:?

WHAT IS ELDEST DAUGHTER SYNDROME???

Dr 示す says that while Eldest Daughter Syndrome is not an 公式に 認めるd psychological diagnosis, it is 'a 称する，呼ぶ／期間／用語 that is used to 述べる a 始める，決める of behavioral and emotional patterns that are often せいにするd to the eldest daughter in the family, think of it as the c ousin of 'middle child syndrome.'?

He says: 'It is used to 述べる the ありふれた experiences of eldest daughters in the family. These ありふれた experiences 含む a 高くする，増すd sense of 責任／義務, in some 事例／患者 存在 a second mother to the younger siblings.?過度の 圧力 to 後継する, to bring 肯定的な attention to the family and 始める，決める a good example for the younger siblings.?

'It can be hard to 始める，決める healthy 境界s with the parents, as the eldest daughter is parented 異なって to the other siblings. Finally, it can create a 欠如（する） of 自治 and independence, as the eldest daughter feels she has to 従う with her parents wishes, sacrificing her own.'

WHY ISN'T THERE AN ELDEST SON SYNDROME??

For men, it seems 'Sons 落ちる into the more generic 'eldest child syndrome ' 部類, rather than this 存在 gender 明確な／細部', says Dr 示す.?

'With Eldest Daughter Syndrome, it is gender 明確な／細部 予定 to the cultural and gender 期待s placed on girls and then this getting played out in the family and then how the girl is 扱う／治療するd.?

'In some cultures having a boy is still seen as superior to having a girl, so the 期待s placed on the girl can be greater to を取り引きする the 失望 the parents have about having a daughter and not a son.'

Dr 示す Rackley

WHAT PROBLEMS CAN ELDEST DAUGHTER SYNDROME CAUSE??

'This can create challenges for the eldest daughter. Sibling 競争 can come about as the eldest daughter feels a sense of 不正 regarding the parental 期待s on her and this 存在 vastly different to the other siblings,' says Dr 示す

'It can also lead to 憤慨 に向かって the parents as the eldest daughter struggles under the 負わせる of their 期待. This can 原因（となる） 緊張, arguments and a 有毒な 関係 - between both parties. It can also lead to mental health difficulties such as 苦悩 and 不景気 as the daughter struggles to 対処する in an oppressive 関係.'

CAN YOU OVERCOME EDS IF YOU FEEL YOUR CHILDHOOD WAS SHAPED BY IT?

Dr 示す says although it's challenging to change the 衝撃 of your formative years, it is possible...?

'When we are children, we have 限られた／立憲的な 力／強力にする and 自治. We are very much as the mercy of the family and 環境 we grow up in. When we become adults, we have independence, 成熟 and the 力／強力にする of our own 発言する／表明する at our 処分. We also have choice around what we think, do and who we want to be.?

'We are all 形態／調整d by our childhoods, as we know scientifically that our 環境s and culture 形態／調整 and 影響（力） our personality. However, just because we are 形態／調整d by it, does not dictate that we are stuck with it.'?

DR MARK'S ADVICE FOR NOT LETTING YOUR PAST DEFINE YOUR PRESENT< /span>?

'If you feel that the 需要・要求するs, 期待s and challenges placed on you as the eldest daughter are making you unwell or no longer serve any 目的 in your life, it's time to shed them.?

'This can mean 法外なing out of a 役割 that you did not choose and no longer want. Setting healthy 境界s around 関係s tells others what they can and cannot 推定する／予想する from you. However, you are the one deciding this not your parents.?

'You may also need to go to therapy to help you find your 発言する／表明する and 行為／法令／行動する on 肯定的な changes that you want to make, as 明白に some parents will not want or 尊敬（する）・点 the new changes in the 関係.'

For more on Dr 示す Rackley's work, visit drmarkrackley.com