I have been so anxious lately adjusting to our empty nest and I don't really know how to handle it.

Rae, I am sorry to hear of your struggles.

It sounds like there may be some "empty nest syndrome" which is not a clinical diagnosis but a normal part of parenting and the adult process. This requires adaptation among the ones that remain at home as well as the relationships with the children that have left the home. Your family system has changed significantly. Some feelings associated with this can be sadness, irritability, resentment, anxiety, loneliness and guilt. The changes associated result in new role definitions within the family that can cause discord and tension, especially among the married parents at home. Your roles are redefined from parents to a couple which is understandably difficult after being defined as "parents" for so many years. Now your focus shifts. This is a temporary shift. 

It is normal to experience a feeling of loss and grief through these transitions. It can also be a time to build on a relationship with your spouse that has likely not been seen as "couplehood" for many years. What you are experiencing is common. You may find support in other parents that have experienced the same or are going through what you are currently. Reaching out to others can often relieve a sense of isolation and feeling like we are alone in our struggles. It can be very validating in knowing others are also having the same issues. There is comfort in knowing we are "not alone". If what you are experiencing persists you may want to consider speaking with a professional counselor independently or with your spouse, depending on their willingness.

This can be a time to redefine who you are individually and as a couple and to process the growth and experiences you have had for the past years of parenting. Life is ever changing and with out change "nothing changes". This is a time of acceptance of the changes that have come into your life. Acceptance and awareness are key. Acknlowledge how you feel and understand why you are feeling this way. Find ways to support yourself, your spouse and your child through these transitions.  Seek positive coping mechanisms. To maintain your relationship seek ways to do activities together yet support your differences and acknowledge the adults you have become to be. "Empty nest" can be a new beginning and not seen as an end.