Midlife crisis: Signs, stages

As you get older, you can begin to look back on the previous decades of your life, possibly with fondness, perhaps with relief, but also with sadness or regret.
Sometimes you can feel certain that your “best years” are behind you, leaving you with nothing to look forward to but long days of calm, a purposeless existence, and slow physical and mental decline.
When you face these existential concerns and realize that your life has taken a different shape than you envisioned, you may begin to wonder if you are on the brink of crisis. scary middle age or not.
Only about 10 to 20 percent of people actually face some kind of crisis in middle age. Experts mostly consider the “midlife crisis” to be a cultural phenomenon, a Western myth fueled by tiresome media ludicrousness.
The various changes that accompany this new phase in life often lead to a number of complex emotions. These feelings may not necessarily cause a crisis, but they are totally worth exploring.
However, the emotional turmoil some people experience in middle age doesn't always lead to major lifestyle changes related to wanting to be young again. In fact, a midlife crisis can turn into something positive.
Middle age is generally accepted as the years between the ages of 40 and 60, but there are about 10 more years on either side of this range. New roles and responsibilities, not to mention changes in your career, family life and health, can create a perception of middle age before you reach your 40th birthday.
Yes Maybe you had kids when you were young, so you're still in your 30s when they leave the house. Or, perhaps, early success prompts you to retire early, leaving you financially secure but somewhat emotionally and emotionally unsatisfied. Midlife crises can begin at a different time for everyone.

The concept of “midlife crisis” was coined by a psychoanalyst Elliot Jacques in 1965, after he noticed significant changes in one of his middle-aged clients.
His article on the subject, published when Jacques was in his late 40s, also addresses his perception of his own limitations and mortality.
According to Jacques, the midlife crisis leads to feelings of depression, grief, and loss associated with approaching the end of life. He also notes that it is often associated with a loss of creativity and confidence.
Along with the first mortality rate, the transition to middle age often entails other emotional disturbances, such as:
Decreased levels of happiness and life satisfaction. No purpose or loss of purpose in life. Lack of confidence Frustrated with changing roles and responsibilities in life. Bored and unsatisfied with your relationships, career, or life. Your concerns about your appearance and how others see you. Think about death, the meaning of life, and other life concepts. Changes in energy levels, from increased restlessness to unusual fatigue. Little motivation or interest in pursuing goals and activities you once loved. Mood swings include anger, irritability, and sadness. Changes in sex drive Pop culture would lead you to believe that men and women experience completely different types of life crises.
The so-called midlife crisis for men can involve luxury cars, unfinished family projects, and brand new jobs.
On the other hand, women's so-called midlife crisis, which is thought to be associated with boredom, decreased interest in sex and trying to hold on to youth.
However, gender does not automatically determine how you will feel about aging. Anyone can feel distressed by dramatic changes in health, sex drive, or brain function. Gender stereotypes are limiting and harmful, especially because they exclude anyone who doesn't identify as male or female.
That said, the hormonal changes associated with menopause can increase physical and emotional discomfort. And of course, society tends to associate the beauty and lust of women with youth. Therefore, middle-aged women are often pushed into the role of caregivers, disregarding sex.

Many experts consider the midlife crisis more than anything else. As a result, you are unlikely to find many lists with any evidence of major signs or well-defined stages.
Much of what people commonly believe about midlife crises tends to come from media portrayals, not scientific evidence.
In fact, the factors that cause age-related emotional distress and stress can vary quite a bit, based on your own situation and circumstances.
If you experience age-related distress, it can fall into one of three stages:
Trigger stage: Some stressor or a stressful moment that leads to concern about aging, loss of purpose in life, or fear of death. Common causes include job loss, health concerns, death or illness of a parent, children moving out, or even the day-to-day stress. Crisis period: This phase usually involves examining your doubts, relationships, values, and sense of self. If you don't like what you discover, you may feel lost and uncertain and try to reshape your life by discovering new passions, identities, and sexual or romantic connections. romantic. End stage: The “crisis” usually ends, so to speak, when you feel more comfortable with yourself and begin to accept, perhaps even welcome, what life has to offer. Research has found some evidence that happiness, or general satisfaction with life, is shaped like a U. It begins to decline in early adulthood, eventually reaching its lowest point in mid to late 40s. But then it started rising again.
This is quite common, it is true for people in 132 countries around the world, independent of any external factors that can affect life satisfaction and happiness.
Experts still don't understand why this drop happened, but some believe it may represent an evolutionary stage. In any case, it can help explain some of the grief you experience in middle age and provide some reassurance that these feelings are not permanent.

There is no set timeline for a "midlife crisis". Everyone experiences difficult and unpleasant emotions in different ways, and the process doesn't always go smoothly.
If you find it relatively easy to deal with aging and its associated existential concerns, you may be able to resolve these feelings within a few weeks or months.
On the other hand, if you continue to face new stressors that add to the pain you're experiencing, the crisis can last for months or even years.
Like when your child starts college, this makes you look forward to reconnecting with your partner. But then your parents' illness suddenly puts you in the role of caregiver again. Their burnout and health fears make it hard to put energy into your romantic relationship, especially when you're still working full time.
You feel your partner withdrawing, and the tension between the two of you makes you more tense. Other worries began to surface: Will they change? What if I get fired because I can't focus on work? Unless you directly address these concerns, they are likely to last.

Age-related grief begins when you recognize your own death and counteract the perceived limitations of age. Many people consider youth the most desirable gift.
The variety of anti-aging products and procedures on the market is only meant to emphasize the idea that you should maintain your youth, or peak health and appearance, at any cost .
Cultural assumptions about age also play a role in causing this condition. People often associate aging with unwanted physical and mental changes, such as:
Weight gain Poor and painful health Decreased attractiveness and decreased sex drive. Change in relationships Memory loss Loss of income and financial security As your middle years approach, you may feel afraid of growing old before you have a chance to experience life to its fullest, especially if you still haven't reached certain milestones or personal goals, such as buying a house, getting married, or publishing a novel.
At the same time, the milestones you reach can also lead to a midlife crisis:
Parents who define themselves as parents may feel lost and aimless when the children go out on their own. Parents who have to deal with work and childcare, plus most of the emotional burden, can “do it all,” but they are more likely to face an emotional crisis when faced with a crisis. face an additional source of stress.

The suffering you are experiencing is normal, no matter what you choose to call it. The following strategies can help you navigate those complex feelings effectively.

You may feel like letting go of your disappointment and hope it goes away, but putting these feelings aside usually doesn't help much.
Instead, document specific concerns by talking to loved ones or keeping a daily journal. You can also start the process of self-discovery by answering open-ended questions, like:
When do you feel most satisfied or satisfied? Who do you like to spend time with? What gives you meaning and purpose every day? How do you take care of your own needs?

Just acknowledging the passage of time can allow you to work through crises. It's true that you're getting older, but your life is far from over, and your choices don't have to match society's concept of middle age.
Many people end a life crisis, not by resigning to limitations, but by realizing the multitude of possibilities open to them.
Maybe you feel renewed when you embrace new hobbies and new creations, or maybe you find yourself wanting to change your diet, dress differently, go back to school or go on a random date .
All these changes are at your fingertips. Doing things that make you feel happy can help you regain a sense of confidence, purpose, and joy. You only have one life after all and it's never too late to start living for yourself.

It is natural for relationships, especially marital relations, to change over time. Sometimes these changes lead to unmet needs, along with other conflicts.
A strained relationship can make everyone involved unhappy, and lasting changes in relationships with children, friends, parents or partners can leave you feeling lonely .
Consider whether your emotional and physical needs have changed can help you better understand the areas that need development. Couples or family therapists can help you identify the source of relationship stress and explore your options for change.

As you may have noticed, many of the signs of a midlife crisis are sadness, irritability, little interest in life, thoughts of death that mimic the main symptoms of depression.
Connecting with a mental health professional is always helpful for any of these emotional or mental symptoms:
Lasts more than 1 or 2 weeks Affects relationships, friendships or work performance your job. Get in the way of your daily routine. Make it difficult to take care of your basic needs. Remember that mental health symptoms can certainly first appear when you reach middle age. However, it is also possible for mild anxiety or depression to get worse as you struggle with stressful life changes at other stages.
Psychotherapy can be helpful, regardless of age or stage of life. In fact, many therapists specialize in providing support for the life transitions and mental health symptoms that come along with these changes.
A therapist can provide more insight into what might be going on and help you discover new ways to find fulfillment.
As you approach middle age, don't think it's the end. After all, youth must come to an end, but your life is still ahead.