A midlife crisis is an important transition that almost everyone goes through in some form. It comes during that middle period of life when we’ve achieved the goals of our younger selves but haven’t fully transitioned into enjoying our golden years. Some may be at the peak of their careers and spend time reflecting on the first half of their lives. Others may use this time to look back at their life with great regret or remorse.
No matter the situation or life experiences, a midlife crisis can be a difficult transition to navigate. This article will arm you with some general information about midlife crises as well as some tips to help you navigate this critical transition.
What Is A Midlife Crisis?
When most people think of a midlife crisis, they draw up images of 50-year-old men divorcing their wives and buying sports cars. However, this stereotype does not accurately reflect the reality of midlife crises.
Anyone of any gender can go through a midlife crisis. It is not something that only happens to men. Furthermore, there is a wide age range that can experience a midlife crisis. Typically this transition occurs somewhere between the ages of 40 and 60. However, some may begin the experience as early as their mid to late 30s. The timing completely depends on the life experiences and mental state of the person in question.
The stereotypes of midlife crises also aim to make fun of a situation that is often a serious transition. Though it is seen as a period in life where someone is desperate to feel young or relevant again, the fact is that this is often the first sign that someone is seriously grappling with their mortality.
They often spend this transition in reflection of their successes and mistakes. They may ruminate over their regrets and find little satisfaction in life. Therefore, despite all the jokes made about midlife crises, this is actually a very serious and intense transition regarding one’s mental health.
Typical Signs Of A Midlife Crisis
Entering middle life and grappling with mortality can weigh heavily on the mind. Therefore many of the signs of midlife crisis pertain to one’s mental health. Though everyone’s transition will look different, there are some common symptoms that pop up for many people:
- Depression
- Mood changes
- Decreased motivation and willpower
- Changes in sexual desire
- Loss of purpose
- Self-doubt
- Decrease in happiness
- Boredom or dissatisfaction with relationships, career, or life in general
- Fluctuations in energy levels
- Increased thoughts and focus on death and other existential subjects
Tips For Navigating A Midlife Crisis
Understanding the transition you are going through does not always make it easier. There are multiple emotional, physical, and life changes people go through during this period. Below are some tips to help you start coping and navigating your midlife crisis with a bit more ease.
Talk With A Counselor
A midlife crisis is not a simple walk in the park. Throughout this transition, you may experience feelings of regret, anxiety, depression, and even grief. This is a lot to handle on your own.
Talking to a certified counselor can help you process your emotions and help you to find joy and peace in your middle and golden years. They will help you work through the regrets and help you find peace and satisfaction in the present. With a counselor, it is safe to discuss feelings of grief and depression and to discuss thoughts of mortality or other existential topics.
Meet Like-Minded People
If you don’t want to talk with a counselor, then building up a support group can be just as helpful. Having a group of friends or peers who are the same age and have similar experiences can help stave off the loneliness and other negative emotions that are common in this transition.
If you already have a healthy support network in the form of friends and family, make sure to discuss with them what’s going on. They are already bound to notice a change in your mood, but having discussions about your mindset and transition will help them understand why your behavior, thoughts, and plans have changed.
Practice Mindfulness
Bottling up your emotions or ignoring them will not make this transition disappear. In fact, it may only make the situation worse, as emotions only become more intense when we stuff them away.
Practicing mindfulness is a great way to start accepting and processing your emotions. Be aware of what you are feeling and thinking and question why these thoughts and emotions are coming up.
However, be compassionate with yourself. Being human, you are bound to regret or ruminate over mistakes. This does not make you a bad person in any way. It’s not always easy to make crucial decisions at the moment, and we don’t always react the best to life’s curveballs. Forgive yourself for your mistakes and regrets, and remind yourself that you always did your best with the given circumstances.
Create A Positive Future
A midlife crisis pressures one to figure out what’s important to them. Are they enjoying their career? Are they in a healthy relationship? Is there something they are longing for that they never achieved?
If the answer is no to any of these questions, then a person may spend their midlife transition in deep regret and depression. However, this can be turned around. This is the perfect period of life to start focusing on what’s important and then making a roadmap to achieve it. It is a perfect time to take stock of where you are at, what you are missing in life, and then make amends to create more positive changes.
Bottom Line
A midlife crisis is a huge transition that cannot be fully explained in just one article. Everyone has a different experience with a midlife crisis, depending on the age it starts and prior life experiences. Hopefully, this article gave you some understanding of what you are going through as well as some tips to start navigating the transition. If you are interested in learning more about this subject, you can continue your education by clicking here.
Marie Miguel Biography
Marie Miguel has been a writing and research expert for nearly a decade, covering a variety of health-related topics. Currently, she is contributing to the expansion and growth of a free online mental health resource with BetterHelp.com. With an interest and dedication to addressing stigmas associated with mental health, she continues to specifically target subjects related to anxiety and depression.
