The phrase "midlife crisis" has taken on mythic proportions in American society over the past century. Elliott Jaques, a philosopher and professor emeritus at the University of Massachusetts at Amherst, coined the term, noticing that great men began to lose productivity in their mid-late 30s. While there is no scientific consensus about when midlife begins, it is considered the transition from childhood to adulthood, when children leave the nest and adults are generationally sandwiched. Chronic illnesses usually make their first appearance at this age, and the demands of the workplace often peak.
Regardless of the source, midlife is a time of reflection and change. People may think that they have wasted their lives by failing to pursue a different career or a life they dreamed of. Others may reflect on happier times in their lives. Regardless of the cause, people who are goal-oriented may reflect less on the past and focus more on future goals. If you're in the middle of a midlife crisis, don't despair - it's not impossible to reengineer yourself. Here are some steps you can take.
The midlife crisis is often associated with men, but it affects women just as much. Midlife is a time to reassess life, confront your limits, and make age-appropriate adjustments. Midlife can also cause people to lose weight, become depressed, and withdraw from routines. Some people even feel so bad that they want to take drastic measures to improve their life. A midlife crisis can lead to a reassessment of one's life and to change their lives and relationships.
Post-war generations have benefited from economic growth and family stability, but they've also been faced with a number of midlife stressors, such as changing social expectations and demographic trends. Middle-aged people are increasingly faced with the task of escaping occupational conformity, raising nuclear families, and keeping up with the Joneses. The media and political promises of a more prosperous future have swept the post-war Western population into a resentment that keeps them from pursuing their dreams.
This time of reevaluating personal goals can be extremely stressful for those who are suffering from a midlife crisis. Functional needs often conflict with fundamental preferences. Many people who experience a midlife crisis start to disassemble their persona and question their underlying preferences and adaptation. This increased distance between the underlying motives of a person and their outer persona can lead to dramatic changes in their overt behavior. In some cases, a person may even die.
The symptoms of a midlife crisis vary depending on the person. It may also be brought on by financial problems, loss of a loved one, and the diagnosis of potentially life-threatening age-related morbidities. If a person is experiencing a midlife crisis, seeking professional help is the best course of action. The person experiencing the crisis is best placed to receive nonjudgmental and non-condescending advice. The more information you gain about the disorder, the better prepared you will be for it.