The midlife crisis

The midlife crisis

Introduction.

The midlife crisis has been known to be the most popular concept used in the description of middle adulthood. In men, the effects of midlife crisis manifest in ways that stop them from actively pursuing their goals, taking stock of goals they are yet to achieve, and at times, they are seen to take drastic measures in fulfilling their dreams. This is usually a period of intense and difficult transition. It often stems from dealing with the reinterpretation of the perspective of time, re-evaluation of values of life and goals that had been set, and dealing with confronting death as a future personal event. There is a relationship between internal predispositions and the changing socio-psychological situation from which midlife crisis arises. The midlife crisis has been seen to commonly begin between the ages of forty and forty-five.

The midlife crisis has the ability to affect people in different ways. Because of this, there is hardly any checklist of behaviors to diagnose it. However, it is commonly characterized by dramatic changes in behavior and habits, mood swings, frequent feelings of anxiety or anger, risk-taking, impulsive decisions, and sometimes emotional outbursts. An example can be seen in a colleague who was previously very energetic, losing that part of them. It can also be accompanied by a loss of confidence or focus. Some even start comparing themselves to others unfavorably. Some warning signs also include feeling trapped in their role, thoughts of making major career or life changes, sudden obsession with health or appearance, regrets of things done in the past, and changing of spending habits to focus on exciting and fun things (“Mindtools.com,” n.d).

In the quest to overcome the negative feelings that accompany the midlife crisis, an individual can try a variety of things to counter them. One contributor to the midlife crisis is metabolic decline. Making changes in one’s diet and introducing healthy options like fruits and vegetables might help to counter the metabolic decline. It is also important to get rid of or significantly reduce factors that cause stress in one’s life. Relaxation and exercise can help in the reduction of stress, alongside talking to friends and family about life problems. Improving lifestyle behaviors reverses many problems in life. It is also very important to get adequate sleep as sleep-deprivation and midlife crisis goes hand in hand. Prioritizing the important things in one’s life and getting rid of unnecessary obligations will go a long way in dealing with a midlife crisis. It is also important to accept the changes taking place as this will be a good first step in countering the midlife crisis (Hart, 2007).

In a midlife crisis, visiting a psychotherapist can be very helpful as it provides an opportunity to come into awareness of self, your old self, present self, and who you would want to become. A therapist can help in tackling one’s issues and problems that have been building up. They can also provide help in setting up a plan to help in the next steps of life without bringing up past negativity. Existential therapy is a good option for individuals going through a midlife crisis because it explores questions on how to live a meaningful life while focusing on a person’s fundamental and philosophical outlooks. It is also important for an individual to accept the present conditions and live in the present as opposed to fearing the future. This is why acceptance and commitment therapy is useful (Jacobson, 2019).

There are also life changes that can prevent a midlife crisis. Adults who made career changes early in life had a greater sense of gratitude and hence a greater chance of avoiding the midlife crisis. Doing a life audit and setting new goals can also help in overcoming the negative feelings of a midlife crisis. It is important to brainstorm what is going right in your life and what is not. Re-examining one’s values will give them a sense of purpose. Old goals such as buying a house or climbing up the career ladder may no longer be relevant as they once were. If so, it is important to reassess what you want from life and create new goals that align with the values that have been newly identified. (“Mindtools,” n.d.).

A midlife crisis is a common issue for some people as they age. It is also important to note that midlife crises are not pervasive. While the tendency is to engage in reckless behavior and avoiding the challenges occurring in one’s life, it is important to slow down during such a time. Slowing down and reflecting gives room for finding inner direction, which eventually makes its way to our consciousness. Practicing activates like meditation, yoga, and even journaling helps one is slowing down. Taking time in solitude is also very helpful. Mid-life coaches also suggest creating a fresh outlook by creating time for new and valued learning. It helps in getting a sense of nourishing and re-awakening enthusiasm for life. Counselors are an excellent choice for helping in getting through a mid-life crisis, but life coaches and mentors are also very good options (“Forbes,” 2017).

Most men find the midlife transition to be tumultuous and psychologically painful. Many aspects of their life come into question. The period of midlife can lead to many feelings of negativity and anxiety. It is accompanied by overpowering emotions. The success of the midlife transition rests on how effectively the individual practices reduction in polarities and accepts each of them as an integral part of his being (Santrock, 2010). Self-evaluation can be a positive experience in the end. This period can help one recognize and identify sources of anxiety in their life. Constant self-reflection can also help one to avoid problems by exploring one’s options carefully and thoughtfully. A midlife crisis opens up the opportunity for finding personal independence. In mid-age, a more cautious and pragmatic person emerges. This enables one to take on new challenges in a cautious manner. Embracing the midlife crisis will help an individual in overcoming it.