Midlife Crisis

What is a midlife crisis? The book reports that it is a time when the middle-aged adult is suspended between the past and the future, trying to cope with the gap that threatens life's continuity. Today the midlife transition is looked on, more and more, as a normal part of life, where people often reevaluate their priorities and goals. The age at which midlife crisis takes place can vary. Usually it can occur anywhere from about age 37 to the 50's. In most cases the crisis occurs around a significant life event like: youngest child finishing college, a "zero" birthday, or the death of a parent.

Men and Women respond differently to midlife crisis. Men tend to seem more intent on wanting to prove something. In addition men may become more in touch with their feminine side. Women are more likely to evaluate their performance as a wife, mother, or both. Also, they could decided that since they have finished raising their children, they can do whatever they like work-wise. Therefore they may choose to go back to school, or reenter the workforce in a new career.

While serious depression can accompany the period of time during midlife, it is also a period of growth. Whether, a midlife transition will develop into serious depression or into an opportunity for growth depends on a number of factors, including support from partners and other loved ones. Symptoms of serious depression in midlife are: change in eating habits; change in sleeping habits or fatigue; feelings of pessimism or hopelessness; restlessness, anxiety, or irritability; feeling of guilt, helplessness, or worthlessness; loss of interest in activities once enjoyed, including sex and hobbies, thoughts of suicide or attempts at suicide, physical aches or pains such as headaches or gastrointestinal upset that don't respond to treatment.

While it is know as a midlife crisis in most cases it is just a transitional period. In most cases the period of midlife is a time of tremendous growth. A person's vocabulary, verbal memory, and inductive reasoning peak at midlife. Also, a person reaches the height of the career success during midlife.

My opinion:

This is a hard subject for me to give my opinion on because I have not reached that point in my life yet. I would say that not in all case, but in a majority of cases people use the idea of midlife crisis as an excuse to go crazy. I think that some people legitimately have break downs during midlife, but I believe that could be caused from the realization that their live is not where they want it to be.

What do you think?

Sources:

Midlife Crisis: Depression or Normal Transition?. (n.d.). WebMD - Better information. Better health.. Retrieved July 13, 2010, from http://www.webmd.com/healthy-aging/guide/midlife-crisis-opportunity?page=3

Santrock, J. W. (2008). Life-Span Development (12 ed.). New York City: McGraw-Hill Humanities/Social Sciences/Languages.