Midlife crisis symptoms
A midlife crisis can be a fairly common occurrence and is typically explained by certain hormonal changes that your body goes through as soon as you hit your late 40s and 50s. These hormonal changes can be experienced by both men and women and, unfortunately, if you are not prepared for the challenges that you face, this can be an extremely tough time in your life. A midlife crisis is often referred to as midlife depression and can often be brought on by a number of changes in your life. These may include the death of a parent, your children leaving home, noticing the signs that you are getting older, no longer interested, or bored, with your job and of course hormonal changes. Many of the situations can produce feelings of fear, depression and resentment.
Many people, once they have reached their 50s, are desperate to reverse the signs of ageing, or find that they are longing for the energy and vitality that they once had in her youth. We often find ourselves contemplating how significant our life has actually been and whether we have achieved everything we could of thus far. We are more than aware that women go through the menopause, but many of us don’t know that men actually experience certain midlife hormonal changes as well. Initially a man’s body will produce less testosterone and also less human growth hormone as they get older. This, of course, will affect your energy levels, and these hormonal changes are now often referred to as andropause. As women go through the menopause, they will notice changes in their sexual response and emotional stability. This, in turn, can cause you to resent growing old and may even make you long to be youthful again. Unfortunately, the older we get, the more aware we are of our own mortality.
Men will often do things to make themselves feel younger and this can often be the first sign of a midlife crisis. The choices that we make can either be positive or negative. A fairly common symptom of a man who is experiencing a midlife crisis is to quit their job and start a completely new career. They feel this new career could be far more exciting and fulfilling. Men will often question their relationships may even wonder whether they are more suited to a younger partner. This may lead a man to spending money on a “boy’s toys”, such as cars and boats. Many men who are experiencing a midlife crisis may suddenly take up exercise, even though they have never considered exercising before. They may also become depressed and become extremely obsessive about how they hate their life and how the years seem to be slipping by so fast.
The main signs that a woman is experiencing a midlife crisis may be weight gain, depression and often they will question what their purpose is in life. This may be especially true if a woman has spent many years as a stay at home mum. They have spent many years nurturing and looking after their children, who all of a sudden have now left home. This may cause feelings of resentment and often a woman may feel that she needs to work in a fulfilling career. A woman may also question her specific choice of life partner, and they may even feel far less attractive as the signs of ageing set in. However, a woman is very different from a man and is extremely unlikely to fritter money away on “toys”, and is even less likely to pursue a younger man. Women who may be suffering from a midlife crisis are far more likely to consider divorce and may search for a far more fulfilling career.
If you are experiencing a midlife crisis, this does not have to be viewed as a negative thing. Often the feelings that you have are actually able to propel you onto a far more purposeful existence. You may even feel more confident and positive and this may be able to finally drag you out of your midlife depression. It is advisable that if you are experiencing any of these feelings that you should take some time to speak with an experienced therapist. They will be able to talk to you about your feelings may even be able to navigate you through many of life’s changes. A therapist can also prescribe antidepressants if they feel it is really needed. You may also wish to visit your doctor or health care provider as they are able to suggest certain hormonal supplements or lifestyle changes that can help to guide you through this phase of your life. If you are suffering from the symptoms of a midlife crisis, this can often be extremely overwhelming. However, it is important to realise that you are not the first person to ever experience these feelings, and there is of course professional help available to you.
Comments are closed
Related Information
