What do you think about mid-life crisis.......fact or figment of our imagination?

Question

Any insights would be helpful.......
enlighten me

Can it occur in men and women alike....just looking for different opinions....

Answer 1

A little of both. It is more a desire to change what you have been doing. I've been having mid-life crises all my life.

Answer 2

I think that everyone, men and women alike, are prone to at least one life crisis. I don't like the term "mid-life" because that implies that you only have one, and it tends to occur during "middle-age". I think that everyone goes through a life-crisis when they are young adults, 18-22 ish. That's the time when you are going off into the world, trying to decide what to do with the rest of your life, how to be an adult, and how to be successful. I also think a lot of people go through another life-crisis when they are older (I guess in that age that is considered middle-age). I don't think everyone experiences this but most do. This is when you have to come to terms with all the decisions you've made so far in your life, have to start facing your old age and retirement, when you're running out of time to do all the things you've always wanted to, have the huge weights of responsibility such as a career and family, have the weights of your regrets, and have to start helping your children through their young adult life-crisis.

Answer 3

I believe it is a fact.

Women's is known sicentifically as Menopause, because of the hormonal changes her body undertakes when she is no longer able to have children. Mood swings, hot flashes, depression, are all common.

Most people don't know that men also go through their own form of "menopause" even though they can still have kids. Their hormones fluctuate too, and testosterone drops. They also have mood swings, may act reckless, and may try to act more macho without even knowing why. For them, it is known as "midlife crisis".

For either sex, getting older isn't easy. When I was 16, I couldn't imagine being 28, like I am now. Almost 30! And although I am a little wiser, and my hangovers a little worse (lol) that 16 year old girl is STILL here. I still want to have fun, feel carefree, party,...I still want to be able to wake up without aching muscles...and it would be nice if a cold lasted 3 days like it used to, instead 2 weeks! But that isn't possible. A fact of life is that sometimes, being an adult sucks, LOL.

And then it gets worse---when you start noticing wrinkles, and sore hips, and high blood pressure, age spots and weight gain...when you and your girlfriends (or guy friends) get together to discuss kids, grandkids, and bodily ailments...that 16 year old is STILL there. So some people rebel against old age. They buy sportscars, leave their spouses, start partying like they used to (even though it makes them feel terrible, lol), start traveling like crazy, leave their jobs, etc.

Most of them come back to their senses, thankfully. But it's harder to blame them without having been there yet ourselves. Shirking responsibility or leaving ones family ARE indeed, crappy things to do. So yes, I can understand some anger leveled at these people (in particular the men who do this). But getting older is a really tough aspect of life. And when you're 80 and most your friends are dead, and you're in a wheelchair, and the grandkids are having kids...that 16 year old is STILL there.

I think the people who "age gracefully" are the ones who fully accept all this. I think they are people who combine their 16 year old selves and their 55 yeard old selves the best they can; they have fun but fulfill their responsibilites. They party but instead of all the time, now it's on birthdays and New Years and the Christmas Party. They love their kids and remember how it feels to be a kid. They take pride in their work and accomplishments. They're not afraid to have fun and be silly, but they know when to be serious and work hard. And they ACCEPT themselves for who they are, who they were, and who they HOPE to be. Always.

So yeah, I think midlife crises are a fact. How you handle them though...that makes all the difference. :)

Answer 4

Just because it is all in our heads does not make mid-life crisis imaginary.

Turning 40 damned near killed me, but I managed to stagger through. Then I turned 50. I've survived so far, but the struggle is not over.

The worst part is the feeling of futility, and despair over missed chances.

I wish I had insight to offer, but I don't. All I can do is wish you luck in working through your mid-life crisis.

Doc

Answer 5

Fact, both men and women. Its that point when you realize your life is half over, its too late to do some things, like go to law school or medical school etc. Just because you don't have enough time left for it to be practical. Its kind of depressing.

Answer 6

From my experience it is a fact. I went through ok, but my wife lost it on her way through. Happens to men and women.