The stereotypical response to midlife crisis is to try to recapture one's youth. Yet this often leads the individual away from the intended course, which is midlife transition. The transition is meant to make use of the person's remaining time in life to do something different, yet something which enriches his/her life, as opposed to buying a new car or having an affair, which only scratches the itch temporarily.
Midlife crisis is caused by a psychological event which happens in the mind of the individual. There is really nothing anybody can do. Everything is on the shoulder of the person having the crisis. Everyone goes through midlife transition. For some, midlife crisis precedes midlife transition.
The psychologist Carl Jung wrote that midlife crisis was the first stage in midlife transition, where the individual makes important changes in their life. The "after" is different for every person, but in everyone, the crisis passes, and a return to a "normal" life takes place.
The stereotypical response to midlife crisis is to try to recapture one's youth. Yet this often leads the individual away from the intended course, which is midlife transition. The transition is meant to make use of the person's remaining time in life to do something different, yet something which enriches his/her life, as opposed to buying a new car or having an affair, which only scratches the itch temporarily. Family Feud Affair Buy a new car Change appearence Drink Change jobs
For a person having a midlife crisis, it is important to realize that this is often the first step to midlife transition. An event happens in the unconscious mind, which forces a change of direction in the life of the individual. Though often feeling overwhelmed, the person must remain calm, and stay attuned to the workings of his/her own mind.
The effects can be wide ranging, and are different for each individual. Often, a midlife crisis occurs. The person finds themselves in a state of frustration, depression, or feels nothing at all (ennui). In an effort to push themselves out of this state, the person might suddenly act out behaviors which are uncharacteristic of their normal self. The midlife crisis leads to midlife transition, though midlife transition can occur without the crisis. In midlife transition, the person's psyche pushes the individual in other directions, in an effort to complete unfinished life cycles. If some people, their life gets completely upended.
Midlife crisis is a psychological event. The unconscious mind creates something which will cause the individual to psychologically implode. The event or events are not always serious, but are tailor made so the person will react in the fashion the unconscious wants.
Simply put, no. A whole family may be effected by someone having a midlife crisis and become utterly depressed and elated depending on the mood of the person at the core of the problem. The person having the crisis may be depressed (depression is not just low mood, there can be moments of massive anxiety and activity as well) and this can be life related and essentially a 'one off' event, hence the 'mid life crisis'. The person having the crisis may need their family to just talk to them and explain how their actions are making them all feel. They may need to see a doctor to help them access some talking therapies to discuss what is going on. Don't hide and believe it will go away. You need to talk and are probably stressed out of your tree - that's a pretty normal reaction.
We are all different in the way we think about our own lives, and there is no telling what a given person will consider to be a crisis, or how many such crises will arise. There is a popular song which contains the line "my life is one big long emergency". A very nervous person might always be in a state of crisis. A very calm person might never have a crisis. And there are lots of intermediate levels as well.
Midlife Crisis is a very wildy used term. Some time it refers to a real medical or life style issue & other times it is used to describe something odd or humorous that happens to someone. Financial failure, loss of a home or a job by someone in their 40-50s would be described as a midlife crisis. Serious health problems like cancer, heart disease might be described as a mid life crisis it the person was 40-50 Relationship problems like a divorce infidelity or the death of a spouse would all be good examples of a personal, mid life crisis. In the comic sense, if a 50 year old buys a sports car or gets an age inappropriate hair cut, dresses badly or starts a garage band they might be jokingly said to be going through a midlife crisis.
Most people experience a midlife crisis in their 40s or early 50s because in this age the children are leaving the home. This causes a parent to evaluate his or her life in a way that is new causes the person discomfort or stress.
Instability in one's life is normal for someone going through a midlife crisis. So emotional instability is to be expected. Yet the crisis is necessary, since it's the first step in midlife transition. Without the instability caused by the crisis, the changes necessary for midlife transition would never take place.
Midlife crisis is a psychological event which occurs in the mind at midlife. There is a noticable drop in mental and emotional energy. What use to work before no longer does. This event was studied by the psychologist Carl Jung, who referred to it as the dark night of the soul and the darkness of midlife.