In their 40s and 50s, an increasing number of people have somewhat blurred feelings, such as “I feel something is missing in my work and family relationships,” or “I am becoming increasingly anxious about the future.
This is called a “Mid-Life Crisis” and is a change of heart that comes at the midpoint of life.
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What causes the blurring?
Exploring the Causes of Mid-Life Crisis
Mid-life crisis is a change of mind that is often seen in people in their 40s and 50s.
The causes can be divided into three main categories: physical changes, social changes, and psychological changes.
Physical changes
Decline in physical fitness
- I used to be able to exercise for long periods of time, but lately I get tired easily.
- Feel shortness of breath or palpitations with a little exercise.
- The decline in physical fitness has made it impossible for me to enjoy my hobbies and sports.
- Decreased physical fitness leads to loss of self-confidence and negative thoughts.
Decline in eyesight, hearing, etc.
- Needed reading glasses.
- It is harder to hear sounds than before.
- I have difficulty seeing small print.
- Declining vision and hearing are interfering with work and daily life.
- Increased fear of aging and anxiety about the future.
Menopause and chronic illness
- Continued poor physical health due to menopause.
- Has chronic diseases such as high blood pressure or diabetes.
- Poor physical health leads to difficulty concentrating on work and household chores.
- Increased anxiety about future health.
Social changes
Increased responsibility and pressure at work
- You will be given a big project at work and will be crushed under pressure.
- Increased responsibility and burden due to promotion.
- I feel stressed because it is difficult to balance work and private life.
- The pressure at work is affecting their family life as well.
Children’s independence
- Children leave home for college or work and feel a sense of emptiness.
- Childcare comes to an end and they lose sight of what they are living for.
- While no longer worried about educational expenses or family finances, they feel lonely and forlorn.
Caring for parents
- Parents need to be cared for, and time and money are spent.
- They feel tired and stressed from caring for their parents.
- Growing anxious about the death of their parents.
- Worried about balancing caregiving with work and housework, and feel exhausted both mentally and physically.
Psychological changes
Regrets and regrets
- Looking back on their life to date, they have nothing but regrets.
- They are stuck in the past, wishing they had done the right thing at the right time.
- Regrets and regrets amplify anxiety about the future.
- This leads to a loss of self-confidence and a lowered sense of self-esteem.
Loss of a Sense of Purpose in Life
- Become unsure of what they really want to do.
- Begin to question their life to date.
- Loses sight of purpose in life and is unable to find a goal in life.
- Feeling of emptiness and emptiness, and becoming apathetic.
Consciousness of death
- Becomes more conscious of death, and becomes more anxious about the future.
- Death becomes familiar and frightening.
- Becomes anxious and doubts about the afterlife.
- Losing the meaning of life and feeling a sense of hopelessness.
Midlife crisis is a change of mind caused by a complex intertwining of these various factors. The first step toward overcoming the situation is to face one’s own mind and investigate the cause of the blurring.
Don’t miss the SOS of the mind!
Symptoms of Midlife Crisis
Midlife crisis can manifest itself in a variety of symptoms. The following are typical symptoms.
Loss of passion and goals
- Loss of motivation for work or hobbies and lack of motivation to do anything.
- Musical activities that used to be a passion of his/hers are now completely unenjoyable.
- Feelings of accomplishment and joy are reduced, and one feels bored with daily life.
- Become indifferent to making plans and goals for the future.
- Losing interest in taking on new projects or hobbies and not remembering their former passions.
Self-doubt
- A small mistake can lead to a loss of self-confidence.
- Becomes clinging to past glories and is unable to try new things.
- Begins to constantly question his/her judgment and abilities.
- Beginning to measure self-worth in terms of social success and comparisons with others.
- Increased negative feelings about one’s appearance and abilities, and low self-esteem.
Impatience
- Feeling frustrated and restless due to a sense of urgency that time is running out.
- Feels that he/she has not accomplished anything and feels impatient.
- Feeling that time is passing too quickly after mid-life and increased anxiety about the future.
- Losing sight of one’s place in the world due to inability to cope with changing professional and family roles.
- Feeling pressure to “run out of time” to achieve results.
Loneliness
- Feeling lonely due to lack of understanding with those around them.
- Relationships with family and friends deteriorate and you feel isolated.
- Feelings of being left out.
- Losing interest in social activities and finding it a burden to meet people.
- Social connections that used to be fulfilling are fading, and the person is unable to seek and find connections.
Physical Symptoms
- Recently, the patient has been experiencing headaches, stomach pain, insomnia, and other unexplained physical symptoms.
- After undergoing tests at a hospital, no abnormality is found, which makes you feel uneasy.
- Stress causes eating-related problems such as anorexia and overeating.
- Feeling chronically fatigued and lacking energy, which affects daily activities.
- Begin to notice that physical symptoms are closely related to mental anxiety and stress.
Get out of the blur!
How to Overcome the Midlife Crisis
The following three points are important for overcoming a midlife crisis.
# 1: Face yourself
Self-analysis
- Take a fresh look at your values, goals, and interests.
- Reflect on past experiences and write down what you value.
- Think about what you really want to do and accomplish.
- Try new things or areas of interest.
- Accept your strengths and weaknesses and explore ways to improve your self-esteem.
Stress relief
- Find your own ways to relieve stress, such as exercise, hobbies, yoga, meditation, and other relaxation techniques.
Exercise: decreases stress hormones and improves mood.
Hobbies: can help you change your mood and relax.
Yoga, meditation: have a calming effect on the body and mind. - Spend time in nature to refresh your spirit.
Positive thinking
- See things in a positive light and have a sense of gratitude.
- Keeping a “gratitude diary” in which you write down what you are grateful for each day is also effective.
- Find small happiness and feel joy.
- View difficult situations as opportunities for growth.
- Use positive language and improve self-dialogue.
#2: Review your lifestyle.
Healthy Eating Habits
- Try to eat a well-balanced diet.
- Consume nutritious foods such as vegetables, fruits, and fish.
- Be careful not to consume excessive amounts of fats and sugars.
- Drink adequate amounts of water and maintain fluid balance.
- Maintain consistent meal timing and a regular diet.
Moderate exercise
- Make it a habit to exercise to a reasonable extent, such as walking, jogging, yoga, etc.
Ideally, exercise 3-5 times a week for about 30 minutes. - Find an exercise routine that suits you and continue to enjoy it.
- Motivate yourself by exercising with a friend.
- Incorporate exercise into your daily transportation to make it a natural way to move your body. (housework, commuting, shopping, etc.)
Adequate Sleep
- Lack of sleep has a negative impact on the body and mind. Get quality sleep.
- Go to bed and wake up at the same time every day.
- Create a good environment in the bedroom to improve the quality of sleep.
- Avoid using smartphones and computers before bed. (Important)
- Create your own relaxing bedtime routine.
#3: Seek understanding from those around you.
Family and friends
- Talk honestly about your feelings and gain their understanding and cooperation.
It is important to gain their understanding and sympathy about midlife crisis. - Discuss your fears and struggles to reduce feelings of isolation.
- Work with your partner and family to reduce the burden of housework and childcare.
- Communicate with friends and build supportive relationships.
Professional
- It is also helpful to consult a psychological counselor or psychiatrist.
Objective advice from a specialist can help you find clues to solving the problem.
It is possible to sort out and understand one’s emotions and thought patterns.
If necessary, medication and other forms of treatment can be sought. - Reexamine life goals and plans through consultation with a career consultant or life coach.
Summary
Overcoming a midlife crisis is based on facing yourself, developing healthy lifestyle habits, and gaining the understanding and cooperation of those around you.
It is also important not to try to solve the problem on your own, but to seek professional help if necessary.
If you can overcome this period, you will be able to discover a new you and make the next stage of your life more fulfilling.
Believe in yourself and keep a positive attitude!
Have a good life!
- The contents of this article are for reference only and cannot substitute for professional diagnosis and treatment.
- If you have any mental or physical concerns, we recommend that you consult a medical institution or professional.
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