Society likes to poke fun at the concept of a midlife crisis. We all know the stereotype: middle-aged man divorces wife of 25 years, buys convertible, and shamelessly humiliates himself at bars by approaching women half his age.
Yet far from being made up, research estimates up to 26% of people aged 40 to 60 experience a crisis around midlife.
If you feel like your world has suddenly turned upside down, this may be what’s happening to you. Here, we’ll uncover what a midlife crisis looks like, why it happens, and how you can get help.
How Do I Know If I’m Having a Midlife Crisis?
While there’s no smoking gun that indicates you’re going through a midlife crisis (though spontaneously purchasing a red convertible comes mighty close!), here are some signs to look out for.
Feeling bored, regretful, and dwelling on the passage of time are all common feelings that accompany a midlife crisis. Impulsivity is another huge indicator.
It’s interesting to note that men experiencing a midlife crisis tend to externalize their behavior, while women internalize it. Men often make sudden decisions that uproot their lives and may become angry or withdrawn.
Women tend to internalize the experience, becoming anxious and depressed as a result. A midlife crises in women can also be amplified by the hormonal changes brought on by menopause.
Midlife crises are often characterized by a deep, intense need to radically change your life. Overwhelming regret over past choices coupled with fears about aging are strong indicators that what you’re going through is something a therapist can help you process.
What Triggers a Midlife Crisis?
Confronting mortality, realizing that your time is limited, and regret over past decisions are a few examples of what can trigger a midlife crisis. Identity shifts, empty nest syndrome, realizing you’re unhappy in your marriage, and other factors can contribute as well.
Losing parents, experiencing health challenges, and not being able to do the things you used to do is enough to send some people reeling. Like a smack in the face, these realizations can hit and often result in a midlife crisis.
What Can Help Ease a Midlife Crisis?
Rather than act out impulsively, the key to navigating a midlife crisis is to pause and evaluate your feelings.
Engage in activities that ground you. Focus on the present and refrain from making impulsive decisions.
It can be tricky to make peace with the past or forgive yourself for “wasting your best years.” Therefore, finding a therapist for a midlife crisis is probably the best thing you can do to ensure the rest of your life is fabulous.
At the Relationship Therapy Center, we offer top-rated virtual counseling services for midlife crises. Our therapists will help you accept change, maintain your sense of purpose, and help reframe your perspective on midlife and aging.
They will also help you process and reevaluate regrets and shame over things that happened in the past.
While it may seem like something to fear, a midlife crisis, if handled properly, can help you gain a deeper understanding of yourself. After working through it, you’ll get to enjoy the rest of your life your way. Unencumbered by the weight of the past. It’s your life, and you have every right to enjoy it.
Give us a call today to learn more.
Begin Individual Therapy in the Sacramento Area
Individual therapy provides many benefits for both your mental, emotional, and physical well-being. From handling challenging life events to learning to live with ongoing mental health issues to simply getting help with everyday stress, seeking counseling can help you live your best life.
If you are ready to start individual therapy, we have a variety of exceptional therapists ready to help you. Take a look at their bios and if you would like to schedule a free15-minute consultation give us a call.
Other Services Offered at The Relationship Therapy Center in California:
In addition to Individual therapy for adults our Sacramento area counseling clinics located in Roseville, Davis and Fair Oaks, CA are pleased to offer a variety of mental health services. Our couples services include: Counseling after infidelity, sex therapy, co-parent counseling, family therapy, divorce counseling, intensive couples retreats, and premarital counseling. The individual therapy services include, therapy for children, teen therapy, depression treatment, and individual relationship counseling. Our therapists offer online counseling in California to treat a variety of mental health concerns. Please reach out to our Sacramento area therapy office to learn more about the many ways we can help you or your loved ones heal and grow.
Certified Gottman Therapist
Nancy Ryan, LMFT & Certified Gottman Therapist, is the Founder and Clinical Director of Relationship Therapy Center, with 15+ years of experience supporting clients in Sacramento, Placer, and El Dorado Counties, and with offices in Roseville, CA, and Fair Oaks, CA. Our team also supports clients throughout California, Idaho, and Washington
She specializes in couples counseling, mentoring, and training her therapists on how to be excellent therapists. Nancy is also featured in a variety of media and provides couples therapy weekend workshops and retreats.
Relationship Therapy Center uses evidence-based approaches such as EMDR for trauma, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), Mindfulness, and Motivational Interviewing to treat individuals. Family therapy focuses on family systems and Play Therapy for children. Evidence-based couples therapy includes using the Gottman Method, Gottman Method Affair recovery/infidelity counseling, Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT), Attachment therapy, and David Schnarch's Crucible Therapy, including differentiation. The whole team is in weekly training on trauma-informed care, somatic techniques, sex therapy, and different topics each year.
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