Does middle age still exist?

A latent veil of melancholy. Many regrets, and waves of nostalgia. In the "midst of our life's journey," to quote Dante Alighieri, we can find ourselves in the dark forest of the midlife crisis. From which, fortunately, we can emerge stronger than before. Starting with a question: does a midlife crisis still exist, or perhaps we shouldn't consider it overtaken by demographic changes and life expectancy? It happens to everyone, between the ages of 40 and 50, to experience strange behavior. We feel as if time is slipping away, leading us toward the epilogue of life. We seek extreme emotions and dream of a second youth. Romantic flings, facelifts, and unbridled shopping These are the classic symptoms of a midlife crisis. The first signs are feelings of anger and exclusion, which often strain relationships with those closest to us, especially family. Especially in the 40-50 age group, even "proven" relationships can suffer. A partner's infidelity and intolerance of family routine are the main causes.

The most serious consequence of a midlife crisis is depression. An existential crisis that causes confusion, distrust, and fear, it's no coincidence that it occurs precisely at this stage of life. A research group involving several Anglo-Saxon universities revealed that, in a sample of thousands of people between the ages of twenty and seventy, happiness characterizes both young and old. In the former case, people are happier because they have high expectations. In the latter, however, they are content because they can enjoy the fruits of their labors. The study focused on the intermediate age groups, between youth and old age, who are most prone to depression. The reasons are varied: from unfulfilling work to declining physical strength.

It's an ill wind that blows nobody any good, as the saying goes, and this also applies to midlife crises. According to a study conducted by the University of Greenwich on 900 men and women, midlife crises are often associated with an increase in Curiosity Towards others and the world. An openness to new stimuli and activities we've never tried before. All things that foster inner growth, making the confusion of midlife easier to overcome. So, to face this period of life, we can follow a few simple steps with complete peace of mind:

• Recognize the crisis. It's the first step to overcoming it and regaining serenity. Feelings of anxiety and frustration must be considered and not avoided. This will help us avoid putting ourselves and our relationships with others at risk.
• Don't isolate yourself. Shutting yourself down is the worst way to acknowledge a midlife crisis. Talking about it with others, especially peers, can help us become aware of the situation and encourage us to react.
• Be curious. Discovering new interests and reviving long-lost passions helps us face the midlife crisis head-on. You don't need to go on a motorcycle ride to get through this period, but rediscovering your curiosity about the world around you.
• Work on yourself. The midlife crisis forces us to understand our true priorities. We set aside the trivial things that take up our time and energy and learn to recognize our limitations.
• Take your time. Let's slow down our pace of life and carve out the necessary spaces. Turn off the cellular and rejecting overly ambitious projects helps us reduce anxiety and break the vicious cycle of stress. This is an important step toward dedicating ourselves to new activities that can stimulate our curiosity.
• Eliminate regrets. Overestimating youth and regretting the youth of those years is of little use. Over time, we improve various skills, such as verbal and mathematical ones. Furthermore, a healthy lifestyle allows us to maintain good physical and cognitive performance, despite advancing age.

The midlife crisis doesn't affect men and women equally. In women, it can coincide with the very delicate first phase of menopause, with its physical discomforts. The tendency is toward rumination, a real waste of energy, and a sense of insecurity about the choices made. All this is compounded by boredom. To cope, one must be able to raise the bar of one's desires: dedicate time to oneself, find new sources of interest and curiosity, and not fear physical changes. Reclaim one's time, trying not to remain a prisoner of presentism and not escape the magic of desire. In men, the midlife crisis can lead to childish, timeless, and even pathetic behavior. They look at women much younger than their own age, pursue adventures that ignore identity cards, and seek college-age escapes. All this in a rollercoaster of mood, which tends to proceed in fits and starts, up and down. Here too, the first remedy is... time, it takes a lot. To get back into the game, not to feel sorry for yourself, and not to be pathetic.

Once upon a time, everything was simple: middle age, with its physiological crisis, was predicted to hit around 40-50. Now, life expectancy has risen to over 83 years, and many doctors, especially geriatricians, are wondering whether it still makes sense to talk about a midlife crisis. That is, something that doesn't exist, given that it's no longer possible to reliably pinpoint the onset of old age. The only thing we know for sure, however, is that only 25 percent of the rate at which we age depends on genes—that is, on hereditary factors. The rest depends on us. And in particular, on the lifestyles and human relationships we practice between the ages of 45 and 65, a broad period of time when the foundations for a healthy third, and fourth, age are being laid.

Read also:

• Living Well After 60: 10 Things to Do
• Old age protein discovered
• Fragility can make you very strong
• Best Friends Club for Single Women Over 50

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