To all the women out there - Is growing old bothering you lately? Have you ever felt that you are so alone? Are there times that you fear loss? Have you looked at the mirror and seen the visible signs of ageing?
Are you wondering, “What did I achieve by this time in my life? What is that I should focus on now? What else do I want in my life? Was my life a fulfilled one?” Well, if you are circled within such thoughts and questions, you probably are suffering from a female midlife crisis.
What is a Midlife Crisis In Women? How does it manifest?
It is really hard for a woman to accept that she is ageing. Midlife Crisis In Women is an emotional state where every woman thinks that almost one half of her life is over and there is a feeling that she is no longer productive, beautiful or confident. There are times that she is bored, confused and afraid of loss.
Signs of Midlife Crisis In Women - Are you experiencing it?
Midlife Crisis In Women varies but still, there are some symptoms that are commonly seen in some women.
- Restlessness: There are times that she feels restless as she is running out of time. She feels dissatisfied with everything she does. She cannot concentrate and feels nervous, uneasy and uncomfortable.
- Feelings of guilt: If she was not able to achieve what she wanted, she starts blaming herself. There is a feeling of guilt and shame. This is one common sign that someone is suffering from women midlife crisis.
- Behavioural changes: She may show impulsiveness in her behaviour and may have sudden decisions especially in her interests. She may buy things that she does not really need or lose interest in things she usually enjoys before.Loneliness: She feels so empty due to many changes in her life. When her children leave home due to higher education, work or marriage, she feels so alone and emptiness creeps in on her.Lifestyle changes: Significant changes in a sexual relationship can also elicit a women midlife crisis. It can be caused by a lack of interest in sex due to depression, stress and anxiety, empty nest syndrome that is usually associated with the crisis. It can also be due to a partner's infidelity if she suspects that her partner is having an affair with another woman.
Midlife Crisis Psychology in Women
The span of age between 40 to 65 is usually when a woman suffers from a midlife crisis. At this time, women not only deal with biological changes, but also deal with family crises, work problems, fear of ageing or death, work problems, and/or securing finances.
During Perimenopause and Menopause, the changes in hormones can cause or aggravate midlife crisis for women. The Estrogen and Progesterone levels start to decline, which can interfere with the sleep, cause severe mood swings, and reduce the energy levels. Menopause can also cause midlife crisis anxiety, memory loss, weight gain, physical pain and loss of interest in things.
Apart from these physiological changes, there are usually other emotional reasons which cause a female midlife crisis. By this age, a woman has passed her youth and has gained a lot of experience regarding her life. family and society.
They experience trauma, loss, death of loved ones, a significant change in identity, discrimination, physical or emotional abuse, divorce or separation, loss of fertility, or empty nest syndrome when her kids had left for college. Many of these reasons might trigger the condition of midlife crisis in women.
Some of the psychological outcomes of the midlife crisis
- Not taking care of personal hygiene
- Changes in sleeping habits
- Intense worry/ sadness/ Anxious
- Social isolation
The word 'Midlife Crisis' has such a negative spin to it. However, it doesn't have to be a negative phase of your life. You can use this time to rather focus on introspection, relaxation, and setting new goals and exploring hobbies that you earlier didn’t have the time for. You can overcome your midlife crisis by changing your outlook on life and the opportunities it provides you.
How to Deal with the midlife crisis? Here are some Tips
Talk to some trustworthy person who can listen to you keenly without any judgements. Tell them how you feel and what's bothering you. The trustworthy person could be your family member, friend, or counsellor.
Instead of thinking about the good old days and worrying about the present, think about the efforts you put for those good old days. Think about the same efforts now additionally you have experience and wisdom now. The same effort now can make more difference in current events.
Brainstorm your strength and weakness in life. Think about the strengths that made you accomplish things till now. Think about the strength that supported to endure bad times. Anticipate and learn to control/ eliminate the negatives that may trigger distress.
You might have owned a few goals - it could be buying a new house, a much-needed jump in the carrier or to have a family. Now you are experiencing a midlife crisis because you accomplished your earlier goals. This is the reason for the distress. You have no clue what to do next?’ It's time to set new goals and create a purpose and plan to accomplish them.
Mid-Life Crisis Counselling
One important thing for a woman to do is to come to terms with the phase of her life and keep on to live life to the fullest. Ageing is unavoidable so we have to accept that it is a continuous process that each and every one of us will endure. Accepting that we will all grow old by sharing your feelings and thoughts is a very positive way to combat this crisis.
Nobody can help you out in this crisis but yourself or help from a professional. By analyzing all your thoughts that have been worrying you and finding the precise cause behind all your feelings of unhappiness you will probably find ways to recover from the crisis.
The process of counselling is quite a transformative experience. When you visit a centre for mid-life crisis counselling for women, you will learn more about yourself and your achievements, your fulfilling life, your aims and goals, as well. Counselling will involve learning and tackling new skills by enticing a new perspective. You will be able to let go of the midlife crisis anxiety, depression, eating disorders, and so on. Once you get a better understanding of what was affecting you, you are open to therapies and getting better.
When you visit Cadabams counselling centre, therapies offered by medical professionals like Psychologists, Psychiatrists, Marriage and Family Therapists, Counsellors, Social workers and mental health professionals can help you cope with a wide range of emotions and experiences.
It’s best to be proactive about your midlife crisis, and prevent the symptoms from festering and becoming a bigger problem and affecting your life and relationships. Seek out mid-life crisis counselling centre to help you deal with the changes and conflicts in your life.
If you are through the rough phase of Midlife Crisis in life, we can help you overcome it. Don’t hesitate to call us @ +91 97414 76476 or visit www.cadabamshospitals.com
FAQ'S
1.What are the signs of a midlife crisis in a woman?
Ans. Midlife crises in women show some distinct signs and symptoms. These include:
- Behavioral Changes
- Feelings of Guilt
- Changes in sleeping habits
- Weight loss/gain
- Social Isolation
- Deteriorating Personal Hygiene
2.What age is a midlife crisis for a woman?
3.What happens during a midlife crisis?
Ans. Midlife Crisis in women is a moment or time in their life where they feel that they are no longer beautiful, confident, and productive. This manifests as feelings of restlessness, guild, and other changes in behavior. They also experience weight loss or gain and develop isolation from larger society.
4.What age does a midlife crisis happen?
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