Mid-Life Crisis Update

My first post explained that the reason I started this blog was to help deal with my mid-life crisis…well, I thought it was time for an update.

It seems that my husband was right, sort of. I am indeed a tad early for my midlife crisis.  Around the world, mid-life crisis has been determined to settle in at 44 years.  It is believed that mid-life crises are accompanied by enhanced depression.  Men reach a peak in depression at age 50, women reach it at 40.  (http://www.medindia.net/news/44-Years-You-may-Be-Vulnerable-to-Depression-32394-1.htm)  Considering that I’m 38, I had better work harder to curb the anxiety I feel about middle age.  Otherwise, I am going to fall into a pit from which I may never recover.

The University of Warwick and Dartmouth College study on depression, cited in Mental Health News, explains that no one knows why middle age is a “vulnerable time.”  The article states, “One possibility is that individuals learn to adapt to their strengths and weaknesses, and in mid-life quell their infeasible aspirations.  This seems reasonable.  Here are some other reasons:
- The amount of time I have ahead of me is about the same as the amount of time behind me. Sobering for any individual.
- I am now among the oldest of my friends when once upon a time I was the youngest (that would make anyone feel old and what has happened to all my older friends anyway?)
- My career always seemed like something I was trying out…now it seems like something I’m stuck with even though I’ve discovered things that would be a lot more interesting|  Ditto where I live
- I’ve realized that I can’t do everything.  Some things I must leave behind.  Some things I will never get the chance to try
-  I’m getting thicker around the middle even though I’m not gaining weight.  My body is starting to ache even though I keep myself in shape
- The world is not getting any better.  Things are getting more complicated.  It seems like there are more and more crazy extremists right on my doorstep.
- I miss the time when I thought everything will be better when I grow up – not because things were better then, but because I thought that they would get better.

A strong proponent of naturopathic medicine and a user of many natural methods to counter depression, I found this web page useful.  It provides some advice I’ve never heard.  I especially look forward to a nightly foot rub.  http://www.kitchentablemedicine.com/ten-ways-to-better-cope-with-depression/
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