Tuesday, February 4, 2014

The Female Midlife Crisis And Its Symptoms

By Serena Price


Once thought to only be acceptable for or experienced by men, the midlife crisis causes a hiccup in the progression of life and aging. Men are not the only sufferers. Female midlife crisis can occur as well. It is, however, different for women. A woman's conflict is more often tied to a feeling of boredom and disappointment in not accomplishing things. In contrast, a man's conflict is more about being afraid of getting older and dying.

Although aging has a lot to do with the conflicts a woman experiences, it is more about figuring out who she is now. At this point in their lives, women have been supreme multi-taskers, balancing motherhood, keeping the family dynamic intact, and taking care of the household. In addition to all that, there are many women who also have jobs. Now that a great deal of these tasks are disappearing, the woman faces uncertainty. What will she do with this time? Have any goals been accomplished that were planned years ago? She realizes that there are not as many things holding her back anymore. It is not uncommon for sufferers to question everything that makes them who they are, including religious beliefs.

Women who are between 36 and 60 can experience a female midlife crisis. During this time, children have grown up and leave to pursue college or careers, leaving the proverbial empty nest and a large amount of free time. Add the hormonal changes that occur with menopause and you have an emotional mess. There are also some women who suffer from a divorce or death that triggers the crisis.

Each woman's experience will be different, not just because of the physical differences but because of the differences in life choices. Despite this, there are a few symptoms that commonly occur, which are typically grouped into stages. Shock, anger, denial, and depression are experienced, followed by acceptance. There is not a general order these stages follow.

Changes in sleeping habits or appetite, reduced energy levels, and feelings of inadequacy or hopelessness generally occur during the depression stage. The anger stage often results in blaming other people for not being able to accomplish certain goals. Denial and shock often occur together as the woman struggles to admit the issue and then realizes her problems.

It is also common for many women to undergo abnormal or uncharacteristic changes in behavior during a female midlife crisis. A woman may all of a sudden become nervous and distracted. She may make harsh spur-of-the-moment decisions, such as leaving a spouse or walking out of a job without a legitimate reason. Additionally, she may become obsessed with looking younger. It is common for women to change their wardrobe, hair, and makeup.

A woman suffering from this issue may also decide to start getting involved in risky activities or those she would not normally do. They can be as risky as bungee jumping off bridges or as calm and safe as tap dancing classes. She may all of a sudden decide to replace old friends with new ones or have an affair.

There are some important aspects that can help the sufferer and her loved ones get through a female midlife crisis. Talking about what she is feeling and coming up with ways to help her is important. It is also important to find healthy ways to fill free time.




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