- Joined
- Jul 15, 2006
- Messages
- 380
- Reaction score
- 234
Turned 39!and Just realized that I answered yes for all these except for 10,11,15 and 16.
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Here is a list of questions to ask yourself in order to determine if you may be heading toward — or are in the midst of — a ‘midlife crisis.’ My next post here will describe ways to navigate through this potentially difficult time and productively move past it.
1. Have you been feeling down or empty for long periods of time with no relief? (This is different than mood swings, which come and go.)
2. Do you get enraged over small things or have violent outbursts with your family and friends? (Again, this is not the same as feeling irritable on and off.)
3. Do you feel detached? Have you stopped engaging in activities that once gave you pleasure with your mate, friends or at work? Do you find hobbies that use to interest you now feel meaningless or boring?
4. Do you find yourself constantly thinking about your mortality, the meaning (or meaninglessness) of life?
5. Are you deeply dissatisfied with your relationship? Have you cut off emotionally and physically from your mate?
6. Are you thinking of quitting your job or fantasizing about never working again, even if you can’t afford to retire?
7. Does the life you envision ahead exclude the people or activities you are currently attached to?
8. If you were once religious, are you questioning your beliefs? Are you seeking a deeper connection to spirituality? Do ‘new wave’ religious groups or cults interest you?
9. Do you keep thinking about running away or taking a break even if you have responsibilities that keep you from doing so? For example, is it hard to imagine finding satisfaction in being a mother or wife anymore?
10. Are you flirting with the idea of having an affair or have you started one? Are you spending inordinate amount of time on your computer engaged in online chats with strangers?
11. Are you making sexual gestures towards others — a young co-worker, your son’s baseball coach, a guy you met at a bar — seeking their attention even when it feels inappropriate?
12. Do you have a desperate desire the freedom and independence, regardless of how it impacts others? Are you seeking adventure, but not sure where to find it?
13. Are you acting recklessly, like driving your car too fast or engaging in other impulsive behaviors like you may have as a teenager? Are you dressing like your much younger daughter? Spending a lot of time with people half your age?
14. Have you gained a lot of weight? Are you binging on junk food? Have you lost a lot of weight, lost interest in food or gone on crash diets? Are you obsessively exercising?
15. Are you drinking too much, often by yourself?
16. Are you overusing prescription or recreational drugs?
17. Are you obsessing about your appearance, trying to ‘anti-age’ and overdoing it on cosmetic procedures or plastic surgery to look younger?
18. Do you find yourself looking in the mirror and think, I don’t recognize myself.
--------------------------------
Here is a list of questions to ask yourself in order to determine if you may be heading toward — or are in the midst of — a ‘midlife crisis.’ My next post here will describe ways to navigate through this potentially difficult time and productively move past it.
1. Have you been feeling down or empty for long periods of time with no relief? (This is different than mood swings, which come and go.)
2. Do you get enraged over small things or have violent outbursts with your family and friends? (Again, this is not the same as feeling irritable on and off.)
3. Do you feel detached? Have you stopped engaging in activities that once gave you pleasure with your mate, friends or at work? Do you find hobbies that use to interest you now feel meaningless or boring?
4. Do you find yourself constantly thinking about your mortality, the meaning (or meaninglessness) of life?
5. Are you deeply dissatisfied with your relationship? Have you cut off emotionally and physically from your mate?
6. Are you thinking of quitting your job or fantasizing about never working again, even if you can’t afford to retire?
7. Does the life you envision ahead exclude the people or activities you are currently attached to?
8. If you were once religious, are you questioning your beliefs? Are you seeking a deeper connection to spirituality? Do ‘new wave’ religious groups or cults interest you?
9. Do you keep thinking about running away or taking a break even if you have responsibilities that keep you from doing so? For example, is it hard to imagine finding satisfaction in being a mother or wife anymore?
10. Are you flirting with the idea of having an affair or have you started one? Are you spending inordinate amount of time on your computer engaged in online chats with strangers?
11. Are you making sexual gestures towards others — a young co-worker, your son’s baseball coach, a guy you met at a bar — seeking their attention even when it feels inappropriate?
12. Do you have a desperate desire the freedom and independence, regardless of how it impacts others? Are you seeking adventure, but not sure where to find it?
13. Are you acting recklessly, like driving your car too fast or engaging in other impulsive behaviors like you may have as a teenager? Are you dressing like your much younger daughter? Spending a lot of time with people half your age?
14. Have you gained a lot of weight? Are you binging on junk food? Have you lost a lot of weight, lost interest in food or gone on crash diets? Are you obsessively exercising?
15. Are you drinking too much, often by yourself?
16. Are you overusing prescription or recreational drugs?
17. Are you obsessing about your appearance, trying to ‘anti-age’ and overdoing it on cosmetic procedures or plastic surgery to look younger?
18. Do you find yourself looking in the mirror and think, I don’t recognize myself.
