Midlife Crisis Doesn’t Have to Happen When You’re 50

The concept of a midlife crisis has long been associated with individuals reaching their 40s and 50s, typically depicted as a time of turmoil and discontent. However, recent perspectives challenge the notion that this crisis is solely confined to a specific age range. In fact, many individuals experience an existential crisis and search for meaning and purpose at various stages of their lives. The traditional stereotypes of the sports car or clinging to youth no longer define this phenomenon. Instead, it is a deep introspection into who we are and why we are here.

Elliot Jacques, a psychoanalyst, first came up with the term “midlife crisis” in 1965 after observing significant changes in one of his middle-aged clients. However, this crisis is not limited to middle age. My clients going through these experiences can be anywhere from their late 20s to their 60s.

Midlife crisis turns everything upside down

It is a profound emotional turmoil that affects multiple aspects of life, including relationships, careers, confidence, happiness, and a sense of purpose. It is not a crisis that can be neatly categorised or attributed to a single cause. Rather, it permeates every aspect of one’s existence, leaving everything feeling upside down.