Are You Where You Want To Be?
We've all heard about midlife crises before, and no matter how hard you try to protect yourself from it, sometimes life has other plans. Everyone goes through difficult ups and downs in their life, but it's how you manage them that matters. So if you're scared of feeling this terrifying plateau of being absolutely stuck, here are 20 common worries that cause it so you can better look out for yourself.
1. Empty Nest Syndrome
You might have thought seeing your children off to college would bring a newfound sense of freedom and excitement, only to have reality hit you with depression and anxiety. Many parents experience empty nest syndrome when their kids leave home, making them question their purpose and what to do with their free time.
2. Lack of Direction
Not exactly where you thought you'd be in life but don't know where to go or what to do? Yeah, that can be mentally exhausting. The harsh reality of thinking you'd have your life figured out by your middle years when you still haven't can be a hard pill to swallow for many people.
3. No Purpose
Whether your kids have moved out, you're still single but wanting a partner, or are struggling to come up with a new life goal to work towards, it can feel extra tough when you go through the motions each day without a purpose. That feeling of emptiness can really make you begin questioning your actions.
4. Stuck In An Unwanted Career
While staying financially secure is incredibly important for anyone's well-being, you should never underestimate the emotional toll of being stuck in the wrong career. Because we spend so much time at our jobs, hating where you work or what you do for work can make your days feel meaningless and tiring. And when all that builds up, you start experiencing the crisis.
5. Relationship Struggles
Is there trouble in paradise? By the time you've hit your 40s or 50s and have already settled down, the last thing you want to deal with is relationship problems. The moment you start questioning the person you want to spend the rest of your life with, that's when the anxiety and dread starts kicking in.
6. Aging Concerns
No matter how much you try to run from it, growing older comes with plenty of physical changes to our appearances. From your skin starting to sag, growing wrinkles, or having your hair turn gray, some people find these changes to be incredibly troubling. They might feel like they're running out of time or haven't done enough with their life yet. Essentially, some people treat seeing aging like a wake up call.
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7. Health Issues
Sadly, we all know that as we get older, we become more susceptible to health concerns. It doesn't matter if you're dealing with a chronic disease or physical injury, any sort of issue is enough to put your head in a loop. It's especially frustrating if these problems begin to affect your daily life.
8. Feeling Unaccomplished
Haven't traveled the world yet? Never got around to finishing that personal project you always wanted to do? Feeling like you can't accomplish the things you want to because of time constraints or personal issues can really weigh down on a person over time. It can make you question your decisions and affect your attitude.
9. Losing Friends
Sometimes people grow and start walking down different paths even if you try your best to stay together. Losing friends you always thought would be in your life is a hard hit for anyone. It's even more difficult to deal with if you struggle to find connections as meaningful as the ones you lost.
10. Experiencing Grief
Losing someone you love might just be the hardest thing you'll ever go through. It can be a pet, a close friend, a family member, or a partner. It doesn't matter who, the feeling of loss and experiencing grief is a tough thing to get over. Days can feel so overwhelming, it can be hard for anyone not to feel like they're in a crisis.
11. Fertility Struggles
For women who want children, having a tough time getting pregnant can feel unbelievably demoralizing. From blaming it on themselves to feeling a loss of purpose and even grieving, fertility struggles are often an overlooked concern that affects many people worldwide.
12. Dealing With A Traumatic Event
Trauma can take the form of many different things, but regardless of what it actually is, it's always terrible enough to prevent growth and movement. Making you feel stuck with no hope of moving forward, traumatic events can be very damaging for people, making them unsure of what to do next.
13. Caring For Parents
It has nothing to do with how much you love your parents, but caring for them when they're too old or sick can be mentally draining for anyone. Having to watch helplessly while also fearing what's to happen next is a stressful cycle that can make adults begin to be scared of their own future.
14. Thinking About Missed Opportunities
Even if you live every day to the fullest, it's hard not to think about old missed opportunities or regrets. Did you break up with someone you wish you hadn't or feel disappointed you didn't take a job offer you really loved? Sometimes, the choices we make come back to haunt us later on in life.
15. Going Through Divorce
Even after saying those vows and thinking this would be the person you'd spend your life with, sometimes things don't go the way we want them to. Divorce is a finnicky situation that is sensitive, exhausting, and emotionally draining. When you lose someone you were with 24/7 every day, it can feel impossible to fill that hole up again.
16. Concerns About The World
It's safe to say the world is always chaotic and hearing about the terrible things happening can bring anyone's spirit down. And when you let it get too far into your head, it can really affect the way you think and feel. So much so that for some people, feeling like the world is stuck in progress can make them feel stuck in their own lives too.
17. Financial Issues
Money can't buy you happiness, but it can sure provide you with stability and comfort. When funds are running low, so will your mood. Having to constantly worry about being able to put food on the table or pay off your bills can make anyone question their purpose in life. Because no matter how hard some people work, it just seems like there's never enough money coming in.
18. Low Self-Esteem
The first step towards growth and improvement is learning to love yourself. Because when you put yourself first, everything else will fall into place. People suffering with low self-esteem tend to harbor on the negative things that happen in their life, keeping them stuck in a bad place that keeps them from moving forward.
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19. Questioning Life
When the fear of mortality and what's coming next kicks in, some people can get lost in thinking that life has no purpose. They think, "If we're here for a certain amount of time, what's the point?" Getting stuck in this train of thought can be very dangerous, making people lose their drive and desire to focus on their goals.
20. Mental Health Issues
Mental health problems are a lot more serious than some people let on. Conditions like anxiety, depression, and certain disorders can affect the brain so deeply, they're debilitating. And when you can't get past your own thoughts and emotions, it can make you terribly stressed about your own life and where you are.
