Mid-Life Crisis in Women: Causes and Symptoms

When the conversation about a mid-life crisis is being discussed or expressed in media, it is mostly geared toward men. The usual scene is of a middle-aged man who starts making impulsive choices and tries to relive his glory days. This could mean a ridiculous purchase or dating younger women.

Midlife crisis has been made synonymous with men, but women can also experience a midlife crisis. Mid-life crisis is a period of transition that women experience when they are about 40 years or older. This is usually a time of great dissatisfaction with one’s life and struggling with a lot that comes from examining one’s life and realizing they are not where they hoped to be.

What causes mid-life crisis in women?

Hormonal fluctuations

Women who are forty years or older will experience either perimenopause or menopause symptoms. These affect women’s emotional and physical well-being.

The decrease in estrogen and progesterone in women can have a significant impact, from weight gain to struggling with insomnia to mood regulation. If they have started menopause, this can come with memory loss and/or a change in sex drive. With these changes comes one’s questioning of their identity and abilities.

Major life transition

When people reach middle age, there is a lot of change in their lives due to the station they are in life. These changes could be career-wise or normal life transitions like children leaving home, taking care of elderly parents, dealing with divorce, or the death of loved ones. The increase or lessening of responsibilities can have a major impact on someone questioning their identity.

Societal pressure

There is so much pressure out there for women to have achieved certain milestones by the time they reach forty. This could be expectations to do with being married, having children, or having achieved certain study and career goals. Reaching forty without achieving those milestones can cause one to feel anxious and unsatisfied with their life.

Relationship instability

Women often experience marital problems around this age. They may deal with questions of whether they file for divorce or stay. Dealing with a partner’s infidelity can also bring a sense of loss of confidence and identity and often happens around this age as well.

Experiencing existential crisis

When people reach middle age they start being concerned about their mortality and how much time they think they still have on earth. This can result in feelings of resentment and regret about how one has lived their life up until now. Because of this, they might have a reevaluation of what they feel needs to change now as they do not have much time, leading to seemingly drastic decisions and moves.

Self-reflection

With the many responsibilities that women have as mothers, friends, wives, community leaders, and more, most of their time is spent looking out for everyone except themselves.

When they reach the age of forty and above and some of those responsibilities start to fall away they get an opportunity to ask themselves what it is they want and need, something society rarely asks them. This time can bring a realization of all they want to be from now on, meaning there would be a lot of changes, which can be surprising to those close to them.

Symptoms of Mid-Life Crisis in Women

Most symptoms of mid-life crisis are similar in men and women. The distinct difference is the fact that women will be approaching or already experiencing menopause and that creates further problems linked to hormonal imbalances. Below are some symptoms of mid-life crisis in women.

Apathy

It could be a result of depression, but women sometimes find themselves lacking the motivation and drive they once had for life. There is a certain sense of being defeated and unable to move.

Anxiety and depression

Resulting from hormonal fluctuations, or difficult life transitions, women experiencing mid-life crises find themselves depressed and anxious.

Sleep problems

Due to hormonal changes, women struggle with insomnia meaning they are fatigued most times. If they are already in menopause, they might struggle to sleep because of hot and cold flashes and the general restlessness that comes with it.

Feeling restless and needing change

Mid-life crisis just like it is for men comes with a sense of dissatisfaction with one’s life leading to high levels of restlessness and needing to make a huge change.

Weight changes

Weight loss or weight gain can be a result of personal development goals of living healthier or they could be a result of trying to cope with stress. Some people eat more or eat less when they are struggling, and the challenges that come with mid-life can be a huge stressor.

Drastic changes in appearance

Women going through a mid-life crisis can make seemingly drastic changes to their appearance. This could be in the clothes they choose to wear, having different hairstyles, or getting a tattoo. Those who are worried about their age might get Botox or cosmetic surgeries to improve their appearance.

Emotional volatility

Emotional volatility is common for women during this season due to hormonal changes. Coupled with being constantly fatigued, and dealing with stress and anxiety, it can be hard to be emotionally stable.

Religious and spiritual curiosity

This time brings about a lot of questions about mortality and spirituality. Because they are questioning their purpose, women might seek answers from God or other spiritual practices.

Nostalgia

Due to high levels of dissatisfaction with their current life, those going through mid-life crises might obsess over the past and relive the past. They report missing who they were. They might also be riddled with great regret about some of their life choices wishing they could get a do-over.

How to Use a Mid-life Crisis to Your Advantage

When experiencing anything remotely like a mid-life crisis, it might be time to start having an honest look at where your life is and what changes would need to be made. It almost seems that a midlife crisis for women is that jolt that they need to re-evaluate. This time, if managed well, can be empowering and change the course of their life positively.

This time usually rejuvenates women to explore paths they had never considered due to some setbacks like being mothers and caretakers. By the time women reach this age, they usually want to embrace a more authentic life that is free from societal pressures and expectations. If done right, a mid-life crisis can be the catalyst to personal growth, self-reflection, and freedom.

How Women Can Navigate Mid-Life Crisis

Navigating a mid-life crisis can be challenging if done alone. It is important for those suspecting that they might be going through it to seek help and support. Researching symptoms can be helpful to know what to expect.

Though it might seem like a lonely journey, many women have gone through it, and learning about a person’s sisterhood support could be lifesaving. This way one has people who understand the unique challenges she is facing and can assist from a place of understanding and empathy.

Professional help is one step women can take to try and understand and navigate a mid-life crisis. This help could be from a mental health coach, life coach, therapist, or doctor. Depending on one’s needs, these people can offer valuable insight and skills needed.

While getting support from others, it is important to make self-care a priority. During this season, adopting a healthy lifestyle can be half the job. This means learning to eat right, exercise, take time to rest, and nurture relationships.

We Can Assist

If you are looking to take more practical steps toward your mental health as you go through this time of transition, please reach out to us at Thousand Oaks Christian Counseling in California. Our reception team can connect you to a Christian therapist in Thousand Oaks who is qualified to help you understand this season of your life and help you navigate it in a way that is empowering.