Depression (mood) At Midlife; An Introduction

Posted on December 10th, 2007 by Guy Lewis

Mood Depression At Midlife.

At midlife (wherever this may be for you can actually depend on who you are) depression can set in for a range of reasons around adjusting to the changes that life has for you. It is also confused with Adjustment Disorder which is also very common and, as described in its name, is a condition that is affected by having to adjust to situations that are put on you that may feel uncomfortable.

Depression (not clinical depression) can be triggered by a range of issues at midlife, which can turn a midlife transition into a midlife crisis. In fact, a number of these issues will sit alongside one another causing the conflict and confusion normally the path for depression to occur.

Take a look at the following situations and issues and see if you have any that are bothering you right now:

Empty Nest Syndrome: your children have now left or are pretty absent in your family home. This might give you a feeling of emptiness and uselessness now you have no children to look after and support.

Loss of child bearing abilities: If you are very maternal you may feel a loss for your life if you can not bear your own children anymore.

Career slowing down: you may feel that your career, and your qualifications have taken you as far as they can. You might be bothered by seeing younger and newer faces in your business quickly catching you up or overtaking you. There seems to be no recognition for experience and all that seems to be rewarded is long hours and new ideas. You feel there is a risk you will be the next out the door and you don’t really know what alternative careers or jobs there are that will not be a step backwards.

Ageing: Each day you look in the mirror and see signs of ageing that were not there before. You feel young perhaps, but you know you are older because of how the younger people in your life treat you.

Physical ageing: you are well aware of the ageing of your body because it tells you regularly! you can not do the things you used to do, even though the spirit is still there.

Lost Youth: you are missing your youth. You look old but still want to play and have fun, yet you worry about doing yourself an injury now.

Missed Opportunities: you can see now how much you lost in your past. A missed opportunity that could have taken your life on a different path altogether. Perhaps somewhere much more exciting and more fulfilling. If only you had taken that choice.

Regrets On Life Achievements: you wish you had done more by now. Time seems to have slipped away and you’ve not had time to sit down and think about it. Each year floats by and you just aren’t doing as much as you hoped you would by now.

Relationship Issues: Your relationship is dulling, you are moving apart from your partner. Perhaps you are also changing into different people. Where once you had a lot in common, now there seems to be more that keeps you apart.

Disillusioned: you are feeling there must be more to life than what you have done so far, even though your achievements have been fulfilling it now feels everything has been superficial. There must be more to life than this.

You might feel like all the above, and more are what is going on for you right now. Below are some articles that may help you at DiscoverAid.com . Work through the ones that interest you and see what you can do to make a decision about your life and moving ahead positively. Make a change today and work through your transition in life bit by bit. It takes time but it may be the most exciting experience you have had.

Depression Triggered As Part Of A Midlife Crisis

Are You Really Depressed?