mid-life crisis
Middle-aged turmoil
A mid-life crisis is a period of anxiety, dissatisfaction, or drastic behavior change occurring roughly between ages 40 and 60, prompted by awareness of aging and mortality.
Stereotypical expressions include buying sports cars, leaving stable marriages, or making sudden career changes: He quit his law practice and bought a motorcycle—classic mid-life crisis.
The term is sometimes used loosely for any dramatic reevaluation of one's life choices.
Persistent apprehensive distress
- depressionProlonged low state
- restlessnessState of unease
- insomniaPersistent inability to rest
- irritabilityProneness to agitation
mood swings · withdrawal · impulsivity · recklessness · affair · divorce · spending spree · sports car
High-performance driving machine
- CorvetteChevrolet sports car
- PorscheGerman luxury automaker
- affairRomantic entanglement outside commitment
- trophy wifeSpouse chosen for appearance
leather pants · gold chain · hair plugs · motorcycle · cliché · caricature · Harley-Davidson · divorce
Learning one's true character
- reinventionComplete self-transformation
- existentialRelating to existence itself
- purposeReason something exists
- fulfillmentState of achieved purpose
dissatisfaction · restlessness · introspection · confusion · alienation · directionless · self-doubt · authenticity
Returned light or thought
- prioritiesMost important things
- regretSorrow over past actions
- valuesPrinciples held worthwhile
- goalsIntended end results
achievement · satisfaction · contentment · perspective · career change · bucket list · what-ifs · missed opportunities
anxiety
Persistent apprehensive distress
- depressionProlonged low state
- restlessnessState of unease
- insomniaPersistent inability to rest
irritability · mood swings · withdrawal · impulsivity · recklessness · affair · divorce · spending spree · sports car · motorcycle
sports car
High-performance driving machine
- CorvetteChevrolet sports car
- PorscheGerman luxury automaker
- affairRomantic entanglement outside commitment
trophy wife · leather pants · gold chain · hair plugs · motorcycle · cliché · caricature · Harley-Davidson · divorce · rock band
self-discovery
Learning one's true character
- reinventionComplete self-transformation
- existentialRelating to existence itself
- purposeReason something exists
fulfillment · dissatisfaction · restlessness · introspection · confusion · alienation · directionless · self-doubt · authenticity · meaning
reflection
Returned light or thought
- prioritiesMost important things
- regretSorrow over past actions
- valuesPrinciples held worthwhile
goals · achievement · satisfaction · contentment · perspective · career change · bucket list · what-ifs · missed opportunities · settling
graying
Losing color with age
andropause · sagging · age spots · presbyopia · mortality · decline · youth · vitality · vigor · anti-aging
- psychobabbletriggered, gaslighting, toxic, trauma bond, narcissist
mid-life crisisquarter-life crisis
Early adulthood identity struggle
teenage rebellion · empty nest syndrome · senior moment · childhood innocence
mid-life crisiscontentment
Peaceful satisfaction with circumstances
equanimity · serenity · stability · peace of mind · emotional security
mid-life crisisself-acceptance
Approval of oneself
aging gracefully · coming into one's own · self-actualization · second wind
life, crisis, middle, midway, midpoint, midnight, midday, lives, living