No, never had that, I keep too busy I guess all of my life.

Sue

Depends on what you mean by mid-life crisis. I had some peri-menopausal anxiety in my forties, and became nervous about driving. This was so unlike me that I forced myself to keep driving and I eventually got over it and back to normal.

During that period I also discovered homeopathy. It helped me through the anxiety and helped me again a few years later when I was in menopause.

Yep. Age 25! For some reason that birthday really shook me up. All the "milestones" of life since then haven't phased me one bit.

Not yet, but I'm looking forward to it:

No but only time I've ever heard that term used is as an excuse when someone's been cheating and I'd never cheat on my spouse.

I think people start to feel their own mortality when they hit their 30's and at that time they will start to reflect on where they've been so far and where they want to go next. They may set new goals, create bucket lists or make serious changes in their relationships.

For me, it happens every 5 years or so and during those times I've dropped life long friends, left a serious relationship and changed careers.

Absolutely not. Never had time and now I'm way past mid-life.

Um, I am pretty sure no one has the time to have a crisis, and more likely, don't choose it, but get "chosen" by the crisis. I haven't had a midlife crisis, but do spend a lot of time working in my life, analyzing, and then adjusting. I did a lot of analyzing the months after, all simultaneously!!!:

working a very complicated job, finishing my senior year of university, finishing the remodel (we were doing the work ourselves, and then I was doing the work because he left us (divorced after a decade. Oh and he cheated)), an historic flood, the bank promising to foreclose on said flooded house if I didn't sell it for what we'd bought it for, so I bankrupted.

I got rid of many material things and shut down activities, until I decided which activities and efforts made me happy. I stripped away anything that didn't bring me pure joy.

No. The only thing that I had happen strange was in the early stages of menopause I had a full blown panic attack. I thought I was dying. Felt very much like a heart attack. Could not breathe. Scared the bejeepers out of me. After having a full array of tests we figured it must have been a panic attack. I was sitting at my desk working when it happened. Just out of the blue. I have never had another one that strong I have had a few minor ones but I know what it is now and just force myself into a state of calm.

No, not a mid-life crisis, but I've had many changes in my life. Career changes, a divorce (mid-30's) & the upheaval that goes along with that but was mutual, re-marriage to my current soul-mate over 25 years ago. Changes in perspective on things since my 50's I guess and our kids have families of their own.

Many years ago, I had what I call a midlife crisis. I was relatively peaceful, doing the things that I always had, but gradually became very unhappy. I realized almost with a start one day that because of dedicating myself to being a wife and mother, I had neglected some of my own fundamental interests. So I announced to DH one day that I was quitting my job and going back to university. I graduated with one degree, then did post-graduate work in another city, coming back home every six weeks or so. This "hiatus" proved to refresh our relationship too, and next year we will celebrate 50 years of marriage. I was very fortunate that although DH initially was startled by my new plans, he basically was pretty supportive the whole time.

No, thank you. I learned as a kid, watching Courtship of Eddie's father, that wishing for what-ifs doesn't improve reality.

In my late 30s I went back to school to become a nurse, after realizing I hadn't done much with my life up until then.

Annegriet

Are you having some kind of crisis we could maybe help you with?

Love the phrase "current soulmate." It sounds as if one can have a different soulmate at different times in life if required. :).

I have suffered from anxiety for years so not sure if I would recognize a full blown mid life crisis. I'm past midlife and somehow have not had a career, personal or marital crisis despite me. I've written (but not published) the books that spoke through me. And have not desired to run away from life in general. Well maybe for a week or two. :)

Been there, done that. Quit my job after 33 yrs and retired young. Turned out to be an excellent choice.

Mid-life crisis, to me, isn't running away from life nor is it a matter of not having the time to do so, nor is it a case of what-ifs.

To me it's taking the time to reflect on who you are, and who have you become. A sort of identity wondering or a lack of self-confidence. The classic time is when one becomes an empty-nester. It's individual to everyone and can manifest itself in a number of feelings - depression, anxiety, or remorse (I guess that can be what-ifs).

I haven't had one (I don;t think) but I lead a very quiet life and I like it that way.

For many, what's called a mid-life crisis may not be a crisis at all but simply making changes and/or incorporating new things into one's life. It may be decisions coming as a result of personal introspection, or it may be a result of unexpected or unintended happenings that one decides to embrace and go forward with.

I've had several, of the second type mentioned above. I bore of sameness and too much routine in my life, I'm glad to be willing to make changes and enjoy pursuing opportunities to change and do new things.

Pretty sure I did. It was like being a teenager or young adult again. Lost weight, looked great (at least I thought I did), discovered Ska music, got my nose pierced, with my SO went to concerts of all sorts, theater, did things I was always interested in doing, traveled, met new people of all ages. It was the best time of my life!

Then for some reason I regained my senses. Lost my SO to a stroke (he was only 51), and after that I eventually got tired of the nose ring, didn't listen to much music at all, no one to travel with any longer. Didn't even play music for a long time. Just in the past few years I've started to reconnect with my band mates and other pre-mid crisis friends who were waiting for me to "come back". ha

noun: mid-life crisis

1. an emotional crisis of identity and self-confidence that can occur in early middle age.
   
   Mine hit at age 20. A few years later I married and immersed myself in child raising and family. I loved being a SAHM. In my late 30s I had not a crisis but a re-awakening. Outside evil created it. I found you can go home again. I regained my old spirit that I had prior to my early 20s. I reunited with friends who meant the most to me. I found the freedom to embrace me again. The freedom to do it my way. Just Watchme LOL. Never bothered me to hit middle age, nor my senior years. I'm just not ready to go yet. I still have a lot of living to do. ;-)

I went through a period of time when I experienced a vague general sense of dissatisfaction in my life. It started after my parents and my brother died within a short period of each other and it really made me aware of the passing of time and how short life is. I started thinking about how life was passing me by as I worked at a job I no longer like. In fact, I hate it and felt like it was sucking the life out of me. And, the sameness of the days - get up, go to work, come home, make dinner, clean up, go to bed and get up and do it all over again the next day and the next day and the next day.

After much soul searching, I realized that life is what we make it, so I retired early from the job that had become the source of so much unhappiness and started taking care of me. I decided I was no longer going to put off all those things I wanted to do because all of us have a limited amount of time on this earth.

Since retiring, I have thrown myself into my jewelry business (small as it is, it's mine), traveled extensively, re-connected with friends and made a commitment to see all of the things my area has to offer (something I'd never done because those local things will always be there, right?) and started eating healthier and exercising more. Best decision ever. Crisis over and I feel like a new person who can't wait to start each day and doesn't want to see it end at night.

Now, if only I could get by without sleep, life would be grand!