Saturday, February 1, 2014

Surviving The Female Midlife Crisis

By Serena Price


The female midlife crisis usually starts when a woman reaches her late forty's and will last between two and five years. The symptoms will not be like the male version of this malady and gratefully it does not last as long as the male version. Women who suffer from this are generally feeling lost and disillusioned with life as they know it. Unfortunately the spouse is usually the main target of her reaction to the disillusionment.

As an answer to the depression that they feel some women may turn to alcohol or drugs for relief. They drink in private and keep it a secret from those around them. This behavior makes it even more insidious and difficult to overcome. The drugs they use can be sleeping pills or opiate pain medications. When this happens it is important to find a treatment program as soon as possible.

Many women experience menopause at this stage of their life. They must endure the hormonal changes as well as their emotional turmoil at one time. They begin to realize that they are aging and may begin to work compulsively on their appearance. They can purchase an entirely new wardrobe or join a gym and exercise much more than necessary. They have been known to seek out people who make them feel younger and spend most of their time with them.

It has been noted that more women have plastic surgery done during this period of their lives. Face lifts and breast augmentation being the most common. They may also begin staying out with friends after work instead of coming home in the evenings.

Needless to say the spouse does not understand what is happening. Things that have always been acceptable have become unacceptable. His wife does not seem to like him any longer and he feels as though he is being rejected both as a friend and a lover. This may very well be the truth but in most cases it is temporary and will pass as his wife transitions through this metamorphosis.

The solution for these symptoms is to talk about them. Talk to your family and friends about what you are feeling. See your physician and be tested to see if you need anti-depressants to help you through this time. As with most ailments knowledge is power and once you are aware of the problem you have the tools to deal with it.

Much like grieving there are specific stages to this process. They are not exactly the same but similar. You will feel five very strong emotions including anger and depression before you reach acceptance at the end of the cycle. As with grief you can rotate through these feelings many times before you are through it.

To survive the female midlife crisis you must first acknowledge what is happening. Then talk about it to your family and friends. That can take some of the power away from it. Also talk to your doctor if you become depressed. There is help for depression available that includes counseling and medications. Make a serious effort not to over react to your situation. Impulsive behaviors usually have consequences behind them.




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