The set of problems that arise when individuals discover visible signs that they are aging and become preoccupied with the realization.
A period in early middle age when some people experience feelings of anxiety, insecurity and self-doubt.
A colloquial description of the feelings of anxiety and distress experienced by some individuals in early middle age. They realize that by 45 years of age they are no longer young, and men in particular try to turn the clock back by changing jobs, dressing trendily, taking up energetic or unusual sports or engaging in extramarital liaisons. Sometimes those in mid-life crises develop mild or even serious depression. The feelings of anxiety and insecurity usually disappear with time but some people may benefit from counselling.
An often-used expression to describe the emotional turmoil experienced by certain individuals during their early middle age, when they come to the realization that their youth has faded. Typically, counseling and assistance prove effective in aiding individuals to accept the process of aging.