Midlife Crisis in Men

Many men go through a phase when they take a hard look at the life they're living. They think they could be happier, and if they need to make a big change, they feel the urge to do it soon.These thoughts can trigger a midlife crisis. By realizing you're in this midlife crisis phase, then making wise choices, you can steer yourself out of a midlife crisis and into a happier life.

Midlife Crisis, Men's Cheating Hearts?

Why can’t you just be faithful? Any man who has ever been on the receiving end of that question, whether dodging crockery or wiping away his wife’s tears, knows that some women really want an answer. Do men who cheat really outnumber their female counterparts? Is infidelity in marriage more natural to men than women? And do some husbands think that “monogamy” is a board game?

How to Spot a Midlife Crisis

A true midlife crisis usually involves changing your entire life in a hurry, says Calvin Colarusso, MD, a clinical professor of psychiatry at the University of California San Diego. An example is a man he counseled who wrote a note to his wife, withdrew his money from the bank, and moved to another city without warning.This type of midlife crisis is rare, Colarusso says. More often, men go through a midlife process in which they make smaller changes over time."You might tell your wife, 'I’ve got to get out of this job,' and you do. Or you say to your wife, 'I’m done. The marriage isn’t working for me.' You don’t change everything and you don’t do it frantically," he says. "And for many people, after this agonizing reappraisal, they decide to stay with what they’ve got."

Midlife Crisis Signs

Signs that you're going through this midlife crisis phase, or that you may soon, are include:You've Hit Your 40th Birthday!Colarusso, who has a special interest in issues that affect adults as they age, most often sees men struggling with these midlife crisis questions in their 40s and early 50s.You're Uneasy About Major Elements in Your Life!Colarusso says this may include not being satisfied with your career, your marriage, or your health, and feeling the urge to take action to make them better.You Feel That Your Time for Taking A New Direction is Running Short!"Many men feel a pressing need to make changes during midlife crisis," Colarusso says, when:

• They notice that their appearance is changing or their stamina isn't as high as it used to be
• They become a grandfather
• A friend or parent dies

However, it's not inevitable to go through a midlife crisis when those things happen.Making Unusual ChoicesMen may go through a "teenage-like rebellion" at this point in their lives, says Boston psychologist Lynn Margolies, PhD. "A sure sign you may be in a midlife crisis is if you are feeling trapped and very tempted to act out in ways that will blow up your life," she says. These may include:

• Drinking more
• Having an affair
• Leaving your family
• Feeling that your life no longer fits you
• You're more concerned about your appearance
• You feel more desire for excitement and thrills