A mid-life crisis isn't just a cliche. Mid-life transitions can mark tremendous growth and struggles.
The term mid-life crisis was first coined in 1965 when early analysis suggested that it could happen anywhere between the ages of 40 and 60.
However, mid-life is a moving target; life expectancy for women is 81, for men 76, so "mid-life" has quite a different meaning nowadays.
Something does happen to people when they turn 50: they see a timeline for the first time in their life... one that they did not see when they were half that age.
There can be that "Uh-oh, I'm getting older" moment; but it doesn't have to be all downhill from there.
The problem with people who go into crisis is that they are reactive, fearful and impulsive, which is the wrong way to approach this pivotal point in your life.
If you take your time to think and figure out the rest of your life, it should become less about a crisis and more about an evolution.
Yes, your life does have a finality to it. But how can you use that awareness to define your life and embrace the change?
Clinical psychologist, Dr. Vivian Diller, PhD, explains how you can avoid the crisis and get yourself through your mid-life with a healthy, positive outlook.
Vivian Diller, Ph.D., is a psychologist in private practice in N.Y.C. Prior to receiving her doctorate, Dr. Diller studied classical ballet and performed professionally with the Cincinnati Ballet Company. When her dance career ended, she became a Wilhelmina model, appearing in fashion magazines, national print ads and TV commercials. She studied clinical psychology at Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Yeshiva University, interned at St. Lukes/Roosevelt Hospital and completed Postdoctoral Training in Psychoanalysis at N.Y.U.