Crisis at 40 in Women: Symptoms, Causes, and What to Do

Men and women not only present differences on a physical and hormonal level, but also Also in relation to the social part, the two genders present their particular differences

As we increase in age, our body and our thinking evolve, but bodily changes do not always go hand in hand with changes in thinking that allow us to accept ourselves for our age.

In this article We will see what the crisis of 40 is like in women and its particularities, how this stage begins, some healthy coping styles, and what role should be taken to avoid distress.

Table of Contents

What is the crisis of 40 like in women?

This stage, also known as “midlife crisis” It is characterized by certain changes in perspective about life. Retrospective evaluations begin about how we have done things, and if these ideas are not channeled correctly, a state of isolation, sadness and melancholy linked to self-esteem problems could result.

In addition to this, the crisis of 40 in women could be accompanied by a series of problematic psychological phenomena on a personal level that They directly affect how one experiences one’s own age

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For example, the fact that the children no longer live at home, or the fact that they do not have a partner. Of course, these thoughts and feelings linked to discomfort from “being in the body of a woman of 40 years or older” do not occur in isolation; They have their reason for being in the way in which society interprets the fact of aging, especially in the female sex.

Depending on the individual personality characteristics of each woman, these situations could affect more or less how they undertake this new stage in their lives.

Symptoms

Now We will see some symptoms, or characteristic psychological effects (since the midlife crisis is not a disease), of the beginning of this crisis, so that you can easily identify them.

1. You begin to ask yourself disturbing and deep questions

One of the main signs that you are experiencing a midlife crisis are retrospective thoughts that lead you to ask questions that may not have crossed your mind before.

Questions like, “What would have happened if I had dedicated myself to something else?”, “Would I be happier if I had not listened to my parents?”, etc…

These types of questions respond to a dissatisfaction with the lifestyle one leads, which It doesn’t necessarily mean it’s a bad lifestyle ; It simply means that when we reach 40 years of age, we are prone to overanalyze our life path, and we often do so from a pessimistic bias.

In the case of women, this bias affects those who have not gone through the stages that have traditionally been associated with the role of the “housewife-mother”: having children, raising them, maintaining a family…

2. Feel that you have already lived the best moments

This refers to the feeling that the best years of your life are behind you, that you are no longer capable of having experiences that generate joy. It is a type of generalized thought, which represents an indicator that the crisis of 40 has arrived.

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3. Having the idea that nothing more can be achieved

In this age range, It is typical to think that we have already achieved everything we could, and that it makes no sense to start new activities from the beginning. It is a distortion of thought that makes you think that new things are reserved only for young people.

4. Difficulties on a physical level

The physical ailments typical of this age can make us think that we are no longer efficient at certain activities. Pain in the back, knees, or neck are common when we reach 40 years of age, but they do not necessarily mean a clinical pathology.

In the crisis of 40 in women this usually implies feeling anguish for being very far from the conventional canons of beauty, according to which beautiful women can only be beautiful if they are less than 30 years old, approximately.

Of course, this limit is absolutely arbitrary, but that does not stop us from feeling discomfort due to social pressure. If we add to this that a large part of a woman’s value has traditionally been attributed to her physical appearance the situation worsens.

5. Deep feelings of loss

These feelings are not related to the loss of material objects, but to the loss of opportunities. We might feel like we missed out on too many opportunities in our youth and that those that arise from now on we will no longer be able to take advantage of.

6. Easy and frequent boredom

It is one of the most common symptoms, because the routine can become absorbing enough that your time is limited in things that no longer generate the same emotions in you as before.

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There are always alternatives, it is a matter of making a good distribution of your daily activities.

7. Insomnia

Difficulties sleeping during the night often intensify as a consequence of the invasive thoughts that come to our mind during the night we usually review the things that happened to us during the day.

In the crisis of 40, the evaluation of our activities can take us even further back in time and make our thoughts disperse for long hours.

To do? Coping with psychological discomfort

Now we will see some specific methods to face the crisis of 40 in women that will give positive results to the extent that you apply them and are consistent.

1. Accept your age from a positive point of view, emphasizing your virtues

Being 40 years old does not make a significant qualitative difference in terms of quality of life. Therefore, it is necessary to accept that age; If someone thinks it’s bad that there are women over thirty, that’s their problem

2. Practice new activities related to personal growth

There is no reason to assume that life will always remain the same.

3. Get out of your comfort zone

Distribute your time and find new challenges. There are many motivating goals to reach

4. Resignifies the concept of age

Visualize your age as an opportunity to perfect yourself in new things taking advantage of your experience in life and what you have been able to gain along the way.

Avoid falling into self-pity, at this moment you have what it takes to do the things you set out to do. Stay motivated, remember that you don’t need the approval of others when you know what you want to do.