Middle Age Depression

In a study reported in Reuters, January 29, 2008, researchers at Britain’s Warwick University found that two million middle age people in eighty countries reported heightened depression and anxiety, as opposed to people in their twenties and people in their seventies. The researchers described a “u-shaped” pattern to happiness throughout life, with people in their twenties at the top, descending into a valley at middle age, and ascending again as people reached their seventies.

So, how does a middle age person interpret this? Generally, there are a variety of reasons why depression and anxiety may be heightened at this time of life. Middle age is a time when all major facets of life come into play. People are faced with making choices about how they engineer the second half of their lives. They often are faced with taking care of their parents, as well as their children. They have usually narrowed their career options by this time; and if dissatisfied with their careers, may be experiencing more anxiety and depression.

Along with this, hormonal and physical changes may contribute to the increase in anxiety and depression. The mirror does not reflect the same youthful face as in the past, causing some folks to take drastic measures to recapture their youth.

I have written another article on this site called “Midlife Inventory”. The essence of this article is that the challenge of midlife is to make it a time of growth; take an assessment of our strengths and weaknesses, and build on the strengths. This is a wonderful time to reexamine our lives and make choices to create more enriching, rewarding lives.

Although research indicates that middle age is a common time of anxiety and stress, it is not a mandate to experience this! Simply recognizing the challenges at this stage of live and choosing to use midlife as a time for reevaluation and growth can be the first steps toward making a difference.

Take an inventory of your present life’s journey. Evaluate where you are today and what you have learned from your past. What are your assets and limitations? What are the most important priorities in your life today? Think of your life as a book and ask yourself what the previous chapters have said and what you would like the next chapter to be. Less important is how you would like the book to eventually end?

Psychologists often have use the technique of asking the individual to write his or her own eulogy or end of life summary. What would you want people to say about your life? What do you need to do to get prepared for such a summary of your life?

If you need assistance in this process of life reevaluation and planning, create a support system of people that are positive and add dimension and options to your life. Talk to a close friend, or a psychologist, about values, life goals, and methods of achieving them. Learn to enjoy the journey.

As indicated in other articles on this website, the subjective aspects of depression are feelings of helplessness and hopelessness. The steps above will challenge, or replace these feelings of helplessness and hopelessness and create a sense of control, a sense of meaning, and satisfaction.

D. Jerome Meers, Ph.D.

Consulting Psychologist