Midlife crisis: what is it and what aspects of life does it affect?

"Why do I feel anxious when I should be enjoying my youth?"

The twenties can be seen as a vital time full of opportunities. Especially when compared to other ages, we can think of it as a time of youth, energy, fun andMidlife crisis: what is it and what aspects of life does it affect?

"Why do I feel anxious when I should be enjoying my youth?"

• The twenties can be seen as a vital time full of opportunities

. Especially if we compare it with other ages, we can think of it as a time of youth, energy, fun and/or experimentation in the absence of the responsibilities of late adulthood (children, mortgages...).

What is the quarter-life crisis? American psychologist Abby Wilner and journalist Alexandra Robbins coined the term "quarter-life crisis" in their 2001 book of the same name. in their book of the same name, published in 2001.

Both refer with this term to the state of confusion and feelings of being lost and trapped that can appear in one's twenties and lead to a rethinking of one's lifestyle.

rethinking of lifestyle, including changes in friendships

including changes in friendships, partnerships and vocations. Why can we experience a crisis when we reach the age of 25?The economic and social uncertainty, the awareness of the difficulties to become independent from the family of origin and to be autonomous, the possible disappointments before the immersion in the world of work, the differences between the life one thought one was going to have at this age and the one one one really has, the doubts about one's own performance and abilities before the social demands of perfection and success? These are some of the aspects that have been related to the experience of a crisis when reaching the stage between 25 and 30 years old.

The society in which we live, highly mediatized and exposed in social networks, has established models of "perfect life",

• has established models of the "perfect life" that are accessible 24 hours a day

just by having a cell phone with an Internet connection. We have models for how to dress, how to style our hair, what our bodies should look like, how we should have fun, what we should eat, where we should work and where we should travel in order to be accepted and considered successful.

This can generate a lot of pressure, which we can handle better later in life. In fact, there are studies that have confirmed that the presence of negative affect emotions (anxiety, sadness, stress, anguish, etc.) is greater in young people than in older ones.

What are the key aspects of the quarter-life crisis? These are the typical signs and symptoms of this psychological phenomenon:1. The search for the perfect job

Studies have found that

young people are particularly focused on achieving the perfect job situation. . This includes the search for new, better paying jobs with shorter hours, higher status, better relationships with colleagues and less stress. This can lead to a continuous state of tension, anxiety and worry.2. Awareness of and involvement in social and health issues

Experts agree that

young people are very aware of the problems that exist in society and those they will have to deal with.

and those they will have to face in the future, both economically, socially and even ecologically. It has also been noted that young people are fully aware of their own state of tension and try to reduce stress through specific activities, such as yoga, meditation, going to the gym or simply resting in bed and sleeping for a while.3. Prioritizing independence

Compared to older people, studies suggest that 20-somethings place special importance on their independence. This involves developing individual skills that allow autonomy at all levels, although there is a risk of developing individual skills that allow autonomy at all levels.This means developing individual skills that allow for autonomy at all levels, although there is a risk of falling into extreme individuality.

Experts have found that millennials describe personal relationships as an area to nurture for personal satisfaction less often than people in their 40s or 50s.

Achieving a successful career seems to have become a higher priority than starting a family than previous generations. compared to previous generations. In addition, the data suggest that young people do not go out and hang out with their peers as much as might be expected, even relative to older people.4. False spirituality

Studies have found that interest in spiritual aspects (understood as the need for transcendence and self-realization) appears at later ages. In addition, they point to

a current tendency to seek satisfaction in material and quick, if not fleeting, aspects of life. . This aspect contrasts with spirituality based on bonding and deep aspects, and which can only be achieved in the long term.Conclusion

In summary, the midlife (or quarter-life) crisis is more common than it may seem at first glance.

It is related to generational aspects, but also to the social, economic and ecological situation of today's world. of today's world.The shape and duration of the transition to adulthood has changed in recent years and can lead to disappointment and frustration if what we expected our life to be does not match our reality. In addition, the lack of certainty, uncertainty and awareness of all the problems that will have to be faced in the future, can also influence the appearance of a state of tension and anxiety.