Midlife Crisis Defined
What is a mid-life crisis? While there are as many reasons for crises, midlife or otherwise, I believe that a midlife crisis represents a seismic shift in one's belief system and self image. Over at the WiseGeek, he addresses the symptoms of midlife crisis which are a cut above from the usual stereotypes, although there's a grain of truth in all stereotypes. But that's called comedy. Living with a stereotype is not funny. Understanding the root cause of stereotypical behavior, however, may help us empathize with the person when he or she appears to be flipping out. See this post about midlife transitions to answer that particular dilemma.
"A mid-life crisis is an emotional condition that can appear in both men and women, usually around the age of 35 to 50 years. The anxiety felt usually focuses on the realization that the person’s life is halfway over. There are many reasons why a person may have a mid-life crisis. According to research, one of the factors in this condition has to do with aging. The person may feel that by the time he/she reaches the supposed halfway point in life, he/she should have achieved more."
Read the answer to the age-old question What is a Mid-Life Crisis?
In the interest of full disclosure, WiseGeek is a team of writers and editors dedicated to providing clear and concise answers to common questions. Their maturity level is much higher than on Yahoo! Answers, so if you have a burning question like, "How can I find a good mentor?", or "Do rats make good pets?" (Oooops! Did I say mature?), I highly recommend this free resource.