Men in Midlife

Male Metamorphosis Midlife Transition means many things. First it is a reassessment of where you have been in life followed by a change in where you are going. Second it is a physical change. Your body is changing and the male hormone – testosterone – that makes you male is not being produced at the levels you formerly knew. This change is frequently called “andropause” or "male menopause". Third, it is an emotional change. There is nothing to be ashamed about undergoing emotional change. Many men in midlife transition experience deep depression yet we demand we "be strong" and many men fail to get help through this time of change. Neither do we care to speak about how we are feeling. This emotional change however, is very deep seated and very real. A man that has experienced such change is often radically transformed into being more of a man than he has ever been before.

Sex Also Changes After Forty Lets Talk About Sex... There is so much written today about women’s midlife changes surrounding menopause but how about men? Do men undergo similar changes in their bodies? Recent studies released by Therapist - Terrence Real and Author – Jed Diamond.would say “yes”. Men’s changes are much more subtle in that physical change stretches over a period of time. The male hormone – testosterone is “all about sex, baby” and has been the driving influence for much of his life all the way up to midlife. At midlife a man is coming to grips with the fact that his youthful vigor is very simply no longer there as in his earlier years. Testosterone production has been tapering off all those years through his twenties and then thirties and while his mind is telling him that the action should be there when he feels like having sex the body isn’t as cooperative; or even the reverse may be true. Find out more here or in our forums. Back to the Top

Midlife Crisis Midlife Crisis A man in midlife crisis is tired. He is tired of his tired body, he is tired of keeping up with demands upon him, and he is tired of the demands on his time. He has had it with increasing pressures at work. He's like a hamster, caught in his cage, running on his wheel, he has to keep running or he will lose his balance... The midlife man is in transition. He looks back at life up until now and measures it against his remaining life. He reassesses his goals and finds them seemingly out of reach, his accomplishments and finds them wanting in the balance. When he determines that life is “like a box of chocolates” but his chocolate has been “laxative” instead, he becomes primed for depression and a midlife crisis. Male depression is significantly different from female depression. You don’t often see what could be considered usual signs but you see it in the effect it produces. The man in midlife is supposed to be strong and to him – depression is evidence of weakness. Instead of getting help the midlife man begins to “self-medicate” his condition with a variety of “feel-good” antidotes. When he masks all his feelings of depression the result is that his condition at best is often misunderstood and at its worst – misdiagnosed. This man is in midlife crisis! Looking back over his life the MLC man recalls happier moments and happier times. He often begins to grasp for these moments and attempt to reintroduce them into his life as “feel good antidotes” to his depression. He may lengthen his hair, buy a new and much younger wardrobe, trade in the minivan for a sports car, enter the party life, and even have an affair. These things are done to “self-medicate” his depression. Although he appears to be "having a good time" his reality is much different - what is seen is the façade and often he will create this fantasy life in secret. Wives of men in midlife crisis suffer traumatically during this phase of transition by not understanding him or the changes he is making. If his “MLC” leads to an affair – many are hurt painfully in his wake. The incidence of divorce increase at midlife. Equally misunderstood about MLC is that it is a transition. A temporary state that at it's best lasts only a few months; while at its worst could last a decade. Survival is critical for the MLC man, his spouse and family. The men's forum has open discussion on the phases of midlife and of your personal crisis. If you have questions or would like to make a comment Please click HERE to send your message. Back to the Top