Lifespan Development

Henok is going through a midlife crisis. Jung referred to midlife as the afternoon of life
and serves as an important phase when an individual is prepared for late adulthood (Santrock,
2018). Midlife is like the climax of life when an individual is expected to play key roles in the
workplace, community, and family. It is a time of expanding responsibilities and declining
physical skills. Going through midlife successfully requires one to balance relationship and work
responsibilities in the midst of many psychological and physical changes that are associated with
aging. Lack of this balance can lead to a crisis. A midlife crisis refers to a conflict between an
individual’s perception of themselves and their general view of their lives as they think they are
and what they want their lives to be. There is a great desire to change one’s identity.
Henok is in a midlife crisis, as can be seen in the random things that he has been doing.
For instance, all of a sudden, he decided to bleach his black hair to blonde. He feels unfulfilled,
and this explains his feelings as a failure. He also engages in rash and impulsive decisions. He
decided to buy a beach house, a decision that he did not discuss with his wife hence the reason he
is yet to inform her. Henok’s dramatic change in hair explains why he wanted to go out with a
female colleague but felt guilty because he is still married and abandoned the idea. A person
going through this phase experiences constant thoughts of infidelity, and this can be seen in
Henok. Henok’s memories about his dead father are a sign of chronic reminiscence about events
that happened in the past. He is going through feelings of nostalgia. These are all characteristics
of an individual going through a midlife crisis (Eriksen, 2021).
Henok can best overcome these feelings by first slowing down. A midlife crisis can lead
him to make disastrous and poor decisions because he is in a state of urgency and could be

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feeling that his time on earth could be running out. Henok should avoid making decisions in
haste. The bigger a decision, the more time and thoughts he should invest. It is important for
Henok to talk to someone. He should start by talking to his wife about his feelings lately. Let her
know that he feels unaccomplished and has been making hasty decisions such as buying a house.
Other than talking to his wife, he should talk to a professional mental health expert and open up
so that he can get guidance.
Further, Henok should touch base with reality and come to the realization that his
emotions and feelings are not necessarily founded on reality. Although emotions are real and
what he is feeling is also real, they could be based on unreal and inaccurate interpretations of
things and events (Eriksen, 2021). Thus, he should get objective input and see how his feelings
are not necessarily grounded in his reality. Although he is in his mid-fifties, it does not mean that
he will die soon or that time is running out. He still has adequate time to accomplish all that he
needs to accomplish. Besides, he should be kind to himself and acknowledge that he has had a
successful career as an engineer. As such, he should celebrate himself for his successes.
Further, Henok should consider seeking therapy. A therapist can help Henok understand
the origins of his crisis and help him gain control of his emotions. Also, a therapist will guide
Henok on how to take meaningful steps towards achieving his goals, changing his outlook in life
and making his life feel more fulfilling and meaningful (Kwon & Oh, 2021). A midlife crisis can
feel traumatic. Therapy can thus help Henok overcome the traumas associated with this stage,
guide him on how to improve his relationships and help him regain his sense of control over his
life.
Overall, a midlife crisis is not a disease but rather a phase characterized by feelings of
anxiety, frustration, stress mostly related to aging, age, or mortality. Some people do not go

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through this crisis, but some do. Henok should note that it is possible to get over the crisis
successfully and emerge on the other side with a replenished sense of purpose and feeling more
optimistic about life. As such, he should be kind and patient to himself as he goes through this
temporary phase. If he seeks help from a professional and talks to people that he trust, then he
will overcome this phase. I came to the conclusion that Henok is facing a midlife crisis because
his symptoms are similar to the common symptoms experienced by individuals going through
this crisis. Also, studies have shown that therapy can help someone get out of a midlife crisis.
Therapy is effective in helping such people find meaning in their lives and handle some
challenges and disappointments that they have experienced in their past. It is also important in
helping one regain a sense of control in life.

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References

Eriksen, C. B. (2021). Men in/and crisis: The cultural narrative of men’s midlife crises. Journal
of Aging Studies, 57, 100926.
Kwon, M., & Oh, J. (2021). Mediating Effects of Family Stress on the Relationship between
Self-Efficacy and Midlife Crisis in Middle-Aged Men. Sustainability, 13(7), 3761.
Santrock, J. W. (2018). Life-span development.