TACKLING ANXIETY IN MIDLIFE

Changing family dynamics or financial worries might make you feel more stressed as you age. Here's how to manage those fears

- LUCY ROBINSON

Over the years, we have become much more accustomed to opening up and talking about how we are really feeling. With one in four people in England experiencing some kind of mental health problem each year, it’s a topic that affects many of us – regardless of who we are.

That said, there are some factors that can trigger issues such as anxiety. In fact, studies have shown that adults between the ages of 45 and 59 in the UK have been susceptible to high levels of the condition.

“Anxious states are heightened when we’re physically and emotionally out of balance – and most of us will be as we approach midlife, because the culture we live in drives us in such a way that results in us being wildly overwhelmed and emotionally undernourished,” says Kate Merrick, psychotherapist and spokesperson for the UK Council for Psychotherapy (UKCP).

Defined as a feeling of unease, such as worry or fear, many of us will be familiar with the sensation of anxiety at times, such as before a big presentation or a driving test. But for some individuals, it can be far harder to control.

“Midlife anxiety can be triggered by a variety of factors. For instance, career regrets and financial responsibilities, like regretting past career choices and feeling trapped by financial obligations, such as mortgage payments, retirement savings and funding children’s education, can create significant stress and anxiety,” explains Anxiety UK’s director of communications and external affairs, Dave Smithson.

“Shifts in relationships and family dynamics, such as caring for ageing parents, adjusting to children becoming more independent, and potential friction in spousal relationships can lead to feelings of worry. Health concerns can be another trigger.”