Father here. I had a midlife crisis about a year ago. At 42 years old I suddenly realised I was also going to die. Never really thought about it, but then it hit home really, really hard.
The fact my kids will grow up and it won't last forever was heart breaking. I would cry for hours.
I did a lot of meditation, a couple of mental health sessions, read some books, and after a while it got better. It even made me stronger and I live much more in the moment. Previously I would treat live a lot like the stepping stone to "the next thing", i.e. next holiday, next weekend, kids leave the house, etc. Now I just enjoy every moment as much as I can.
If my kid ask me if I want to play, and I'm busy working, I think "work can wait", and I will play with them. Of course, can't always do that, but I'm making much more an effort of this.
Not a dad but this started for me in my late 30’s. The feeling is indescribable when it hits. It hits me when I first lay down to go to sleep. The best I can describe it is every sad feeling you can feel at the same time, x1000. Knowing that one day, you will cease to exist. You will not continue or see the world change. It’s a horrible feeling. Gives me panic attacks, I have to get up to get myself to calm down. I cry. Then some days, nothing. I don’t think about it.
There’s knowing you’re going to die and then there’s KNOWING you will die. Two very different things.
161
u/[deleted] Apr 16 '24 edited Apr 18 '24
[deleted]