<P> A midlife crisis is a transition of identity and self - confidence that can occur in middle - aged individuals, typically 45--64 years old . The phenomenon is described as a psychological crisis brought about by events that highlight a person's growing age, inevitable mortality, and possibly shortcomings of accomplishments in life . This may produce feelings of depression, remorse, and anxiety, or the desire to achieve youthfulness or make drastic changes to current lifestyle . </P> <P> The term was coined by Elliott Jaques in 1965 . More modern research has shown this is not a phase that most middle - aged people actually experience, and some have questioned the existence of this phenomenon . </P>

How old do you have to be to have a midlife crisis