:: Mumbai Age

Mid-life crisis hits men in their 30s

IPSITA BHATTACHARYA | HYDERABAD

Survival problems and lifestyle issues are at their peak when a man is in his mid-thirties, often leading to stress and depression. Those in their late 30s and early 40s are least content with life, says a recent study conducted in the UK. Local psychiatrists agree that a combination of factors — both professional and personal — contribute to the rising dissatisfaction among men in this age group.

Says consultant psychiatrist, Dr Venkata Suresh, Yashoda Hospital, "Professionally, late thirties is the time when pressure at the workplace is at its peak. Increased responsibilities and pressure lead to tension and stress which in turn lead to a rise in the cortisol levels in your system. This results in several problems like hypertension, poor concentration etc, which lower your level of contentment."

"Post 35 till say 50, is the time when you start to peak professionally. Whether you are a doctor, a lawyer or in any other profession, you have to work towards making something of your career and reaching certain heights in your particular field. So it is natural that there will be pressure on you," says Dr D. Nagesh Reddy, chairman of Asian Institute of Gastroenterology.

Experts however feel that more than economic stability, it is social pressure and the need to maintain a certain lifestyle that puts pressure on men. "From the age of 25 to 35, you build your career and attain certain economic stability. But when a man becomes 35, he has to think not only about his own stability, but also about maintaining his family and their lifestyle. There is a lot of peer pressure. For instance, if your friends and colleagues are sending their kids to an expensive school, there is automatic pressure on you to do the same for your kids," Dr Reddy says.

However despite the pressure, one needs to find a way out. Each individual should devise their own strategy and build their own defence mechanism. Transport commissioner Ajay Misra says, "From day one, we face tremendous pressure in our profession, which keeps on increasing with time. One must learn to cope with pressure. For one thing, responsibilities are much more than say, when you were 20. So a man must not make rash decisions bogged down by pressure. There is no point in panicking. Rather, use your experience to deal with situations and people better."

Prioritising one’s goals is important when it comes to handling low moods and discontentment. Bhargav Marepally, CEO and MD of GSS America Infotech, says, "I am not of the opinion that just because you are in your late thirties you will be unhappy. Tensions are a part and parcel of life and you need to strike a balance. I am a part of a high pressure job, but I make it a point to spend time with my family, which helps me to relax."

Though many men refuse to acknowledge the fact, psychiatrists agree that the fear of getting old, also plays a factor in the increasing discontentment among men in late thirties. Says Dr Suresh, "Like women, impending old age also makes men feel low and depressed. It results in a condition called hyper cortisolmia which can also lead to sexual dysfunction and dissatisfaction."