Midlife Meltdown: Spot It! Prevent It! Overcome It!

There's a lot of good information in MIDLIFE MELTDOWN by Janet Maccaro, a book designed especially for anybody born between 1946 and 1964 . . . since I fall in that category, I decided to read the book per the recommendation of a friend. Section One helps the reader understand midlife meltdown, then Section Two provided help for specific conditions of midlife meltdown . . . these range from aging to periodontal health and include such other topics as menopause, natural prostate protection, weight management, arthritis, brain health, and some 20 others. Each chapter is short, as well as very easy to understand . . . my only criticism is that Maccaro suggests a lot of supplements to take . . . if you were to take all of them, you'd be both broke and bloated (as a result of all the water you'd be drinking to just swallow all the pills and capsules). There were several memorable passages; among them: * What is a meltdown? Quite simply, a meltdown occurs during midlife when internal stress and external pressures become so intense that life offers little or no joy. Physical symptoms such as overwhelming fatigue and lethargy are a constant battle, enthusiasm of things once cherished is diminished, hope is dashed, uncertainty is plentiful, and a freefall occurs as our "safety net" of invincible youth gives way. * Midlife can be a turning point for those who will use it as such. It is the time of life to take inventory of your life. It is the time to pay attention to the whispers that have been alerting you of the imbalances in your professional, personal, and family life as well as your physical, emotional, and even your financial health. It is a time to put your hands back on the wheel in terms of your life's course. It is a time to reflect on the past and what you have learned from it. It is the time to get rid of any baggage you are still toting on this earthly journey that may be weighing you down, such as debt, unforgiveness, anger, and personal relationships that take all your energy and rob you of being all you were meant to be. * It has been shown that during midlife, many marriages fail because one or both spouses fail to meet the other's emotional needs. That is understandable, given the huge amount of stress and responsibility tat often occurs during midlife. Couples may neglect to schedule time with one another. Their relationship is not a high priority. It is often replaced by activities of lesser importance, such as career, home maintenance, and financial worries. Your marriage can be a "lifetime love affair." Protect it be setting time aside each week to give each other undivided attention and appreciation. Pray together, stay together, go the distance together. Happily married couples fare better at midlife that singles because of the important emotional connection and shared interests. When you meet each other's emotional needs, you become each other's source of happiness. You truly become one. That is the way God intended marria