October 15, 2008 A "mid-life crisis" refers to the point in life (usually around 40-50 years old) that people begin to panic and analyze life based on successes and failures. People usually handles the mid-life crises through finding a new job or having extramarital affairs. The 1999 Oscar Best Motion Picture "American Beauty" features the theme of "mid-life crisis". Although this film tells the story about the life of US middle class, this issue is still relevant to China, where the emerging middle class families face the same problem. Mid-life crisis is a term that covers a broad concept of issues in a person's life but underlying many of these is the changes that often naturally occur in our bodies, as we get older. For some it begins earlier than others and for some they just breeze on through with little impact. It can certainly happen to both men and women but it was once more commonly seen in women and called a nervous breakdown. Today we understand the problem a little better but the pace of life is increasing and the pressure and stress which crowds into our lives from many different sources like health, social and economy issues, work and relationships all have an impact. As we get older we should all stop and take stock of where we are headed and make necessary changes before it is all too late. Many of us are aware of feelings of disillusionment and irritability setting in middle age, attributable perhaps to a heightened sense of our own mortality and/or feelings of dissatisfaction at the way life has turned out. It is when silly decisions may be made, such as leaving the faithful wife to chase a bit of young skirt. As reported, extramarital affairs are the biggest threat to Chinese middle-aged couples. A large proportion of Chinese middle-class couples choose to handle "mid-life crisis" through having a crush on " a third partier". Some of them kept several mistresses out of wedlock. China's monogamy system is being challenged. In a society that puts a particularly high value on youth, and sidelines older people, it is difficult for many people to move smoothly into their middle years. Men reaching mid-life may feel a loss of masculinity and confusion about their future role. Divorce, insecurity at work and the changing role of men add to the uncertainty many feel during this time of transition. Many men find the changes in sexual function that come with getting older unsettling. Suddenly, they cannot do it three times a night anymore; it is harder to get an erection. Is this the start of the slippery slope? And where will it end? By middle age, men may have achieved most of their realistic goals and be unclear about their future direction. Relationships may also change, and are often adversely affected, especially when children leave the parental home. For those Chinese who are around 45 today, growing up in poor conditions (in 1950s-1960s), now they live well off. They want to try something different. Having extramarital affair becomes a popular phenomenon. Not everybody is doomed to experience the mid-life crisis. Keep faith in love and marriage forever, your life will be sweet and fantastic as it is in your honeymoon.