A midlife crisis is about more than aging. It often involves questioning your identity, life direction, and sense of purpose.
This quiz is a starting point. It can help you recognize common signs, but it isn’t a diagnosis.
Support can help. If these feelings are affecting your mental health or daily life, talking with a therapist can help you better understand what you’re experiencing.
Maybe you’ve started questioning your career, relationships, or the direction your life is taking. Or perhaps you don’t feel like yourself anymore and can’t explain why. If you’ve been wondering if you’re having a midlife crisis, this quiz can help you better understand what you may be going through.
Midlife [1] can bring major changes, but it can also be a time of reflection and growth. This midlife crisis quiz looks at common signs of a midlife crisis and can help you decide if it may be worth exploring your concerns further with a mental health professional. It's a screening tool, not a diagnosis.
I question whether my life has turned out the way I hoped it would.
Take the midlife crisis quiz
Think about how you've felt over the past several months. Choose the answer that best describes how often each statement is true for you.
I question whether my life has turned out the way I hoped it would.
Never
Rarely
Sometimes
Often
Almost always
I feel a strong desire to make a major change in my life.
Never
Rarely
Sometimes
Often
Almost always
I spend a lot of time thinking about choices I wish I’d made differently.
Never
Rarely
Sometimes
Often
Almost always
I feel less sure about who I am or what I want than I used to.
Never
Rarely
Sometimes
Often
Almost always
I think more about getting older or how quickly time seems to be passing.
Never
Rarely
Sometimes
Often
Almost always
I feel restless, even when nothing seems wrong.
Never
Rarely
Sometimes
Often
Almost always
I wonder whether my work, relationships, or daily routine still fit the life I want.
Never
Rarely
Sometimes
Often
Almost always
I find it harder to enjoy parts of life that used to make me happy.
Never
Rarely
Sometimes
Often
Almost always
I’ve been thinking more about what I want the next chapter of my life to look like.
Never
Rarely
Sometimes
Often
Almost always
I feel stuck between the life I have and the life I wish I were living.
Never
Rarely
Sometimes
Often
Almost always
Interpreting your quiz results
Research suggests that people experiencing a midlife crisis [2] often share common themes, including questioning their identity, reflecting on life choices, feeling dissatisfied with where they are, thinking more about aging, and wanting meaningful change. This quiz asks about those same themes, but it can’t provide an official diagnosis.
Add up your points using the scale below:
Never: 0 points
Rarely: 1 point
Sometimes: 2 points
Often: 3 points
Almost always: 4 points
0–10 points: Your answers suggest you’re experiencing few signs commonly associated with a midlife crisis. It’s normal to occasionally reflect on your life, priorities, or future without being in crisis.
11–20 points: You may be going through a period of reflection or transition. Many people reevaluate their goals and priorities during midlife. If these thoughts begin affecting your mood or daily life, it may be helpful to talk with someone you trust or seek support from a mental health professional.
21–30 points: Your responses suggest you’re experiencing several themes commonly associated with a midlife crisis. If these feelings have lasted for weeks or months or are affecting your relationships, work, or well-being, consider talking with a mental health professional.
31–40 points: Your answers suggest that concerns about your identity, life direction, or the future may be causing significant distress. While a midlife crisis isn't a mental health diagnosis, similar feelings can also occur with depression, anxiety, burnout, grief, or major life changes. A therapist can help you better understand what’s contributing to these feelings and identify the support that best fits your needs.
A midlife crisis isn’t an official mental health diagnosis, so this quiz can’t tell you if you have one. Instead, it’s designed to help you recognize patterns in your thoughts and feelings and decide if they’re worth exploring further. If your results raise concerns, they can also serve as a helpful starting point for a conversation with a mental health professional.
Signs you’re experiencing a midlife crisis
A midlife crisis looks different for everyone. Research suggests it often centers on questions about identity, purpose, life satisfaction, and aging rather than dramatic or impulsive behavior.
A midlife crisis can look like:
Questioning your life choices: You may spend more time thinking about where your life is headed or wondering whether you’ve made the right decisions.
Wanting a major change: Some people feel a strong urge to change careers, relationships, or other parts of their lives.
Regret about the past: Looking back at missed opportunities or wishing you had made different choices.
Feeling unsure of who you are: Midlife can bring questions about identity, purpose, and what matters most.
Thinking more about aging: Many people become more aware of getting older, changes in their health, or how quickly time seems to pass.
Feeling restless or dissatisfied: You may feel like something is missing, even if you can’t explain why or what it is.
Changes in priorities: It’s common to rethink what matters most during midlife. While men and women often experience similar feelings, men may focus more on career or financial success, while women may be more likely to reflect on caregiving roles, relationships, or major life transitions, like children leaving home or menopause.
Loss of enjoyment: If you’ve lost interest in activities you once enjoyed, it may be a sign that something deeper is going on.
Evaluating your mental health in middle age
Feeling uncertain about your life during midlife doesn't always mean you’re having a midlife crisis. But if these feelings are affecting your mental health, relationships, or daily life, they’re worth taking seriously. Support is available, and small steps can make a big difference.
Consider these next steps:
Talk to a therapist. A licensed mental health professional can help you understand what’s contributing to your thoughts and feelings. They can also help you build healthy coping skills and navigate life changes.
Consider other causes. Similar feelings can happen with depression, anxiety, burnout, grief, or major life transitions. A mental health evaluation can help clarify what's going on.
Reconnect with what matters. Spend time with supportive people, return to hobbies you enjoy, or try something new. Small changes can help you feel more connected and fulfilled.
Take care of your health. Regular exercise, quality sleep, and stress management can all support your mental well-being.
Don't wait to ask for help. If these feelings have lasted for weeks or are affecting your work, relationships, or self-esteem, consider reaching out to a therapist or your primary care provider.
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I remind clients that urgency isn’t always a sign they need to act. Sometimes it’s a sign they need to pause. Giving yourself space to understand what’s driving that restlessness can lead to much better decisions than reacting in the moment.
Brandy Chalmers, LPC
Clinical reviewer
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Midlife can bring unique challenges. Many of us reflect on our lives, where we’re going, and what we want. But this reflection doesn’t always lead to a crisis. It can also be a time of growth. If this quiz raises concerns about your mental health or well-being, don’t hesitate to reach out for support. A therapist can help you make sense of your experiences and navigate the challenges of this phase of life.
At Rula, we’re here to help you feel better. Rula makes it easy to find a licensed therapist or psychiatric provider who takes your insurance. That way, you don’t have to choose between great care and a price you can afford.
Rula patients pay about $15 per session with insurance, and 93% say they feel better after getting care through Rula. We have 21,000+ providers, and appointments are available as soon as tomorrow. We’re here to help you take the next step — wherever you are in your mental health journey.
References
- Midlife in the 2020s: Opportunities and Challenges https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC7347230/
- Development and validation of the concise midlife crisis measure https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/41233434/
Brandy Chalmers, LPC
Having faced challenges like childhood abuse, neglect, and the loss of her father to suicide, Brandy Chalmers is deeply passionate about providing compassionate care. She is a Licensed Professional Counselor, Nationally Certified Counselor, and Registered Play Therapist with a Master’s Degree in Clinical Counseling and Marriage and Family Therapy.
Brandy also teaches at a university, sharing her expertise with future mental health professionals. With over a decade of experience in settings like inpatient care and private practice, she specializes in helping clients with perfectionism, trauma, personality disorders, eating disorders, and life changes.
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