Apparently age 47.2 is when you are at your most miserable

[cattanoogacats]

But after this things get better.
Link

For people who have seen the dreaded age of 47 - is this true for you?

Personal interest disclaimer: I'm 46, but 47 very soon. Up until now my most miserable years were in my early to mid 20s. But maybe there's worse to come....?

Hmm. Nope can't agree with that. All was good for me. Job easy, life easy, money stable, ds's late teens so minimal supervision, good friends, going away for long weekend European breaks. Meeting up for a cup of tea or curry and wine. What was not to like?

It’s probably stages rather than ages that are important. So if your family follows average trends, at 47 you’ll be running around after kids, helping ailing parents and working full time. You’re bound to be knackered, especially if you add in perimenopause.

I’d say my late 30s were pretty bad but been great since then. 46 on sat so 47

Spot on, and look at us all posting at stupid o'clock in the morning.
I'm smothered in HRT but basically running on a memory of what life should be like.

I can't wait to move on to the next stage.

I am 48. I am on marvellous and magnificent HRT which has helped enormously. Without it I spent the last year in a sleep deprived anxious mess. However, I have gained weight that I just cannot shift so have a wardrobe of clothes I can't wear and am wearing clothes I don't really like while I try to work out a way forward, so I feel really uncomfortable in my own body. Other than that, overall I am ok but definitely flatter (as well as fatter) than I used to be, less oomph.

Cripes. Im 46 and probably as happy if not happier than I have ever been in my life. I’d best baton down the hatches?

I came across this recently that seems to be challenging the u-shaped happiness idea. While it doesn't seem to include the UK, the findings about the importance of the welfare system would be very relevant, I think: theconversation.com/the-u-shaped-happiness-curve-is-wrong-many-people-do-not-get-happier-as-they-get-older-189490

I wonder why that's the magic unhappy age?

I'm 32 so it's a while off. My only DC will be 29 when I'm 47 so hopefully not causing me too much grief!

I'm 48 next month and the first six months were stressful because of circumstances with DH's health.

I do feel them I am pulled from many different directions elderly parent, DH with chronic illness, teenager going through exams and youngest who is beginning to get her independence but still needs me around.

My horrendous periods seem to have stopped though but I do feel tired a lot, if not most of the time. I'm not miserable per se but am flat and struggle to find joy. I gave up alcohol a couple of years ago as well because it caused a lot of anxiety. I do miss the buzz though.

I do have lots to be happy and grateful for though, nice home, healthy bank balance, work is good and family is well for now.

I can see why in general mid-40s are tough, I've always been reassured by the (repeated) research showing happiness increases in 50s and 60s. Would be hard if it got worse and worse! I just think a lot of people in their 40s are knackered and busy. I discuss with work friends quite a bit.

I'm 47. Can't say I've found it a particularly miserable time. I'm generally content. What I will say is I'm getting more anxious - about anything and everything, small every day life things. I think it's the perimenopause. Apart from that I'm happy enough.

I can't remember how I felt at 47.2 but I definitely would say I'm feeling it now at 54.8.

I've passed that age. I was the most unhappy in my life from 41-45 when my marriage was failing. I got out when I was 45 and was then in a much better place. My happiness has increased year on year since then (I'm now 52).

47 was pretty good for me, although I'd say every decade has had good and difficult years/ phases, for different reasons. For me the first half of my 40s were harder and less happy, with things improving from 45.

Life phase seems in my experience more important than age in years - some 47 year old women are still miles away from perimenopause, others are in the middle, others are through the menopause.

Some 47 year old women have young children - even preschoolers but often young primary school children, many have teens and tweens, some have adult children and even baby grandchildren. Of course some have children with a big age gap and are in multiple childrearing stages simultaneously, and others are child-free, whether by choice or circumstances.

Some women are at the top of their career (or utterly sick and tired of doing the same job for 25-30 years) after working in the same profession without a significant break since their very early 20s or earlier, while others are just returning to full time work after a childrearing break or a decade or more full time, perhaps career changing or retraining and ready to jump into the last 20 years of work doing something new or something they're keen to get back to, while others are even looking at retiring early soon!

IME those three things mean 47 is absolutely incomparably different for different women.

I'm 47, getting divorced after 22 years together, have hit a brick wall at work, skint, am getting fat. Onwards and upwards...

I am 46 (47 in January) I have actually been feeling happier this last 6 months. The last 2- 3 years have been tough, but I have a new job which is better paid and a better boss, teens are coming out the other side and obviously things opening up after COVID. Luckily my parents and MIL are still in reasonable health.✌

It was a horrible age for me too. A lifetime of neglected poor mental health, menopause and existential crisis all hit me at once. 50s shaping up quite nicely though. Find something to do that absorbs you. I found that I enjoy making things out of wood. And look after your feet (I didn't and I have all the bunions now, even a "tailors bunion")

I'm 45 and weighing everything up I am miserable right now. My DF and my MIL need a lot of care, I lost my DM last year, (DH and I are both only children) my kids are late teens/early 20s and they stress a lot about uni/work. Constant stressors going on with them it seems! My DH hates his job but I can't go full time anytime soon because I have too much going on. We moved 5 months ago to a house that needs work but no money to do the work and cost of living is taking our entertainment money away! I can't afford Christmas this year, I don't want to put the heating on and I'm cold already, I am perimenopausal with constant body aches and pains and I don't sleep. My life is pretty awful at the minute! I don't care if the U curve is wrong, I need to believe it gets better from this point forward!😀

God, that feels good to moan about! I could do a list of good stuff to balance. I love my job and my husband and my kids v much. I have my lifelong dream of getting a dog and it is what I hoped it would be. We are all spending more time together doing free stuff (us and kids).

47 was amazing for me. I finally got pregnant with my lovely twins, after 7 years of trying and losses.

I'm 47. Having a wonderful year. In the wonderful 'honeymoon' period with a new boyfriend, just having a blast.

I'm now 50 and both my parents are alive and well (in their 90s), I've a great high paying career, and my twins are doing well.

When my mum eventually passes, I feel I'll never be happy again, so I'd better enjoy these years of contentment now.

My 40s have been a shit show tbh

I'm 50 soon...desperately hoping for better 🙏

Oh dear, I’ll have 15 and 17 yo teenage girls when I am 47 😂

I am currently 47. Last Christmas was the most miserable yet (caused by DD mostly for lots of reasons - but on top of a really crappy year, overworked, worries about elderly relatives etc).

Spring, I shook myself by the scruff of my neck and said I needed to be more positive, and put more effort into a promotion competition. And got the job. (In fact, although I came 4th in the panel, they appointed the top 4 at once and I was given the actually plum job from it - in the matching process lead by the head of the organisation).

So I am still overworked. But getting the recognition for it.

DD turned around in the second half of the school year and her self esteem and confidence rose a huge amount. So while I am still the brunt of her moods and her letting things out, she has seen life becoming much better outside the house.

And as we got back to working in the office (officially 2/week, in reality I am doing 4/week) - and DD went back to school and evening study (so there is some time when I am in the house without her/her moods dictating everything), they have also made a huge positive difference to me personally.

So I am almost looking forward to turning 48 soon.

(And yes, DD is 16)