To be freaking out at turning 40.

[WAITthisIS40]

I am 40 next year, and it can't be true. I'm not ready!! I don't feel that age. I have recently noticed slight lines on the sides of my mouth, which i'm using retinol for, and the starts of neck sagging. I have a young looking neck, no rings, but all of a sudden a slight line downwards from under my chin has appeared! WTF. Is this it now? Am I classed as middle aged, well on my way to being a little old lady? I don't want my face to head South.

I was always used to being the youngest one, and now this is drastically changing! When I go out, I wonder do I look old. I hate the fasion now, and make comments about young girls going out naked, and that when I was that age there was a stomach or legs rule, we wore clothes, and our elders would complain about that. I am very slim, in good shape and feel fine, but then my body isn't the same as it was. I have to tone it more, esp my inner thighs, and bum. My hips are wider too.

I am sounding older by the day. I had dcs in my early 30's, was barely out my 20's, have finally emerged from the sleep deprived fog, and I am 39!! I don't look in my 20's any more like I used to. It's like most of my 30s have been a blur.

Does anybody else feel this way? Do you feel better once you pass 40? I never cared about 30, as it was close to 20s, but 40, flipping 40!! I have acouple of items of clothes older than some teenagers (when they actually used to make them with quality), ahh there I go again with my old dear complaining!

At 40 you have a very good chance of living as many years as you've already had over again. Once you get to 80 ,if you're still healthy , you'll hopefully get another 10 years. Just think of the fabulous things you could do with all that time. I'm 60 next year. My life between 40 and 60 has been hundreds and hundreds of times better than my life before, particularly from 30 to 40. Enjoy it it's an amazing privilege.

I’m 40 in a couple of months & have spent the past year with anxiety over it as it feels really old as i remember my mum & dad turning 40! I’m sure when the day is over i’ll be fine & its no different from being 39 but its the thought of it for me!

Hello, I'm just 40, it’s great!

I think its normal to have a panic about ageing, so don't be too hard on yourself, it can take a while to adjust to a new decade

When you see photos of yourself in your twenties looking fabulous… well; in ten years time you'll feel the same way about how you look now! So bloody well enjoy it, you gorgeous creature!

Go and have a mid-life crisis and do some mad, fun stuff! Live! Xx

YABU. You'll be just one year older, like you are every year. 40 is just a number.

40s really good here too.

Stopped angsting about kids, got fitter, all good.

I’ve had 4 friends turn 40 this year - I’m 34, so it’s nice to see these awesome, way cooler than me, stylish, successful, happy, lively women lead the way. A friend in her 50s just this morning told me how epic your 40s are. One of my friends turning 40 has already been through the menopause twice and says it’s so empowering once you’re through it so I’m not worried about that. Too many people don’t make it to 40.

I'm 42 with a teenager. Didn't really care much about turning 40 as all my friends were already 40. I honestly think I look better now than when I was in my 20's. I'm slimmer, have better skin, more time and money to spend on myself.

I loved my 40's, it was my favourite decade. My 'fuckit' attitude kicked in, my confidence increased, I stopped caring so much about what other people thought.

Enjoy it... 50 hits hard.

I love being in my 40's, I have developed a "who gives a fuck" attitude to everything and have developed the confidence to carry it off.

I dreaded turning 40 and same as you op I wasnt bothered about 30 but 40 sounded old (crazy I know in the scheme of an average life).

I ended up having the best year ever I did so many things as part of turning 40, breaks away, white water rafting, hikes, climbed mountains, nights out, city breaks and think it's my favourite year of being alive. I also look way better at 40 than I did at 30 with young kids.

I've found this next year (soon to turn 41) good as well, the angst seems to have stopped and I guess I've just accepted it.

It didn't help I was doing a bit of dating and everywhere is full of messages like 'once you're over 40 there is NOTHING left for you' but there is ha.

I'm definitely transitioning in to more of the grateful phase of being alive and in good health and appreciating that my life is pretty decent overall.

I hated turning 30, 40 was fine - had my birthday on a ferry to Ireland for a 2 week holiday, during which we impulsively bought a house, and moved over here later that year. Life took off in a big way and I had a whale of a time throughout my 40s. 50 was a challenge, it sounded 'old' although I still felt 20-something on the inside (still do!) - but 60 was, again, no problem at all. I'm now 65 and loving life. Yeah, my waist has vanished, I have some wrinkles, my hair has aged alarmingly (think fine and curly when it's always been fairly thick and straight) - but I'm happier than I've ever been and am rather in awe at having achieved this age. Enjoy your 40s - it really can get better as you get older!

Listen I'm over 60 and I feel like 35 inside. It's a shock when I run into old friends and I see how old they are looking and then realise I'm the same!
And yea - what's the alternative? My husband passed away at 51. Sure he'd much rather be turning 66 this year.

Dont freak out, it's not all bad. Remember the 90s were only 10 years ago 😂

You become privy to the secret switch too, the one where you just don't care what people think and you don't tolerate bullshit and are totally unapologetic for it! It's a magical time.

Birthdays are for the lucky/privileged.

I know it sounds brutal, growing older is no joke, but it's still better than the alternative.

You sound very invested in your appearance. We get old. We go grey. We get wrinkles. I found 40 to be liberating. I no longer care what anyone thinks of my appearance. I’m never going to be as attractive as women half my age but I make the best of what I have - which isn’t much. Too many friends didn’t get to be 40. I thank God I’m alive every day.

I think your forties are great. It’s good feeling older and wiser. Of course hormones can start to shift as you get into your mid to late forties, and you might have ageing parents to care for, but it’s a great decade.

I'm loving all us over 40s with zero fucks 😂

It is a privilege, @WAITthisIS40 . My mum hated the thought of turning 50 and never made it. Im now older than she managed to get to, and I’ve noticed the wrinkles on my forehead that used to disappear when I stopped looking surprised never disappear! lol but you know, I think to myself, I’ve earned these wrinkles. I like them. I know it’s not like that for everyone but it’s so important to try and feel happy in your own skin. It took me years to feel happy in mine. All the best to you 💐

Bollocks is 40 old! You just think it is at the moment.

In my 40s I got divorced, started a new career, ran a half marathon, contributed a chapter to a published book, presented at a major international work conference, bought a flat, learned Italian properly, learned to crochet, had a purple Grade 2 for a bit & started fostering cats. You have loads of time ahead of you to do new & exciting stuff.

I'm turning 39 on Saturday and sure what about it? Happier in my own skin than I ever have been, give way less sh*ts about what others think of me and yeah, the time has flown by but this is how we all feel. Two of my pals passed away at within months of each other; one 38 and one 39 a year ago and it frightened the life out of me because I know that they were so YOUNG, not so old.Just celebrate being this young....honestly,it's a privilege to age.Crack open the vino and be happy to watch the time tick by

I freaked turning 40! Never happened to me before. I’m used to being 40 now but it took some time.

Turned 40 recently. I feel like my 30s was all about the dc and I'm already enjoying my 40s being more about me again. It feels like a door opening wide to something new.

I just turned 50, it’s fine.

I had cancer at 31 which always makes me feel grateful for every year I’m healthy but aside from that, I don’t mind getting older.

I resigned my job this week with nothing to go to yet. I wouldn’t have done that a few years ago! I feel more confident and assured in my decisions which is lovely.

There is lots to enjoy about getting older😊

Well YABU to a certain extent but then I absolutely get where you are coming from so YANBU. I think it's taken me a bit longer - I'm freaking out at 45. I feel like I've aged massively in the 5 years. I'll sometimes get ready to go out and think I look alright but then my the time I look in a mirror again I look like a shiny potato! I'm useless at make up and always have been. But I often feel it's made me look worse anyway.

I'm less worried about what young girls wear - really it's no different to what young girls were wearing when I was young. But I find the contouring and giant lashes a bit terrifying! And fillers just look awful (and aging on young girls).

I find myself looking at people (on TV mainly) wondering how old they are. Am I older or younger? Do I look older or younger? It's pathetic really. I wish I wasn't doing it. But I can't help it!

Being in your 40s rocks. Old enough to have learned from mistakes and emotions, young enough to enjoy life to the full.

40s, and getting old disgracefully here. 💃