Just turned 50 and feeling morbid

I am 68. I get what you are thinking. I hope to live to an age where I can still walk, swim and enjoy life, be able to read, watch TV, eat out, cook at home 4 days a week. Keeping busy is the key. Preferably with friends and family....not always easy as you get older friends disappear to a new area or worst still die. I have a small bucket list so am making a start. Want to visit India and have a Singapore sling at the Raffles hotel. Not sure how this will be funded but hoping to pet sit and get one of my books published etc. Just keep on going on. If they tell me I have a month to live I will probably take OH to the Maldives for two weeks and come home to face the music and see my son. Crikey this is morbid. I am looking forward to tonight, let alone tomorrow.

50.... crikey , that’s a bit young to get morbid. I’m 68 and have just realised I maybe have 20 years left. I’m going on fact that gran lived to 84 and mum til she was 92...I’ve settled for the middle ground.I think 50 a great age... but if it makes you do something specific with each day....all to the good. Enjoy your next 40 years!!

Why fret about something over which you have no control. Live each day as it comes, get out and about, plan something exciting and look forward always. I'm 78 and have no fear of life limits at all. What will be, will be.

There is no rhyme or reason , in our family the generation before me an eldest son died first (in his 30s) 2nd son died in his 40s youngest son lived into his 80s .
OP, if you did have 20yrs left then you have a lot of doing to do, or you could just relax & take each day as it comes.
I like the saying ‘ Live each day as if it is your last, because one day you will be right’ best wishes.

I'm 73 and still around!! When I hit 70 one of my grandchildren told me not to worry, that I had at least another 30 years to go (in his book no one lives beyond 100 obviously!). Age is only a silly old number and you are as old (or young) as you feel.

Yes I went through this hated becoming 50.. losing parents added to the mix and empty nest made me very depressed. I self referred for counselling, I got very worried as my dad died suddenly at 56 and I am 54 so my GP kindly referred me for a heart scan and it settled me, he also said he went through a phase of it too, I think it is very common. I’ve cycled for over ten years and decided to enjoy being my age and to keep fit to help the depression and chatting to someone helped. I do understand what you mean I figured I was wasting precious time being like it. Try to find someone to talk to x

I’m with KatyK. I wish I was 50! Seriously though, I think it’s pretty normal to consider ones own death. It’s only an issue when it disrupts your normal life.

My father died aged 53 , I was 25 when it happed. As I grew older it started to make me think that perhaps, I would also due young, especially as his father was also quite young.
53 came and passed, and I'm now nearly 59 and hopefully still going !
Try to put these thoughts out of your head. You are 50 years young

I feel the same as you but I turn 70 in November. I cannot but realise the countdown has started. Enjoy the next 20 years. Then start to worry.

50!!! Are you kidding?
Seriously though, 'morbid' is a strong word. If you really feel that bad you need to talk to your GP.

Well none of us know how long we will be here for, but I wouldn’t be thinking like that, why not think of all the things you can be doing health allowing . I’m a lot older than you and in bad health but I think positive and live for today, a lot of ppl aren’t lucky enough to get to 50 be thankful and appreciate each day love , if you are depressed go to your dr who can help you

I had a few health issues kicked in late 40s/early 50s, but I feel grateful to be here. Alot of my family and friends are not here and some didnt make 40. I do feel more content and have to say for me the stage Im at now (late 50s), is the most content I have been. I really think you have to try and live in the present, although I dont find that easy. As one poster said Menopause might be making you feel this way. I had a horrendous time with it, never away from GP/ hospital with Gynae issues and I still suffer from anxiety. Thankfully the panic attacks have abated. If you still feel the way you do I would definitely see the doctor. Ask to get your thyroid checked too. I hope you feel better having talked to the folks on here. There are some really decent people in this community.

I felt like that when my menopause kicked in age 51- 55. It went age 56/57. I’m a psychotherapist so I knew my gloom was hormonal and I took menomood when it got bad.

I felt like that when I turned 60 I’m 63 now. I wrote a list of things I wanted to do and am slowly working my way thru them. I look 53 ( so I’m told) and feel 43 I’m busy out every day working part time, walking the dog. I have a young out look on life and I’m the one that goes on the roller coasters with the gran children. Health permitting I do feel it is a mindset. I think younger and feel younger.

Well my first thought was that - the Government are considering increasing the retirement age to 75 - so you clearly aren't allowed to go anywhere before they have screwed everything they can out of you first, therefore you have at least 25 to go.
My second thought is similar to many others - menopause/peri menopause. It has been a dreafdul time for me. It started about 7 years ago and god I am so fed up with it at times, but it will come in peaks and troughs. Hold on to the good times., the bad times will pass.

When a friend and I turned 50 within weeks of each other, she was really depressed about it. I, however, found it hysterically funny as I felt so immature to be 50! We are now 73 and met up only last week. We are both in fine fettle though she currently has some knee problems. A lot of life in the old dogs yet!

Annabel01 my DF died at age 49 so that was a difficult year to get through, hit 50 & still alive . Took Early Retirement as DH had retired (he was 65 & in poor health).

At 56 we downsized & moved to a completely new area, sadly I was widowed at 57.

At 59 I downsized again, my final move I hope. I live nearer my DD & DGSs. I've had to make new friends as again I'm in a new area. I joined a couple of Meet Up groups, new activities, weekends away to places I've never visited.

I'm 64 & this year I met up with a friend who I've chatted to for about 3 years (we have a mutual friend). I've now gained a new interest in life & made more new friends. I'm open to any new experience.

My health is not the best but I'm determined to live life to the full, definitely live each day as if it's my last. Enjoy very new experience, new friend, new place to visit.

I hope my genes are inherited from my DM's side of the family, DM is 90, many of the women on the paternal, my Granddad's sisters lived into their 90s so I'm looking forward to at least 25 more years, hope to see Great grand Children

Our daughter died in May - a week before her 50th birthday so why not try counting your blessings?

Merlotgran, Im awfully sorry.

Oh Merlot.

This OP wasn't worth posting.

Suppose "pull yerself together" wouldn't be allowed on here.

Merlot it must have been painful to read OP.
I agree with Gonegirl

As a fifty year old who is feeling a bit out of sorts and who can completely sympathise with the OP I don’t think being told (not told) to pull yourself together is very helpful. I lost a friend in her forties (she left 4 children) and have experienced others dying at a much younger age. Couple that with family moving on, still having young children, being carers for elderly relatives, still having 17 working years ahead of you ( or longer if the Govt gets its way) and it can feel a bit rubbish at times. It’s an open forum and people are allowed to vent/moan/ whatever about all sorts of things.

Cheer up. My 50s were some of the best years of my life ! Take every day as it comes. You could live to be 100. In fact I read in a newspaper at the weekend that 1 in 3 of us now have that chance and that optimists live longer. Anyway , 50 is the new 40. Enjoy.

I feel that Annabelle01’s comment may not have been given very much validity here. Maybe I have been unlucky but out of 6 close friends, 3 of us have had cancer. We have survived, so far so good! but others were unfortunately not so lucky - I have another friend whose husband died recently in his 50’s and a brother in law who died in his early 60’s and yet another friend’s, brother who died in their 50s too. All in the past year. So I don’t think it is an unreasonable thing at all to think about as we get into our 50’s
I do think though that if you feel your worries are taking over your life and affecting the quality of your life then you should definitely seek help. Health anxiety is a very real thing, but with help you can most definitely put it on the back burner. I love the quote ‘Ageing is a privilege denied to many’ and we all need to make the very best of our remaining years however long we have. Xx

When Iwas 50 I was thankful still be alive my dad didn't make it Make the most of life while you have it x