Quarterlife

"The quarterlife crisis (QLC) is a term applied to the period of life immediately following the major changes of adolescence, usually ranging from the ages of 21 - 29. The term is named by analogy with mid-life crisis. It is now recognised by many therapists and professionals in the mental health field.

Abby Wilner and Alexandra Robbins co-authored the first book to identify this phenomenon: 'Quarterlife Crisis, the Unique Challenges of Life in your '(Tarcher, 2001). Across the Atlantic, Damian Barr wrote the first book offering practical solutions based on extensive peer research: 'Get It Together: A Guide to Surviving Your Quarterlife Crisis' (Hodder, 2004&2005). The phenomenon has been identified in Japan as 'freeter'. A number of other books on the quarterlife phenomenon have since been written in different countries. An early version of the phenomenon was posited by Erik H. Erikson although the current manifestation, as Wilner, Robbins and Barr argue, different.


Emotional aspects

Characteristics of quarter-life crisis may include:

    * feeling "not good enough" because one can't find a job that is at one's academic/intellectual level
    * frustration with relationships, the working world, and finding a suitable job or career
    * confusion of identity
    * insecurity regarding the near future
    * insecurity regarding present accomplishments
    * re-evaluation of close interpersonal relationships
    * disappointment with one's job
    * nostalgia for university, college, high school or elementary school life
    * tendency to hold stronger opinions
    * boredom with social interactions
    * financially-rooted stress
    * loneliness
    * desire to have children
    * a sense that everyone is, somehow, doing better than you

These emotions and insecurities are not uncommon at this age, nor at any age in adult life. In the context of the quarter-life crisis, however, they occur shortly after a young person – usually an educated professional, in this context – enters the "real world".[1] After entering adult life and coming to terms with its responsibilities, some individuals find themselves experiencing career stagnation or extreme insecurity. The individual often realizes the real world is tougher, more competitive and less forgiving than they imagined. Furthermore, the qualifications they have spent so much time and money earning are not likely to prepare them for this disillusionment.

A related problem is simply that many college graduates do not achieve a desirable standard of living after graduation. They often end up living in low-income apartments with roommates instead of having an income high enough to support themselves. High underemployment for college graduates contributed to this problem[citation needed]; spiraling house prices are exacerbating it. Substandard living conditions, combined with menial or repetitive work at their jobs create a great amount of frustration, anxiety and anger. Nobody wants to admit to feeling like a 'loser'; this secrecy may intensify the problem.

As the emotional ups-and-downs of adolescence and college life subside, many affected by quarter-life crisis experience a "graying" of emotion. While emotional interactions may be intense in a high school or college environment – where everyone is roughly the same age and hormones are highly active – these interactions become subtler and more private in adult life.

Furthermore, a factor contributing to quarter-life crisis may be the difficulty in adapting to a workplace environment. In college, professors' expectations are clearly given and students receive frequent feedback on their performance in their courses. One progresses from year to year in the education system. In contrast, within a workplace environment, one may be, for some time, completely unaware of a boss's displeasure with one's performance, or of one's colleagues' dislike of one's personality. One does not automatically make progress. Office politics require interpersonal skills that are largely unnecessary for success in an educational setting. Emerging adults eventually learn these social skills, but this process – sometimes compared to learning another language – is often highly stressful."

(Taken from Wikipedia http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Quarter-life_crisis)

Ironically I has shown all the characteristics of a quarter life crisis. No good...no good...what to do?