The specific type of mid-life crisis I am looking for:
You studied for your degree. You looked for a job. You found a wife. You raised some children.
Suddenly, you began to think: Is this it? Is this all there is to life? After you did all this, what next? You sort of lost the purpose of life.
Has anyone had similar experience? How did you overcome it? What was the best advice you heard?
Oh, I am asking this for a friend of course. 
My statistical sample is pretty small (1), but having been through this I highly recommend:
The list goes on. It’s really amazing what paths are available to you if you just let go of the one you’re on for a moment.
Start your own business doing something you always wanted to do or something that has personal meaning to you. Granted im a little yound for “midlife crisis” per se (36) but after 16 years as one flavor of corporate drone or another something in me finally snapped and made me make the leap.
I had my most difficult adjustment to aging at about the age of 37-40. I just suddenly felt old and restless. Frankly, I didn’t handle it well and sort of ran away from myself and trying to return to my past – a more bohemian lifestyle. My first husband and I separated for a period of about four months.
If I had it to do all over again, I would search within myself and not just “out there.” I would explore what I really believe and indulge in creative expression that I hadn’t tried before. And I would go places that I’d been just thinking about seeing for myself. Time for some goal setting and putting some plans into action. Time to do some things I might have been afraid of doing.
My forties and fifties were great! So far my sisties are good. I’m still setting goals and doing things that challenge me. I don’t feel so old anymore.
For me, it has been about finding those one or two things that I can say “I’m a…” that have nothing to do with work or family and that give me a sense of purpose and fun.
With work, I have “I’m a marketing guy” “I’m a strategy guy” etc… - true and enjoyable for me, but required.
With family, I have “I’m a husband, dad, cook, cat caretaker, etc.” again, all true and I love being a dad and husband, but not the cool stuff I was thinking about when I was in my early 20’s.
So I tried a few things - “I’m a book guy” - reading a ton, collecting first editions - very fun. Lasted a number of years.
“I’m a guitarist” - okay, now we’re talking. I have always played, but I started a mid-life crisis rock band and it has been incredibly fun and fulfilling.
So the real question for me was figure out what “I’m a…” worked for me. What might work for you? Try a few on, then try out some of the ones that sounded the best at first - you may find out they aren’t as “you” as you originally thought. I am inclined to say do NOT walk away from your current situation until you know for sure which “I’m a”'s might work for you, but that will have to be your call.
Hope this helps.
Miata.
Worked for me. 
Yeah, well, I’m gonna go get my own Mid-Life Crisis! With Blackjack, and Hookers! In fact, forget the Mid-Life Crisis! 
Get a tattoo and go crazy with hair color.
That’s what I did anyway!
I hit 43 and saw The Banger Sisters, and when Susan Sarandon’s character was sitting at the table and discovered that she was no longer herself but an icon [soccer mom, kid chauffeur, wannabe politicians trophy wife] and nobody knew anything about what she was before she became the icon something resonated.
I remembered being young and in the music scene in the very early 80s - alternative and punk. I actually listened to new music when it came out. I went to movies, and had friends outside the household.
So as mrAru puts it, I rediscovered my inner headbanger. I got into euro music as it seems to be more nonformulaic than american music, took up computer MMORPGs and made friends all over the world, went to Germany to hang out with some friends from online for a month. Got netflix so i could actually see movies not filtered by the nannies at Blockbuster, stopped listening to the radio and the eternal playlist from hell, and decided that I as I am FAT, I can’t help being FAT [metabolism and health problems] but since mrAru loves me anyway, I dont give a shit that i am FAT. Anybody who snarks at me about being FAT gets reamed for interfering in MY PERSONAL FATITUDE. My doctor understands what my body’s problems are and he doesn’t snark at me … so why should some fucking stranger. It isnt like I am going to sleep with them.
I still hurt most days froom the back and joint issues, I am still FAT and diabetic, and I would love to be a size 12-14, but you know - I am happy with myself. I am also thrilled I finally after 3 fucking years got a job and actually have spending money so I can actually treat myself to clothing and movies and albums =) which is just the cherry on the sunday.
Having been experiencing the “is this all there is” sensation lately, I want to revitalize this thread.
I am soon to be 45 years old, have been married for over 20 years, have 3 daughters of whom I am very proud, have had a career that has allowed me to do pretty much all the roles possible, have made a million dollars & lost same, have been at the top and at the bottom, have had friends and family abandon me, and have seen the depths and come back from them (at least a bit). I have described myself as damaged and often feel very alone. I have felt like I could “run away” at times, but haven’t because I don’t know where to run to. At this moment, I feel pretty unfulfilled. Like I said, I am feeling like “is this all there is”… I was recently asked “Did life turn out the way you planned?” Even if I said that it had, did I plan very well to start with? I keep wondering if I can honestly answer the question “am I happy”.
Lots of unanswered questions. Probably typical for men at midlife. I need some advice for moving beyond this. I appreciate any such advice that my learned and more experienced brethren can offer. (I would ask my father or brother, but unfortunately they fall into that category of those that have abandoned.)
I’ve been feeling stuck ever since I recovered from my last crisis (divorce) several years ago. I’ve been making good changes in my life, but can’t seem to find a purpose or direction. I almost was hoping something BIG would shake up my life (again) so I could look at myself and everything in a new light, and so make a dramatic shift.
Well, it happened. I got cancer. Now I don’t recommend going out and getting some cancer, but I really can see this as a big, dramatic, certainly messy interruption in my same-itude, and a fantastic opportunity for personal growth, spiritual growth, and to regain perspective and direction. I plan to ride the big highs and big lows, squarely face the unknown, and let this experience lead me into the wild and back.
Best of luck to you, wonderlust. I simply don’t know what else to say.
Walk it off.
You’d be surprised what you can walk off.
Yeah, my grandmother started walking 15 years ago. I am not sure if it worked for her though as no one has seen her since. <insert rim shot here>
Do
Grow a beard - thats what I did - and the SiWife still likes it 2 years on.
Don’t
skateboard - I broke my elbow, off work for a month
Si
Yeah, this happened to me at the ripe young age of 35.
How did I break out of the psychological malaise?
I thought about it and decided I really rather like my life. I certainly wouldn’t trade it in for any earlier stage of my life, not if it meant giving up my children, for example (then again they’re still small and want to be around me).
I got licensed to ride a motorcycle.
I got a motorcycle (a 200cc motor scooter, actually) and ride it to work for 85% of my commutes.
Corollary to #2 and #3 and pursuant to #1: I doubled my life insurance.
Oh, and I forgot #4: I researched, planned and executed a plan to 45 lbs. and 4 pants sizes to match the best physical shape I’ve ever been in by my 36th birthday.
If you’ve put on weight over the past 10 years, there’s no better way to suddenly feel a lot younger than shedding the fat!
I watched my dad go through both the Seven Year Itch and Midlife Crisis, so I didn’t need my own, and I just went straight to passive acceptance of the fact that, although my life may seem to suck, other peoples’ lives suck way harder. I’m probably not going to be able to afford to retire before diabetes finds some sneaky way to kill me, but I’ll be able to afford some stuff as life goes by.
Happy new year.
I revisited artistic endeavors that I’d put on the back burner and I found that it brings me immense joy and satisfaction to be creative again.
Another thing I do when I’m feeling weirded out over being 50 is that I try to remember how weird my life actually was at one time. I am much happier at 50 than I was at 25.
Amen, sister! Isn’t it nice having your very own supply of clues, instead of having to buy them one at a time?