James Parker thinks middle age is great because “[y]ou’re through the disorientation period” and “through the angst and the panic attacks”. David Blanchflower claims that its misery peaks at 47-years-old. All I know is that my autism diagnosis hit when I was 46 and my midlife misery, be it related or not, is going strong at 50—complete with disorientation, angst, and panic attacks.