I’m Terrified of Getting Older: 10 Psychology-Backed Ways to Feel Better About Ageing

Let’s be honest. The idea of ageing can hit out of nowhere. One day you’re breezing along, the next you’re Googling “I feel invisible at 40” at 2 a.m., wondering when society decided you had an expiry date.

If you’re terrified of getting older, you’re not alone — and you’re definitely not broken. A lot of what we fear about ageing is actually ageism + sexism making women feel like we’re “less-than” after a certain age. Here’s the good news: getting older can be so much better when you flip the narrative.

Here are 10 ways to reframe that fear and feel more like a life force to be reckoned with.

1. Change the story – this is your power era.

Ageing isn’t just about loss — it’s a trade-up. You gain wisdom, self-respect, better boundaries, and zero tolerance for nonsense. Write down 5 ways you’re stronger now than you were at 25. Spoiler: 25-year-old you would be thrilled.

2. Blame the real villain: ageism.

Your fear isn’t a personal flaw — it’s cultural conditioning. When you catch yourself thinking, “I’m irrelevant now,” stop and say: “Nope, that’s just ageism talking.” It’s surprisingly powerful.

3. Rethink your reflection.

Yes, your face changes. SO WHAT?! That face has lived, laughed, maybe cried through Bridget Jones and survived a few hormonal meltdowns — and it’s still yours. Switch “I look tired and old” to “I look experienced and have lived my life well” and watch how your confidence shifts.

4. Feel the fear and do the thing anyway.

Fear of ageing can stop us from doing big, cool, visible things. Don’t let it. Say yes to the new job, the trip, the dance floor. Future you will thank you.

And also, you know what? If you'd really rather not, then F-- the fear and don't.

You don't need to prove yourself to anyone. Give yourself permission to rest and not keep challenging yourself to do more.

5. Meet your future self.

Write a letter from 70-year-old you. She’ll probably say, “Stop stressing about that line on your forehead. Go and LIVE, have the pasta, dance, and maybe drink that latte you love because it makes you feel like you again.”

6. Stop chasing “anti-ageing” – go for pro-vitality.

We’re not anti-ageing — we’re anti-feeling-like-rubbish. Ageing is unavoidable, but how you feel is something you can influence. Focus on strength, energy, and joy — not the impossible task of looking 25 forever.

7. Curate your social feed.

If your Instagram is full of 22-year-olds in micro bikinis, no wonder your brain’s freaking out. Follow women who look like you — or where you’re heading — and are living boldly. Your brain needs to see proof that midlife is a peak era and nothing to fear.

8. Step into your spotlight.

Feeling invisible? Take up space in your own way. Speak up in meetings. Start that side project. Wear the bright lipstick if that's your bag. It’s not about “look at me” — it’s about “I’m here, and I’m still a force.”

9. Ditch youth as the scoreboard.

You’re not competing with your younger self — she got you here (thank you, her xx)! Instead of worrying about how you look, think about how you live and feel. Are you laughing? Growing? Loving and being loved? Saying no to nonsense? That’s the real scoreboard.

10. Collect your ageing wins.

Maybe you finally sleep properly (on good nights), know your triggers, or just don’t care what others think anymore. Write those down. When fear sneaks back in, revisit your list. You’ll see ageing isn’t a downhill slide — it’s a shift into true strength.

The SheBANG! Takeaway

At SheBANG! Woman, we’re here to help you feel the whole SheBANG! again. Part of that is sharing info about perimenopause and ageing that actually makes sense — and part of it is creating products that we genuinely use ourselves to regain our life force.

Our superlattes? They’re our little daily rituals for reclaiming a calm nervous system, sleep, and body temp regulation. Not because they’re magic, but because they remind us to take a moment for ourselves — and that’s something we all need to lean into as we age. Oh, and they're loaded with therapeutic doses of magnesium glycinate so...