Midlife crisis is about age. Identity crisis is about who you are. Here's how to tell which one you're in — and why it matters for what you do next.

Looking back, I can see that the worst points in my adult life came after losing roles I'd tied my identity to. The end of my marriage felt like I'd failed as a person. Being let go from a job felt like I'd failed as a person. Losing a role felt like losing my sense of self.