Millennials are turning 40 — and it's freaking them out

iStock; Rebecca Zisser/BI

Everybody is at least a little scared of turning 40. Well, maybe not everybody, but the conventional wisdom is that many people stare down their fifth decade with a touch of dread. Reaching a new decade is always weird. Turning 30 says "adult." Hitting 50 means you're officially AARP-eligible. At 40, it's so over. You're middle-aged, and the wear and tear of life is almost certainly taking its toll, no matter how faithful you've been to your strict skincare regimen.