Facing an Existential Crisis? Find Clarity and Support with Attuned Therapy
An existential crisis can happen at any stage of life—not just during major transitions. Whether you're questioning your career path in college or mid-career, weighing the decision to have children in today’s world, feeling disheartened by the dating scene, or grappling with uncertainty about the state of the world and politics, these deep, overwhelming thoughts can lead to existential anxiety and despair. If you're struggling with meaning, purpose, or direction, you're not alone—therapy for existential crises can help you navigate these complex emotions with clarity and compassion.
What is an Existential Crisis?
It's when you're faced with intense feelings of doubt and uncertainty about your life’s direction.
Put simply, it’s a period of doubt about where your life is at and where it’s going. An existential crisis can cause stress, anxiety, doubt, fear, hopelessness, depression, and even suicidal thoughts if left unchecked.
Existential Crisis Definition
An Existential Crisis involves profound self-reflection that challenges one's sense of identity, purpose, and beliefs.
Curious if you’re experiencing an Existential Crisis?
Existential Crisis Meaning
An existential crisis refers to a moment of deep questioning where individuals confront the meaning and purpose of their life.
Existential Crisis Symptoms
An existential crisis can manifest in various ways. Common symptoms include:
Feelings of confusion or uncertainty about life’s purpose
Anxiety or stress about the future
A sense of disillusionment or emptiness
Difficulty making decisions or feeling lost
Intense questioning of values and beliefs
Loss of motivation or direction in life
Heightened self-awareness and reflection
If you’re experiencing these symptoms, seeking professional guidance can help you navigate this challenging time.
What does having an Existential Crisis feel like?
An Existential Crisis is marked by an internal shift that causes the individual to question aspects of who they are, what they do, what they value, and where they’re going in life. Some of the questions you may feel burdened by are:
Am I in the right career?
Do I want to continue living here?
Am I truly happy in this relationship?
Is parenthood right for me?
What is my true sexuality?
Is this how I want to be spending my life?
Who am I?
Existential Crisis Examples - Have You Ever Felt Like This?
Stuck in a Career: Do you ever feel like you're trapped in a job you hate, but the thought of starting over feels impossible? You know you can't keep going like this, yet the idea of change feels overwhelming.
Torn About Motherhood: Are you in your 30s and unsure whether you want to have kids? You feel torn between the freedom of a child-free life and the pressure to settle down, wondering if you're missing out on something important.
Lost in Fatherhood: Do you ever find yourself in your 40s, with a family, but questioning if this is all life has to offer? You feel disconnected from your passions and hobbies and wonder where your sense of purpose went.
These are just some examples of how an existential crisis can show up. However, an existential crisis can happen at any point in our lives, under any circumstances— it’s really just about seriously questioning your life with anxiety and/or depression that accompanies those questions.
What Does Existential Depression Feel Like?
Existential Depression is when an individual feels pervasive feelings of meaninglessness about life. It can feel like their infrastructure for the way the world works, who they take themselves to be, or how they envisioned their life panning out, starts to crumble, or entirely falls.
Disillusionment with the world can be predominant in existential depression. An individual may be experiencing greater awareness about global hypocrisy, injustice, cruelty, corruption, selfishness, greed, and suffering. This awareness can unfortunately fuel the existential depression. However, the individual often remains stuck in the nebulous nihilistic space of it all, as it feels as though once the veil has been lifted, one cannot simply pull it back over their eyes.
Why Therapy for an Existential Crisis is So Important
An existential crisis can last longer than expected, especially when its root causes go unaddressed. In some cases, it may develop into existential depression, where feelings of nihilism, hopelessness, and meaninglessness take over. If you're struggling with these thoughts, know that help is available. Working with a therapist specializing in existential crises and existential depression can provide the support and guidance you need to regain clarity, purpose, and a sense of meaning in your life.
How Therapy for an Existential Crisis Can Help
Working with a therapist specialized in Existentialism can incite deeper insights into how one can move towards a more aligned life or reconcile the seemingly irreconcilable truths about people and the world.
Process Grievances about where you’re feeling stuck in life, or how you’re feeling disillusioned about the world
Reflect on Present Values sorting out what you truly believe in today from what you may have once believed in or internalized in your upbringing about how you or your life should be
Explore & Brainstorm Options to get a feel for what’s possible in terms of change; simply exploring your options is a great form of exposure to your mind about what you can actually do, making it less daunting overall
Identify the Ideal of how you want your life to look and become crystal clear on that vision. This solid idea will drive us forward in mapping out how to get there
Build a Plan made of actionable, baby steps to move closer to the life you want, bit by bit
Act Incrementally in Alignment at a pace that feels intuitively right for you while evaluating the process and modifying things as needed
Feel Supported every step of the way, with expert guidance so you don’t feel alone in your journey
