The #1 Sign You Might Be Heading for an Existential Crisis—Plus, What To Do About It, According to Experts
It's cliche to point out at this point, but we've had ourselves a challenging few years: pandemics, political polarizations, reckonings and recessions. It's been a lot, and it may have sent you heading full-steam ahead toward an existential crisis. Wait, another crisis?
"An existential crisis is a period of deep reflection on the meaning of one's life," says Billy Roberts, LISW-S of Focused Mind ADHD Counseling.
Reflection can be positive, but existential crisis can be problematic. The thing is: you may be so deep in reflection that you're missing all the telltale signs you're at risk. Experts share the red flags and how to cope if you're experiencing an existential crisis.
What Is an Existential Crisis?
"At its core, an existential crisis is stress or internal conflict about our existence," Dr. Kathy HoganBruen, Ph.D. of District Anxiety Center.
Deep, right? It actually gets even heavier.
"An existential crisis is an overwhelming feeling that your life no longer makes sense to you—a feeling that something is very wrong, and yet it can be hard to put your finger on exactly what that is," explains Marabai Rose, LCSW. "For some, it might seem that their ability to pilot their lives, to keep making decisions about what should come next, has just abandoned them."
Why Might Someone Have an Existential Crisis?
Rose says many circumstances and events can trigger an existential crisis, including job loss or death.
Other times, the experience is broader. "I think many of us experienced some level of existential crisis during COVID when we were watching the world change rapidly, and the people in our lives were all taking very different stances," Rose explains. "I think many of us questioned our own understanding of community, friendship, health and well-being."
Climate change, gun violence and the widening political divide may also throw someone into an existential crisis, Rose says.
"No matter what side of the issues you fall on, the way that they make you question humanity, your place in it, your sense of right and wrong and how that compares to others can throw one into an existential crisis," Rose says.
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What's the No. 1 Sign You're Headed for an Existential Crisis?
"Feeling chronically overwhelmed, particularly when thinking about life decisions," Rose says.
Dr. HoganBruen agrees, though she emphasizes that the key word is "chronic." Some stress or occasional feeling of overwhelm is to be expected.
"If someone is feeling a lot of distress, or they are disengaging from activities or missing responsibilities—for loosely a couple of weeks—because of questions about existence, there is a problem," Dr. HoganBruen says.
Why Is This Symptom a Problem?
Chronic overwhelm has a ripple effect that can exacerbate an existential crisis.
"Existential crisis leaves us with so much uncertainty and dread and those feelings spill over into decision-making and our daily activities," Rose says. "We want to make sweeping life changes because the existential crisis creates a feeling in us that something must change. Sometimes though, if those changes are impulsive and not coming from a place of personal exploration, we do regret them later."
For example, you quit a job you don't like without anything else lined up and no savings.
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6 Other Signs You're Heading for an Existential Crisis
A Prolonged Sense You're Stuck Being Stuck
If you feel like life is passing you by—like everyone else is moving forward as you stand still—you may be on your way to an existential crisis.
"Being stuck is often a time when people get deep on the meaning or lack thereof in their situation, such as jobs or relationships," Roberts says.
Feeling Detached
Perhaps every day seems like an out-of-body experience involving going through the motions without feeling.
"Depersonalization or derealization are notable signs that someone is feeling detached from their existence when they don’t feel like they are real or themselves," says Rose.
You may also feel like you can't ground yourself in the world.
Chronic Mood Changes
Heightened irritability and depression are two telltale signs an existential crisis may be sneaking up on you.
"If our mood dips and mind is adrift, we can be on edge and act frustrated with daily stressors," Roberts says. "Oftentimes, when we are deep in our thoughts and ponder existential matters, our mood can shift and see the world as a darker place than we ever previously have."
Burn Out
"Sometimes feeling tired of what we have already been doing is a sign we're questioning our situation," says Roberts.
Constant Thoughts of Impending Doom
Dr. HoganBruen says consistently thinking of talking about the demise of the planet is a telltale sign of a pending existential crisis. Ditto for "the futility of work."
Poor Sleep
Is this one even surprising?
"Wrestling with life's big questions is an understandable trigger for tossing and turning at night," Dr. Roberts says.
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How To Cope
Existential crises can be challenging to grapple with, but help is available.
"Self-awareness, self-care and therapy can all be helpful," says Dr. Alex Dimitriu, MD, double board-certified in psychiatry and sleep medicine and founder of Menlo Park Psychiatry & Sleep Medicine. "Remember you are a biological organism, and take care of your human needs."
These needs include:
Sleep
Exercise
Socialization
Healthy Diet
Taking time to relax and think
"Journaling is an excellent tool to help people start to understand the message beneath the fears or doubts that can arise with existential crises," Dr. Dimitriu says. "Observing the feelings and allowing them without judgment is important. A therapist can be a powerful resource to guide people through these journeys as well and turn that which is dreadful into a powerful teaching."
Next up, 16 Things People With High Emotional Intelligence Often Say, According to Psychologists
