Is it normal to question existence

However, humans also need times of isolation to engage with themselves and develop certainty in their own ideals. Having either too much isolation or too much connectedness may lead to a crisis of sorts. Without isolation, for example, a person may lose aspects of themselves to the group.

On the other hand, a loss of connectedness — due to the loss of a loved one, a broken relationship, or feeling ostracized from a group — may also cause someone to question these connections and how they relate to their own existence. Freedom is a common aspect of existential crises. However, the flip side of this is that it also means being responsible for the outcome of those choices.

This can lead to an uncertainty about taking any action for fear that it may be the wrong action or lead to undesirable consequences. This type of crisis can trigger anxiety not only about choice, but also in relation to how these choices shape life and existence as a whole. As one article in the Archives of Internal Medicine explains, existential crises are common in people who face advanced or progressive illnesses.

Read about the differences between situational and clinical depression here. There may also be a link between an existential crisis and certain mental health conditions, including:. Read about 13 common signs of depression here. Experiencing an existential crisis does not automatically mean that a person has a mental health issue.

In fact, it can be a very positive thing. It can help provide direction and lead to better fulfilment in oneself. The following sections provide some simple tips that may help a person positively overcome an existential crisis. Rather than having one large, meaningful experience that gives life purpose, most people have a series of small but significant experiences that make up their life. Keeping a gratitude journal can be a great way to identify these moments.

A person can add these small and meaningful events to their journal as they happen. Looking back on this journal later may help remind a person of the things they enjoy about life, as well as the positive experiences and interactions they have that collectively give their life meaning. When a person finds themselves in existential chaos, it can be easy to let the negative thoughts take over. However, this may give rise to even deeper feelings of negativity. A person should try to acknowledge any pessimistic ideas but then replace them with their optimistic counterparts.

This may help control the inner dialogue a person has or at least make the self-talk more neutral. Part of the weight of an existential crisis is in trying to find a single, all-encompassing answer to a question that may be too large or complex to answer in such a way. Trying to find grand answers to these big questions can cause even more anxiety, leading to deeper feelings of worry and despair.

Instead, it could be much easier to break these very large questions into smaller chunks. How can I overcome it? An existential crisis, by definition, refers to the ensemble of feelings and questions we have to do with the meaning and purpose of our life.

These questions aren't easy to find answers to, and this can leave us feeling stuck. We feel unsure of how to respond or which way to go, and it can even impact our lives in a negative way if these feelings persist or worsen. An existential crisis means we have the opportunity to get back in touch with our values, meaning and purpose, and with what we want to make of our lives.

This can help us evaluate, plan and adapt our actions and direction in order to lead the life we want and will be happy with. The truth is, existential crises are more common than you may think, and they have no limit when it comes to age or gender. Everyone can experience an existential crisis at some point. So why are they so common? Well, they usually happen whenever we — as human beings — are faced with circumstances, changes, or transitions in our lives that are difficult for us to adapt to , or that leave us wondering if this is the direction we want our life to take.

Whether these transitions are expected or not, we may feel like we have limitations that leave us questioning the direction our life is taking. When people experience an existential crisis, it is very common for them to feel lost, uneasy, and as though they have lost touch with their values and purpose in life. You may be feeling this way, and wondering whether what you're experiencing is depression or a crisis of meaning.

Here are 5 signs that you may be experiencing an existential crisis:. You may be experiencing thoughts and existential depression that you are unable to set aside during your day-to-day life. It may feel as though every time you are not distracted by something, your mind tends to question the same things and have the same thoughts. These negative emotions come as a consequence of this constant worry. Therefore, these repetitive thoughts leave us feeling anxious and sad.

This is why, unfortunately, existential crises can really damage our mental health if we let them get out of hand. The disconnection and sense of meaninglessness that accompanies an existential crisis makes it difficult to see the point in getting anything done. Our energy can decrease due to variables such as mood, sleep, and diet. The less we move and engage in activities, the harder it is to get up and do it, and therefore, the less energy we have. If we have an irregular sleep pattern or an unbalanced diet, our energy levels will be affected.

Treat your sleep and diet as a priority, because it can determine your mental health in the same way many other variables do. This can also be caused by a lack of motivation and energy and can have a very negative effect on our mental health. Our social relationships are a fundamental part of our sense of support and connectedness, and the lack of them can leave us feeling lonely and disconnected. This feeds into symptoms of anxiety and depression.

The causes of an existential crisis vary from person to person, depending on their life, circumstances, values, and desires. Here are a few situations that could trigger an existential crisis:.

This could include a very large list of possibilities, from having your first child to moving to a new country. Not every big change is going to elicit an existential crisis, and it also depends on the person, so what determines whether or not we experience this with a certain change? Whether or not a life event triggers an existential crisis is determined by the meaning this change has when it comes to our direction and our purpose. You may be more intelligent or philosophical or something but you're not prescribed for anything fantastic or different.

Wish I could honestly tell you what you want to hear, but this is normal. Everyone feels that they are different from everyone else and are meant for greatness. He'll, look at all the hype around zombies. If everyone is going to survive the zombie invasion, where are the zombies gonna come from?

The only thing you can do is try and prove to yourself that you are different. Make sure you excel at what you want to do and set yourself apart. Unfortunately, it's a very tough road and nothing will be handed to you.

You've just really gotta want it! Instead of thinking of the situation as a crisis or something bad, see it as an opportunity to make changes that will add to your happiness. Keep a gratitude journal about the things you are thankful for that add meaning to your life. Finding out where you really want to spend your energy, time and effort may take some soul-searching. By writing down the things you enjoy and find meaningful, you can figure out what you want to change.

An existential crisis can happen when you feel disconnected from the people in your life. Reestablishing connections can help you feel more grounded. So reach out to friends and family and talk to others who have had similar experiences. Having someone to help you navigate these emotions is important.

Spend more time on things that make you feel good. Bring mindfulness to these experiences by savoring them with all your senses. This change helped them realize they were channeling most of their time, energy and meaning into their careers.