General considerations about the symptoms of existential crisis

There are moments in the life of any human being that we experience a phase of complete meaninglessness. Life seems a martyrdom and dealing with it seems suffocating, generating intrusive thoughts, especially when we are alone.

The feeling of loneliness can be a trigger for existential crises, because it is when we are alone with ourselves that we have to deal with the thoughts that invade our consciousness.

Thinking soon becomes unbearable and we begin a process of introspection and isolation that if left untreated can affect our well-being. The existential crisis is not an uncommon problem, it accompanies humanity throughout history, so much so that we can notice its shadow in the arts and philosophy.

Learn a little more about the symptoms of existential crisis to reflect on your mental health and what needs to be done to improve that state in the following reading.

Understand the existential crisis and know how to recognize it

There are countless reasons that can trigger an existential crisis, as each individual is particular and carries with them a history of emotions, events and relationships that influence this state of consciousness.

However, it is possible to identify when you are having an existential crisis. Read on to find out how.

What is the existential crisis

In 2016, after a series of research was done by the International Journal of Psychology, an article was published that would define existential crisis as a set of emotions of fear, guilt, and anxiety.

Unlike other mental crises, it is triggered by internal conflicts and even generates a typical anxiety picture that directly influences the routine and health of those who feel it. Soon, the person will feel a negative impact by these emotions, affecting their sense of responsibility, purpose, commitment and even their autonomy.

The feeling of emptiness, or loss of meaning, potentiates the crisis and awakens an anguish that becomes a constant in the person's life. As a consequence, the existential crisis culminates in the creation of a cycle of mental crises that can hinder social coexistence.

How to recognize it

The first signs that you are experiencing an existential crisis is in the emptiness of purpose in relation to life. You feel that nothing makes sense and so you stop committing yourself to responsibilities and begin a process of isolation.

Until this scenario is reached, it is common to notice some thoughts, attitudes and feelings that are not doing you good, such as: mental fatigue, pessimism, anxiety, insomnia, social isolation and anhedonia.

Thus, the individual feels uncertain about himself and the world, unable to nourish his emotions and thoughts with essential values for the maintenance of life. The absence of value drives this estrangement, affecting not only his social life, but also his psychic and physical well-being.

What triggers the existential crisis

The main triggers of an existential crisis have not yet been defined, because everything depends on the individual and his relationship with his context. There are some factors that point to the crisis, but they are generalists and can be indicate symptoms of other mental crises, or psychological disorders.

Some of them are the tensions and challenges that can generate a growing discomfort in the individual, especially if there is some relation with past traumas or events that deeply affected him. From this, doubt is installed in his conscience and the first existential crises begin.

There are also some other motivators, such as:

- Feeling of guilt;

- Grief of loss;

- Social dissatisfaction;

- Personal dissatisfaction;

- Repression of emotions.

The main symptoms of existential crisis

The reasons that arouse concern by professionals regarding this mental crisis are in its symptoms. Anxiety, for example, already brings negative consequences to the individual and if not treated can lead to more serious problems.

Be aware of the main symptoms of existential crisis in the sequel and know how to identify if you are in a crisis.

Anxiety

Anxiety is a common symptom among human beings, as it awakens a state of alertness and concern that are fundamental for survival. However, as societies have advanced, this feeling has transformed and given rise to a series of symptoms that can affect your physical and mental health.

During an existential crisis, faced with uncertainty of purpose, it is common for anxiety to emerge and with that the negative symptoms also appear. Soon, you will feel unregulated sleep, physical tension, restlessness, mental fatigue, irritable mood and lack of concentration.

Some other physical symptoms such as trembling, sweating, paralysis and shortness of breath are also part of a state of existential crisis accompanied by an anxiety crisis.

Mental exhaustion

Mental exhaustion is not directly associated with the tasks performed during the day, as the state of fatigue is the result of their mental confusion and lack of meaning in life. As a consequence, experiencing an existential crisis often leads to a great mental fatigue capable of making it impossible to perform the simplest tasks.

However, it is worth noting that these moments, just like anxiety crisis, are transient, so remember that your exhaustion is a period, hang in there and soon you will feel your mind more peaceful and relaxed.

Lack of desire to socialize

Another common symptom of existential crisis is in the feeling of disconnection with reality, you start to feel that you don't belong to any social group. Your choice to deal with this loneliness is reflected in the unwillingness to socialize.

Initially this period can be negative as you will be isolating yourself from people and living a reclusive life. However this can also be a time of deep contact with yourself, and can awaken the self-knowledge you need to deal with crises.

Discouragement and pessimism

Questioning existence initiates a sequence of emotions that cause discouragement in the individual who is going through an existential crisis. Sadness, fear and anguish become common feelings to his crisis, transforming his perception of the world.

This causes you to become more pessimistic about life and seek a way to escape these feelings. It is common for other crises to be triggered accompanied by these emotions, such as depression.

However, it is worth noting how long these feelings remain active, if they last for a long period it is good to seek help from a professional or talk to someone close to you to better deal with them.

Lack of future perspective

Counting on all the feelings exposed above it is common that the individual who experiences an existential crisis feels a lack of perspective in relation to the future. The values that accompany you lose meaning and empty your sense of life, preventing you from visualizing the future as a fundamental part of your being.

The infinity of possible choices becomes evident and you begin to feel uncertain about your convictions and decisions in the face of the crisis. This can impede growth in all aspects of your life, as there is no life plan that justifies your commitment to the future.

Changes in sleep and appetite

It is common in a crisis to experience changes in sleep and appetite, as basic needs become insignificant. You begin to neglect all the care and attention needed to maintain your physical and mental health. As a consequence, insomnia and lack of appetite become commonplace in everyday life.

At this point, it is important to awaken your awareness of the importance of taking care of yourself, so you will feel more prepared and strengthened to deal with crises. Keep care of your body and mind, respect your limits and understand that they are responsible for your survival. This is enough to help you with this task.

Feeling of helplessness

This feeling is an emotional state originated by the inferiority sensation and insecurity. These feelings are originated by the existential crisis state and it is associated to self-criticism, mainly by feeling unable to react to other crisis symptoms such as the lack of future perspective, for example.

Self-criticism becomes excessive and with it the feeling of incapacity. You don't feel capable because you can't do your tasks, but because of your existential crisis which makes it impossible for you to do them.

Types of existential crisis

Besides the symptoms there is a way to classify the types of existential crisis, each of them are results of some specific event or feeling. Understanding them will allow you to identify your type of existential crisis, continue reading to find out what yours is and learn in the sequence how to overcome it!

The meaning of life

People who experience an existential crisis tend to question themselves frequently about the meaning of life. Questions such as, "What is my purpose?" or "What is the true meaning of my existence?", are some common questions that trigger a profusion of thoughts that leads individuals to mental stasis.

It is common to feel this way in times of transition, as we temporarily lose the security provided to us by our home and the people close to us. Above all, the feeling of existential emptiness may be related to the fact that you are experiencing this phase of change in life.

Deaths and diseases

The mourning of loss or illness are also capable of awakening questions about your existence. It is common to question yourself at these moments in relation to the finitude of life, believing in the ephemerality of life you become anxious before your reality, causing an existential crisis.

This perception in relation to death awakens negative feelings and the meaning of life itself begins to empty in his consciousness. Soon, nothing seems to make sense and this becomes one of the triggers of the crisis.

Fear of responsibility

The fear of responsibility is not only associated with the fear of commitments, but also arises with the awareness of responsibility. Especially, when we realize that we need to take responsibility for our choices and actions, creating an overload in relation to their presence in the world.

Responsibilities towards life will always be present, the initial fear of commitments is common and it may be primarily related to the fear of making a mistake. A series of triggers, or mechanisms, is then created to escape reality and not deal with their responsibilities.

Repression of emotions and feelings

Not allowing yourself to feel emotions and feelings can cause an existential crisis. It is common at this time to block negative emotions and internalize them. The repression of these emotions leads you to face life with indifference in relation to what you are feeling, thus creating a false happiness as a way to make up reality.

This attitude towards your emotions can not only trigger an existential crisis, but also a series of other psychological problems such as anxiety and depression. Therefore, it is important to feel these negative emotions and feelings, only then will you be able to experience happiness in a genuine way.

How to overcome the existential crisis

The existential crisis happens at certain stages in life and its persistence will be related to your reaction to the crisis. Below, understand how to overcome it so that you can return the well-being to your life again.

Developing emotional intelligence

Emotional intelligence is a union of skills that enables you to understand your emotions and feelings, as well as helping you to better manage them. A person with a keen emotional intelligence knows what they are feeling and the effects of their emotions on their body, thus becoming able to deal with them.

That is why it is so important to improve your emotional intelligence, because this way you will be able to better deal with your emotions and control your thoughts, preventing your existential crisis from evolving.

Adopting a healthy routine

A healthy routine is essential for maintaining your physical and mental health, because by taking care of yourself you will be contributing with the necessary conditions to reduce the periods of existential crisis and even, who knows, eliminate it.

When you take care of yourself a positive cycle is created in your life, happiness, tolerance with yourself and hope take shape and you start to believe in yourself and in life. Some tips to keep adopting a healthy routine are:

- Create a sleep routine;

- Maintain a balanced diet;

- Practice physical activities;

- Having time with friends and family;

- Have a leisure time to watch movies or do some reading.

Searching for self-knowledge

Self-knowledge gives the individual the ability to understand his ego and creates internal interactions capable of shaping his perception in relation to the world. In this way, your feelings and thoughts begin to relate in a harmonious way, because you will have a better understanding of yourself.

This makes it fundamental to understand your existential crisis and the triggers that led you to feel it, because only then you will have the perception of what is happening to you and what will be the best way to deal with the crisis.

Professional support and treatment

Every difficulty we experience in life, whether financial, social, physical or psychological, it is important to have people or professionals close to us who can help us deal with them. We are beings who need the collectivity not only for the preservation of the species, but also because we understand that we are built from our relationships.

Dialogue in this case is a powerful tool to immerse yourself in your existential crisis and understand what is affecting you. After all, the other's look can indicate much more about you than you already know.

Faced with the symptoms of existential crisis, follow the tips and if necessary, seek professional support!

The existential crisis accompanies us at some point in life, as thinking beings it is common that we question ourselves about our existence, the value of life and whether it is worth it or not. Thinking about it, it is important that you perceive this moment as a turning point, because something is changing and so are you.

Observe the symptoms, especially their intensity, if you feel that you are being disabled by the crisis, then it is worth seeking support from a professional. He will be able to guide you, offering the best treatment depending on your type and symptoms.