Understanding the Signs and Symptoms of Existential Anxiety
Humans have been questioning the meaning of life since we could even formulate the idea. It’s normal to wonder about your place in the universe, whether you’re living authentically, and what happens after you die. However, if these questions deeply distress you, you may be suffering from existential anxiety.
It’s not a diagnosable mental disorder like generalized anxiety disorder or depression, but it can have a profound impact on your emotional health. Understanding what existential anxiety is, how it manifests, and when to seek help is an important step toward managing it in a healthy way.
What Is Existential Anxiety?
Existential anxiety can happen after confronting the fundamental concerns of human existence, like human freedom, death, isolation, and meaning. These are themes that influential thinkers like Søren Kierkegaard, Jean-Paul Sartre, Simone de Beauvoir, and Viktor Frankl explored extensively in philosophy and psychology.
While existential anxiety can appear at any time in life, it often emerges during significant life transitions (or even traumas). Graduating, becoming a parent, the loss of a loved one, a serious diagnosis, and the Covid-19 pandemic are all examples of experiences that propel us into more existential thinking. In these moments, we may become acutely aware of life’s fragility, our own mortality, and the vast unknowns of existence.
Common Signs and Symptoms
Existential anxiety can present in ways that are both emotional and physical. Here are some of the more common signs and symptoms:
Persistently Questioning Life’s Purpose
People experiencing existential anxiety may feel consumed by questions like, “What’s the point of all this?” or “Is anything I’m doing actually meaningful?” These thoughts can become repetitive and intrusive, which can make a person feeling unmoored or stuck in a rut.
A Sense of Disconnection or Detachment
Some people feel disconnected from others or from reality itself in moments of existential crisis. This sensation is sometimes described as derealization or depersonalization. It can be disorienting and deeply unsettling.
A Fear of Death or Non-Existence
While most people think about death from time to time, existential anxiety can lead to a paralyzing fear of death, dying, or the concept of non-existence. This fear may come up suddenly or linger in the background of daily life.
Emotional Distress
It’s common to feel of sadness, emptiness, despair, or numbness. A person might say they feel like they’re “going through the motions” or that life feels flat and colorless.
Increased Anxiety or Panic Symptoms
Existential thoughts can trigger or heighten typical anxiety symptoms, like a racing heart, shallow breathing, restlessness, and even panic attacks.
Difficulty Making Decisions
When nothing feels meaningful or certain, even small decisions can feel monumental. This can result in a kind of decision paralysis or avoidance.
When Existential Anxiety Becomes a Problem
Existential questioning is a normal part of being human and can lead to important personal growth. However, when these thoughts become persistent, intrusive, or interfere with daily functioning, they might indicate something more problematic is happening with your mental health.
If you find yourself consumed by thoughts about meaning, identity, or mortality, and if these thoughts are accompanied by distress, hopelessness, or isolation, it’s a good idea to speak with a mental health professional.
How Therapy Can Help
Existential anxiety doesn’t have to be a source of endless suffering. In fact, therapy can help you approach it with curiosity. Your existential anxiety can transform into a gateway to a richer, more authentic life. An anxiety therapist trained in existential psychotherapy or approaches like acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) or cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) can help you explore these existential questions.
Reach out today to talk about an approach that will work best for you. Together, we can explore how to make meaning out of your values, learn to accept uncertainties, and develop your sense of purpose in spite of your existential anxiety.
