Existential crisis: when we do not find meaning in our life.

I can't find objectives or incentives in my life: when we are on the verge of an existential crisis.

The existential crisis is one of those sources of emotional discomfort that seem to be unconnected to the material conditions in which we live. It is perfectly possible to have achieved all the goals that we associate with the idea of "success" in the society in which we live, and yet feel empty, or even failures.

It can appear at any time of life, it also affects people with ample economic resources and can even be experienced by apparently successful women and men with a good social image. In fact, you can have everything that Western civilization considers as fundamental goals of human life, such as wealth, love and knowledge, but the existential crisis will still be there, relentless.

The inevitable question in these cases is: where is the missing piece? How do we know what a person suffering from an existential crisis needs? The lack of referents and indications about where to go in order to feel good can be suffocating. For that reason, in this article we will see which are the characteristics of the existential crisis and what is done in therapy to intervene in it and to put solution to it.

Existential crisis: And now... what do I do with my life?

When the old mental schemes no longer serve, the person who suffers an existential crisis feels that he/she does not know the path to follow in life, nor can he/she visualize the goals that he/she has to pursue to achieve personal self-realization. This can be mentally very exhausting, and can lead to psychological disorders if the situation is not resolved correctly. On the contrary, if the individual overcomes this stage of life, he/she perceives that he/she has grown as a human being and that he/she is now a different person, stronger and more prepared to face the difficulties of life. stronger and more prepared to face the difficulties difficulties that may arise in daily life.

The existential crisis manifests itself with intense feelings of psychological discomfort because the individual begins to question the reasons for his own existence. questioning the reasons for his or her own existence.. It can also be said that the existential crisis is, basically, an identity crisis. It occurs when everything we thought we had under control is no longer under control. Our worldview is clouded in an unexpected way, and our vision of life needs to be updated because it is outdated. Then we ask ourselves: what am I doing here? o What is the meaning of my life? Something that until now we seemed to have been very clear.

Almost without realizing it, a new dawn breaks, and we have to get out of our comfort zone. comfort zone to face the new reality. Existential crises lead us to self-reflection, and entail an emotional cost for us. emotional cost because the resources we had always counted on are no longer useful. During this period of introspection, we question aspects of life that until now we had not been too concerned about.

On the other hand, the existential crisis also has observable consequences in the way we behave. Classically, it either generates apathy and disinterest in doing activities that we are not obliged to do because of our responsibilities, or we throw ourselves into trying new experiences in an almost desperate way, with the intention of filling our emptiness through sensations that keep us distracted. Both patterns of behavior can be extremely harmful, since if they become the central axis of our lives, they can lead to a depressive disorder and/or addictions.

When we feel that we do not have enough resources to get out of this existential vacuum existential emptinessanxiety does not let us sleep until we find the answer, that is, until we find a solution that makes us recover inner peace, and helps us to visualize again the way forward. This way forward refers to recovering one's own identity and commitment to oneself. It is about finding again the meaning of our life.

Consequences of the existential crisis

The existential crisis can provoke a radical change in our life, because it can be an opportunity to reinvent oneself and to set new goals for oneself.. But when the person who suffers an existential crisis enters a negative spiral in which he/she thinks that he/she does not have enough resources to overcome it, he/she can end up suffering a serious depression.

Not everyone experiences a crisis in the same way: some may experience it for a few weeks, others for a few months, and others for years. Long and intense existential crises usually require professional help. When the crisis over one's own existence is satisfactorily resolved, one feels that one has reconnected with oneself, one feels that one has reconnected with oneself and restructures his or her way of thinking. In turn, you can change old dysfunctional habits for more adaptive ones, and you can return to wellness.

When the person suffering an existential crisis develops a negative image of himself, the world and the future, and dwells on his irrational beliefs about life; or when he has low self-esteem or a lack of confidence in his own resources, he can reach hopelessness, learned helplessness, major depression and even suicide.

When you can not overcome the discomfort of feeling empty

The way to face the existential crisis is different in each individual, since the path to follow to overcome it is a path to self-discoveryThe way to overcome it is a path of self-discovery, which requires self-will and self-knowledge. Individuals who are trapped in this crisis need to change their vision of the world, as they have cognitive schemes that are not adaptive, at least in part. Psychologists can serve as a guide for a person to discover the path on his or her own, but they cannot offer the definitive answers to the existential crisis; that is the patient's task.

Even so, a psychologist can help his or her patient to have a more objective view of this situation and to get to know him or herself better, so that it is much easier to discover aspects of life that can be motivating and exciting.

For example, a psychologist can be effective in helping an individual to restructure his or her expectations and to set up more realistic life projects. It is also a great support to know the important values for oneself, so that the projects that the patient proposes do not go against these.

On the other hand, psychotherapy can provide tools for self-acceptance. self-acceptance and correct emotional management. And it can help to develop more effective and adaptive coping strategies that will not only be positive to overcome the crisis, but also to empower the patient on a daily basis.