Psychology Chronicles Series #18: Finding Meaning | The Mutual Relationship Between Existential Crisis & Anxiety

in #psychology7 years ago (edited)

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"Everything has been figured out,except how to live."
-Jean Paul Sartre

Nobody sees me drowning...I've been gasping for air ever since I realized that I am sinking into desperation of finding my own purpose. I have always been wondering about my existence and the point of my daily struggles. I usually ask myself,if I'm doing the right thing or should I be doing the right thing. Yes I know that life is not endless,that's why I couldn't help myself contemplating about these unsettling and disturbing thoughts. Should I continue or should I just cut the strings? It's like circling around an endless loop wherein I couldn't find my way out. Honestly, I dont have the right to be anxious over these negative thoughts since I have a loving family,a partner and my friends who I can always ask for help whenever I wanted to.I'm so blessed having these enormous amount of support I get from these wonderful people but yet I'm still falling...

It would've been nice to be like others, who only concerns theirselves with simple and trivial things. It would've been easier if I could easily let go of what's bugging me inside. To be honest,I even have doubts while writing this article because I dont want to disclose my selfish thoughts with others. I am fully aware that relaying my inner battle could only confuse the people around me so that's why I always opted to lock them away in my personal safe. In this age I have come to realize that I am suffering from existential crisis. You may have arguements and disapprovals with my statement but it's painfully true. No one is happy in this state. I'm always looking for solutions that I refuse to accept and I'm always searching for answers I couldn't find.

The more I seek for answers,the more confusing life becomes. It's building up a great barrier of doubts and anxiety & I couldn't see the sun behind my emotional fence.

Existentialism | A Psychological Perspective

Psychology is often misunderstood to only focus about mental health issues,emotional dysfunctions and behavioral differences among individuals without giving importance on the underlying conflicts behind these psychological problems. It is not surprising that the main culprit of certain impairments of the human psyche hides beneath our quest to find our meaning and purpose in this life. If we are bothered by thoughts of regrets over life decisions or distate in our present state whether in our professional life,social relationships, achievements or even intrapersonal struggles then we might be trapped in an existential turmoil.

Existentialism is a popular concept in Philosophy that embodies ideas on our personal existence, freedom and individual actions.

We create our own purpose in life thus we build a world based on our rational judgments and logical decisions. In Existentialism, it is also known by people that death and dying is inevitable so we tend to believe that in this irrational world our freedom and the choices that we make really matters.

With this in mind,it is not intricate to correlate Philosophical Existentialism with Existential Psychology since both areas highlights the same principle: "Finding meaning & purpose for existence"

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Existential Psychology,

a concept in Psychology that gives emphasis to our purpose in life. According to existential psychology,our existence has an essential value and meaning. Our questions about our entity encompasses any field of science or any bodies of knowledge,because of it's complexity anyone would find it difficult to solve our own riddles.

Existential Psychologists are professionals in this field that helps people who are undergoing existential predicament. Aside from helping their clients about social relationship issues or psychological problems, they reach out by helping in the discovery of one's purpose of living. Their goals are to aid their clients in finding the correct road that they wanted to take and the right path in embracing holistic development in unlocking the answers to their questions about their existence.Confronting these issues bravely could help one to live life more fully and meaningful.

Existential Crisis & it's Influence to your Psyche

Depression and anxiety is deadly. It could kill you within a short period of time, if you lost your focus in life.These type of psychological trials could make you question about your meaning into this world and your relationship towards others.

When there are feelings of uncertainty over life decisions and doubts. Or when you caught yourself stranded in thoughts of "Why are everything not making sense?","What is my purpose?" or "Should I just end this pain since Im going to die anyway?" kind of confusion then just like me you are also experiencing existential crisis.

Failure to resolve your never ending journey of finding purpose can definitely lead to detrimental effects. During existential crisis, a person may find life meaningless and insignificant. He/she may lost motivation in life since they lost their reason to continue living. Sufferers also tend to compare their lives with others since they would feel that theirs is just full of disappointments and pain. Their interpersonal skills could deteriorate through time as they seek for answers alone.Victims of this problem are aware of death and what it brings yet some may not be scared of it or others may even welcome it while walking in a path of amibiguity. Existential crisis can be helped through psychotherapies,cognitive behavioral therapies or even existential-humanistic therapies which emphasizes on fixing your mental state from holding back in life.

Suffering from this dilemma could be the root cause of your anxieties,depression or could even lead to suicide if you can't wake up from your hopeless state...

Take a Stand Over Existential Entanglement

I may not be the best person to say this but resolving our inner battles could be attained if we allow ourselves to be. Instead of being always on the lookout for finding meaning over our lives,why not embrace it's uncertainties? We need to make life exciting by acknowledging the fact that life is unpredictable but beautiful.When it comes to relationships,make sure to focus on supportive & encouraging social circles rather than wasting your time over toxic connections.

Divert your energy in doing activities that are worthwhile and would unleash your creative side. If you put all your thoughts into something productive then it could help you ease out the existential burden you're always carrying on your back. Create life plans so that you will be busy on buidling your future rather than forcing it to stop. Make a lifemap on how you are going to run your life based on your free will.It would be great to see you in the future looking happy and contented with life right?

"Always remember that asking questions about our existence is normal but being swayed by it completely is a dangerous threat to our psychological well-being. If you have doubts,do not forget that you are not alone in this world since you have your significant others that would always help you in picking up your lost pieces."

References:
1.The Basics of Philosophy: Existentialism
2.Existential Psychology
3.Existential Psychology,History of the Movement
4.What is an Existential Crisis? Is this Happening to you?
5.Existential Crisis in Adults
6.The Existential Crisis,Depression,Anxiety and Mortality

Images:
1,2,3,4,5 are taken using my smartphone (Galaxy J7 Pro)

Love & Light,
@sakura1012

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Been asking the same questions for a long time. Even until now it’s not that clear. I’ve learn to embrace it. Answers are all in the way. Sometimes they just come. It’s hard going through this crisis. That feeling of anxiously looking for purpose. That feeling of why am I even here and what for? I can’t find any reason at all why I have to do this and that. There is another reality flashing back and forth in my head. And it’s freaking terrible to see a colorless reality at the peripheral of your colorful rendered reality. I know there is no way to unsee it. But I want to learn to dance with it. I have to make peace with myself, I have to tame those inner demons to get through. It’s my only way to survive. I have also learn not no rely more on people. I don’t know, I can see deeper than what’s shown.

Such sad yet wonderful words you have there @lucisuidicium,I can truly feel your pain and uncertainties. I also am trying my best to dance with life,but to be honest Im still working on it though....

No need to have doubts, you did the right choice, it pleasing to read that, wonderful

Life is full of uncertainties thats why Thanks for taking the time to read my post @fedismaoui

We all experience that kind of situation once in our life. When there's a lot of questions and holes that needs to be filled. Thank you for a such inspiring article. Upvoted. If you have sometime, feel free to check my blog. https://steemit.com/@jeeuuzz thank you

Yes indeed it is thanks for stopping by. 😉

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