Existential Crisis Truths That Will Change How You Think

Introduction—Why We All Face an Existential Crisis

Ever wake up and think, “Why am I here?” That gut punch of questioning the purpose of life hits harder than your morning coffee. Psychologists call it an existential crisis—when you start wrestling with thoughts about meaning, identity, and what’s the point of it all.

Take Mia, a 29-year-old climbing the career ladder. On paper, she had it all. But inside, she felt stuck in meaninglessness, wondering if success even mattered. James, a father in his 40s, experienced a sense of disorientation when his children no longer required his constant presence. They both faced the question, “Who am I without this role?”

As Viktor Frankl once said, “When we are no longer able to change a situation, we are challenged to change ourselves.” This post will unpack the truths about an existential crisis, why it shows up, and how you can move through it without losing yourself.

What an Existential Crisis Really Means for You

So, what’s the real definition of an existential crisis? In plain English, it’s that moment when you start asking life’s big, annoying questions—What’s my purpose? Why do I matter? What if none of this makes sense? To define existential crisis simply, it’s when your usual routines or roles no longer give you a sense of meaning, and you’re stuck staring at the bigger picture of life.

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Philosophers have been chewing on this forever. Existentialism, pushed by Jean-Paul Sartre, says you’re free to shape your life but also fully responsible for it. Albert Camus gave us absurdism, arguing that life may never make sense, but you can still live with courage. Søren Kierkegaard established contemporary thought by connecting faith and choice. Then there’s nihilism, which shrugs and says life has no built-in purpose at all.

Now, don’t confuse existential crisis philosophy with other struggles. A midlife crisis is often about aging, money, or lifestyle choices. An identity crisis vs an existential crisis comes down to scope: identity is about “Who am I right now?” while existential is “Why do I exist at all?” A spiritual crisis focuses more on faith and belief systems, while existential questions cut across both religious and nonreligious lives.

In short, an existential crisis isn’t a passing mood swing. It is a profound halt in your life in which you address the fundamental questions of existence itself.

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The Hidden Signs You Are in an Existential Crisis

The signs often hide in plain sight until life feels unbearable. If you’ve ever wondered, “What does an existential crisis feel like?”—it’s not always dramatic. Sometimes it’s a slow drip of thoughts and feelings you can’t shake.

Emotional signs hit first. You may feel heavy existential anxiety, waves of existential dread, or a hollow sense of emptiness. For some, this shows up as low-grade sadness, almost like existential depression, where the world feels flat and meaningless.

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Behavioral signs follow. You pull back from friends. There’s no point to my work. Constant overthinking replaces a lack of motivation. These are classic existential crisis symptoms, but most people dismiss them as stress or burnout.

The shape of the crisis also shifts with age. An existential crisis in teenagers often involves asking if life has any point beyond school or peer approval. In your 20s and 30s, you might wonder if your job, degree, or relationships are really important. When you’re in your 40s and 50s, you begin to consider your legacy—what you’ll leave behind after raising your children and finishing your career.

I’ve lived both ends. In my 20s, I kept asking if my job mattered at all. In my 40s, it became important for me to know if my life would mean anything to other people after I died.

Recognizing these signs is the first step to understanding what’s really going on underneath the surface.

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Why Existential Crises Happen in Modern Life

So, what are the causes of existential crises today? They often come from three directions: your mind, your culture, and the age-old questions of life itself.

Psychological causes usually start with big disruptions. Trauma, grief, or identity confusion can trigger a sharp loss of meaning in life. When your base starts to crack, you start to wonder if anything is even important.

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Cultural causes are everywhere now. Burnout from overwork, technology overload, and the nonstop comparison culture on social media make the noise unbearable. Harvard studies from 2023 show that the number of lonely people in the U.S. is at an all-time high, with almost half of adults saying they feel alone (source: Harvard Gazette). That loneliness feeds the emptiness and keeps the cycle of questioning alive.

Philosophical causes are harder to ignore. Fear of death, awareness of mortality, and the plain absurdity of life compel people to confront the human condition directly. Camus called this the conflict between wanting clarity and learning that life won’t give it to you.

Put together, these are the causes of meaninglessness in modern times. Technology, comparison, and constant noise fuel modern existential dread, making it harder than ever to find peace with the questions.

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The Dark Side of Living With Existential Dread

When the questions never stop, they can trap you. What starts as curiosity sometimes spirals into paralysis. That’s when an existential crisis turns into paralysis and sinks into full existential depression. Life feels like a continuous gray fog, and even modest efforts seem worthless.

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Some people experience existential OCD—a cycle of intrusive thoughts about life’s meaning that never quite dies down. It’s similar to what therapists call “philosophical depression,” which is when you suffer from overthinking life itself.

To cope, many turn to avoidance. Workaholism hides the emptiness under endless hours at the office. When you escape through screens or drugs, the sharp lines of your thoughts get blurry. But these are just bandages and not fixes.

I once met someone who described their life as a constant question mark. They looked fine on the outside, but inside, they carried heavy existential guilt for not “living right.” This shows the strength of the connection between mental health and existential crisis. Ignoring it only makes the weight greater.

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Dangerous Myths About Existential Crisis You Shouldn’t Believe

Believing these myths can make you feel broken when you are actually growing. Contrary to popular belief, existential crises are not exclusively associated with midlife. Teenagers, young adults, and even retirees face it in different ways.

Another myth says experiencing it means you’re abnormal or “broken.” In reality, it’s a sign you’re questioning the purpose of life, which is normal and often healthy. Some fear it always leads to despair. However, many find clarity, revised priorities, or an enhanced sense of self.

Look at existential crisis examples: a 25-year-old doubting their career may later discover work that actually aligns with their values. A parent facing identity loss after kids move out may explore hobbies or causes that bring fulfillment.

When handled consciously, these moments build existential resilience. They aren’t a warning flag—they’re an invitation to pause, reflect, and grow.

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Proven Ways to Overcome an Existential Crisis

Facing an existential crisis can feel heavy, but there are ways to move through it. Here’s how to tackle it without getting stuck.

Mindfulness & Meditation

Practices like mindfulness for existential anxiety or meditation for existential dread help ground your thoughts. Start small:

• Spend 5 minutes focusing on your breath.

• Notice passing thoughts without judgment.

• Observe your emotions like clouds, letting them float by.

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Journaling & Reflection

Journaling for existential thoughts helps unpack worries and spot patterns. Try prompts like:

• “What matters most to me right now?”

• “Which moments in life have felt meaningful?”

• “What fears keep me from living fully?”

Therapeutic Alternatives

Professional guidance can help. Existential therapy and existential psychotherapy explore your purpose, values, and meaning. Techniques include logotherapy (finding meaning even in suffering), meaning-centered therapy, and philosophical counseling.

Lifestyle Practices

Daily habits make a difference. Focus on gratitude, align actions with personal values, and prioritize personal growth habits like learning new skills or volunteering.

Incorporating these steps daily builds existential resilience, provides tools for coping with existential crises without therapy, and gives structure to daily habits that can overcome existential crises.

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How an Existential Crisis Shapes Your Future Self

An existential crisis doesn’t have to be a dead end. It can be a turning point for personal growth. By reframing the crisis as an opportunity, you can start building authenticity and rejecting conformity.

Embracing freedom and responsibility means accepting that your choices define your life. You can create your own rules, values, and meaning—what psychologists call creating personal values. This cultivates existential resilience and fortifies your sense of life purpose.

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Take the example of a teacher I met. After a period of deep questioning, she left her career and started a nonprofit focused on adult literacy. The crisis compelled her to synchronize her job with her principles, transforming uncertainty into tangible influence.

As Søren Kierkegaard said, “Life can only be understood backwards, but it must be lived forwards.” When approached consciously, an existential crisis shapes a future self that is more grounded, intentional, and true to who you really are.

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Existential Questions That Change How You See Life

Sometimes the best way to face an existential crisis is to ask yourself the hard questions. Existential crisis questions to ask yourself help you rediscover meaning and start finding meaning in life. These prompts encourage self-reflection, authenticity vs conformity, and building values and self-awareness.

Here are some to try:

• “If I removed fear, what would I choose today?”

• “Which moments in my life have felt truly meaningful?”

• “What would I do if I knew I couldn’t fail?”

• “Am I living according to my values or others’ expectations?”

• “What legacy do I want to leave behind?”

• “What does a purposeful day look like for me?”

• “How would I spend my time if I embraced uncertainty and anxiety instead of avoiding it?”

Answering these questions helps you explore purpose and existence, face discomfort, and build clarity. They guide you toward creating personal values and living intentionally even amid life’s uncertainty.

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Concluding Reflection—Your Crisis May Transform into a Pivotal Moment

An existential crisis isn’t a sign of failure—it’s a universal part of being human. Everyone faces moments where life feels uncertain or meaningless. The key is to lean into that uncertainty rather than run from it.

By embracing it, you take the first step toward authenticity, building personal values, and living intentionally. These moments can transform confusion into clarity and fear into growth. Your crises can transform into a pivotal moment, cultivating a future self that is more resilient, insightful, and connected with your authentic purpose.

At Bloom Bodly, we focus on self-improvement and personal growth, helping you navigate life’s tough questions with tools, reflection, and guidance. Read more posts on Bloom Bodly, and share your experiences or questions in the comments. Embrace uncertainty—it’s where real transformation begins.

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