Existential Anxiety: Causes, Signs, and Treatment Options

Have you ever wondered about your purpose and place in the universe? Many of us have had an experience like that at one point or another. Maybe it came upon you as you pondered the vastness of nature and what it means to exist. Perhaps the thought captured your attention briefly, but it quickly passed, swallowed up by daily demands like chores, work, paying bills, school runs, and the habits and rhythms of life.

For some people, thoughts about purpose, meaning, and the nature of our existence are more than just passing or intrusive thoughts. They can become distressing realities that they live with, and they can be quite damaging to one’s mental, emotional, and physical well-being. These ongoing thoughts and feelings can grow into existential anxiety.

Existential Thoughts and Existential Anxiety

Some people naturally gravitate toward thinking about things beyond the humdrum of daily life. However, even if you don’t carve time out of your day to ponder the deep questions of life, meaning, and the universe, that doesn’t mean you can’t feel unease about your life. That unease may come in the form of restlessness, struggling to sleep or make decisions, or just feeling like there’s no point in your life or the things you’ve been doing.

You may start having existential thoughts when encountering an event or situation that makes you confront your or a loved one’s mortality. Let’s say you’re involved in an accident, and you escape uninjured. That could leave you pondering on things like the meaning of life. If a loved one gets quite ill, or you lose them, it can lead you to start thinking about meaning and purpose.

Existential anxiety, on the other hand, is more intense, and it can be described as a sense of fear or uneasiness about the meaning of your life, or your purpose in it. The American Psychological Association describes it as a “general sense of anguish or despair associated with an individual’s recognition of the inevitability of death”. Recognizing that death is inevitable may make you uneasy, and it can weigh heavily on your heart.

Existential questions and anxieties can leave you feeling adrift amid uncertainty. When you question your sense of purpose, life’s meaning, and your existence, that can open you up to seek a deeper and more meaningful life, but it can also result in distressing anxiety and bring on a crisis in your life.

Understanding the Causes of Existential Anxiety

All of us grapple with the big questions of life, including why we’re here, what our lives mean, if we or what we’re doing matters, and if anyone cares about us and the things we care about. These are some of the fundamental questions we face in life, and when we ponder these, existential anxiety may ensue.

Some of the situations that may trigger these ponderings and existential anxiety include the following:

Life transitions Going through major changes that shift your life in significant ways can trigger existential anxiety. These changes include the death of a loved one, moving, having a child, career shifts, or graduating from school.

Personal crises This could include experiences such as deep personal failure, being disillusioned, going through traumatic experiences like abuse, experiencing a major health crisis, or going through separation or divorce. These experiences may cause you to question the value of life or your own self-worth, especially if they anchor your sense of identity.

Spiritual disconnection Having doubts about what you believe about God, yourself, or the world can lead to existential dread, particularly if you’re not grounded in your faith or don’t have a strong support system.

Large-scale crises or changes Issues with wide-scale implications such as war, climate change, or a crisis like the COVID-19 pandemic can lead to fears about the future of the planet. Other sweeping changes like the introduction of social media or artificial intelligence that affect our lives in small and drastic ways can also cause concern.

Facing unknowns and cultural pressures Cultural or societal expectations such as the pursuit of material success may create disillusionment and a disconnect between these expectations and personal values. In addition to this, facing unknowns like the possibility of the afterlife and spiritual realities which include the possibility of extra-physical beings may also cause anxiety.

The Signs of Existential Anxiety

When you’re feeling existential anxiety, what does that feel like, and what are the signs of it? Not everyone experiences the same symptoms, and often, the person who’s observing may not see the signs of this form of anxiety. That’s because often, the signs of existential anxiety are internalized, and while their heart and mind may be in disarray, it may be invisible to onlookers.

The signs of existential anxiety vary greatly and from individual to individual, but they often include:

Emotional distress This may include feelings such as deep sadness, hopelessness, despair, regret, guilt, shame, or fear.

Persistent worry A person may constantly think about the existence of God, their purpose, or life’s meaning, or feel like life is pointless.

Deep questioning Questioning deeply held beliefs, values, or significant life choices you’ve made might also be a sign of existential anxiety.

Physical symptoms Anxiety is often accompanied by physical manifestations, including fatigue, tension headaches, insomnia, restlessness, muscle tension, rapid heart rate, and digestive issues.

Withdrawal and avoidance Another sign of existential anxiety to look out for is withdrawing from daily activities as they are felt to no longer hold significance, being isolated from loved ones, and avoiding responsibilities.

Indecision Difficulty making decisions stemming from fear of making the wrong choices may be another sign.

Loneliness Existential anxiety may be accompanied by a deep feeling of isolation. This sense of isolation may persist even when around others.

Treatment Options

Existential anxiety can affect how you experience everyday encounters. It can leave you feeling stuck, undecided, and unsure of how to move forward. There are some steps you can take that will help to reduce the symptoms of anxiety and also help you cope with it and begin overcoming it.

It can be quite helpful to build a routine. Existential anxiety can give you deep uncertainty about what to do and how to live. Having routines helps you to feel grounded and help you cope with the pressures that anxiety puts you under. Some routines could include getting some exercise, enjoying nature, studying Scripture to nourish your faith, eating a balanced diet, being intentional with your community, and maintaining good sleep hygiene.

Share your feelings with someone. Instead of fighting it alone, seek support from others, such as your church community if you have one, or loved ones. You can also seek spiritual mentorship or counseling for guidance and insight into how to handle the anxiety.

You can use mindfulness and therapeutic techniques. Being mindful can help you calm your heart and clear your mind, which helps to reduce the symptoms of anxiety. Cognitive behavioral therapies can help you reframe negative and unhelpful thoughts. It’s possible to see challenges and problems in a different light with a different mindset.

Your life has meaning and purpose. Your work, values, and relationships contribute to that sense of meaning and purpose, but ultimately it all flows from the Lord’s hands. Going through a crisis of meaning can be incredibly challenging, but it can also provide you with an opportunity to grow and build your life on a stronger foundation.

If you’re feeling dread, apprehension, or distress about the meaning of your life or your purpose, know that you don’t have to struggle by yourself. Reach out to a Christian counselor in Seattle who can help you explore these challenging feelings and thoughts. With help, you can process what you’re going through and emerge more resilient on the other side of the struggle. Reach out to us today at Seattle Christian Counseling to learn more.