What Is Existential Depression?
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Depression can be a very serious mental health condition, and many different types of depression exist. In some cases, depressive symptoms can arise out of an inability to understand one’s purpose in life or place in the world. Understanding what existential depression is, despite its lack of formal recognition in the DSM-V, can be an important step forward to validate the experiences of condition survivors. Read on to learn more about what existential depression is, possible causes and supportive strategies.
What is existential depression?
Depression can be an experience that is unique to the individual. Although people who are living with depression may experience common ranges of symptoms, they may be receptive to different triggers and condition-related concerns at any given time. Depression can be addressed through a number of supportive strategies. However, many may find benefit from first identifying what they are experiencing—which very well may be existential depression.
Depression associated with an existential crisis can be difficult to face, as it can be more philosophically based than other types. It can occur when people are experiencing depression and deep sadness around the meaning of life and the concept of life in general.
Additionally, existential depression can be very difficult to deal with if the person feels that life has no meaning whatsoever. If life is meaningless, then many may feel as if it can become difficult to muster the necessary energy to keep on going.
An existential crisis in this context can be severe enough that those experiencing it may require immediate help. Online therapy and in-patient care can be helpful resources to those who wish to resolve depression related to existentialism and other strain.
Understanding existential depression and how to cope
An existential crisis or depressive feelings around existentialism can be about the meaning of life itself, as mentioned above. It can also be about religion, personal relationships and much more.
Big questions, such as the meaning of life and why the universe is the way that it is, aren't generally topics that can be answered easily or definitively.
If you are feeling depressed over some of the larger questions in life, then it can be important to try to ground yourself.
best to try to avoid the thoughts entirely. Or you may choose to discuss these fears or thoughts with a licensed therapist or topical expert.
What causes existential depression?
The cause of this type of depression can be individual. Sometimes, it can be brought about by life changes. For example: Losing someone close to you may prompt you to consider death more intently than you might have before. It has also been suggested that existential depression and similar mental health challenges help us develop our personalities, through a process known as positive disintegration.
Overwhelm, overwork, and chronic stress can also contribute to this form of depression. Online therapy and other supportive strategies can be helpful to many experiencing the effects of existential depression.
How can existential depression be treated?
Treatments for existential depression are similar to those for other forms of depression. Sometimes medications will be prescribed for people who are having severe depression problems. Other times, therapy sessions may be used as a way for people to feel more comfortable with their place in the world. Often, a combination of treatments is most effective.
If you are experiencing existential depression, it can be beneficial to talk to someone about it. Bottling up your concerns and feelings will often lead to depression that becomes more intense. This can be detrimental to your life and can sometimes lead to withdrawal and isolation. Getting into a deep state of depression over existential questions can be avoided if you seek the proper help. Here are some practical strategies that might help you:
Therapy can provide a safe and supportive environment to talk about the problems and questions lingering in your mind with someone who cares about your well-being. Meeting with a counselor and processing your feelings can provide clarity regarding your meaning and place in the world.
Staying busy with activities that bring you enjoyment can help. If you are passionate about art, then spending time drawing or painting is a great idea. If music is a good outlet for you and helps you to feel happy, then you can listen to music more often. Doing things that bring you enjoyment might help you see the value in the world for which you have been pining.
Being around people you love can be helpful too. It can feel difficult to reach out when you’re feeling down, but being around supportive friends and family members can help.
People who are religious and are grappling with philosophical questions may wish to confide in their pastor, rabbi, or another type of religious official. Sometimes a simple conversation can be enough to assuage some of your fears. If you feel safe when speaking to those in your religion, then it can be a good source of strength for you during your time of need.
How online therapy can help
Online therapy offers professional help from the comfort of your own home. If you don't want to speak to a therapist in person, then you may be interested in receiving online counseling through a platform like BetterHelp. One of BetterHelp’s vetted counselors can help you learn to cope with existential depression. You can make appointments that fit your schedule and reach out to your counselor via in-app messaging between sessions, if you need to.
Online therapy has also shown effectiveness in treating people who are experiencing different forms, intensities, and manifestations of depression.
A study involving a 12-week, online cognitive behavioral therapy program was effective in reducing symptoms of depression and anxiety within nine months.
Takeaway
What is the existentialist theory of depression?
In an existential sense, depressive symptoms may arise because an individual struggles to find purpose in their life. Existentialists believe that we’re meant to find meaning internally, as opposed to seeking a purpose through external sources. This sense of personal responsibility and freedom can be liberating, but it can also create tension, which may manifest itself in depression.
Can you overcome existential depression?
Depression is considered a highly treatable form of mental illness, which means it is possible to address the disorder’s symptoms so that their effects are limited. Clinical depression is typically treated with medication, psychotherapy, or a combination of both. For existential depression specifically, though, finding the source of existential dread can be beneficial. Often, existential depression arises out of a lack of purpose in one’s life. By finding meaning, then, an individual with this mental health concern may alleviate their symptoms.
Many people experience existential depression spontaneously due to an unexpected and significant life event. By understanding mental health concerns that may be linked to such an occurrence, these individuals can better address their symptoms of depression. If you’re experiencing existential depression, consider consulting with a mental health professional, who can provide you with screenings and determine whether further testing, a diagnosis, and treatment are necessary.
How do I stop existential overthinking?
To address the challenges of existential distress, you may consider a form of psychotherapy known as existential therapy. A mental health professional practicing existential therapy can help you connect with your purpose in life and provide support for the emotional concerns you may be experiencing. You may also consider participating in cognitive behavioral therapy, which is focused on helping individuals reframe negative thought patterns.
Why can't I stop thinking existentially?
There are several reasons you may be experiencing existential dread. According to a theoretical analysis on the factors that contribute to existential crises, such distress is often caused by the “loss of meaning and goals”, in addition to confrontation with one’s mortality, and a disconnection from one’s values.
It is also thought that existential concerns occur disproportionately among gifted and talented persons. Such existential concerns may partially arise because gifted and talented people often recognize the absurdities of life, which can make it harder for them to participate in the world around them constructively. Researchers in a study titled “Emotional and Behavioral Characteristics of Gifted Children and Their Families” state that gifted individuals are often “less adapted to their environment and society”. This can lead to an internal struggle that is difficult to reconcile—a process described by the psychologist Kazimierz Dabrowski as “positive disintegration”.
How long does existential anxiety last?
The duration of existential anxiety can vary depending on the circumstances that brought it about, the individual, and several other factors. Some people experience existential crises following a major life change or traumatic event. In these cases, symptoms may subside shortly after the changes are over. Others may experience an anxiety disorder that could last months or even years.
Is existential anxiety permanent?
Existential anxiety is typically not a permanent condition, though it can persist in some individuals. The duration of anxiety disorders can depend on a number of factors, including the severity of symptoms, environmental influences, and treatment. Even those who live with existential anxiety their entire lives, however, can limit the impacts its symptoms have.
How can an existentialist be happy?
Existentialists essentially believe that life has no inherent meaning. Their view is that an individual is responsible for finding purpose in their own life. An existentialist, then, may derive happiness from engaging with the pursuits and values they are naturally drawn to. For example, an individual might find purpose in helping those who are less fortunate, which could lead them to experience contentment, joy, and pleasure.
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