What is an existential crisis? The most effective ways to overcome it

Starting from curiosity about the meaning of existence, an existential crisis is a state that feels both strange and somewhat frightening. But what exactly is an existential crisis, and can it be overcome? Join MemoirME to find out below.

1. What is an existential crisis? Types of existential crises

An existential crisis is a psychological state in which a person asks deep questions about the nature of their own existence: Who am I? What am I living for? Does life have any meaning? Unlike ordinary anxiety, an existential crisis strikes at the core of one’s identity and sense of purpose.

The term originates from existential philosophy, associated with major thinkers such as Jean-Paul Sartre, Albert Camus, and Viktor Frankl. An existential crisis is not a medical condition, but if left unaddressed, it can lead to depression, chronic anxiety, and a serious decline in quality of life.

1.1. The crisis of connection and isolation

This type of crisis arises when you feel completely lost in a crowd. Even when surrounded by people, you feel like you do not belong anywhere.

Consider this: you have 500 friends on social media but no one to call at 2 a.m. when you are crying alone. The question becomes, what does “real connection” actually mean? Is it about quantity or quality? If you deleted all your social media, how many genuine relationships would remain? Isolation sometimes comes not from circumstance but from one’s own perception.

1.2. The crisis of life’s meaning

This is the most common type and can arise regardless of circumstance. Even if you have checked every box society defines as success, the question “Does any of this actually mean anything?” can still keep you up at night with no answer in sight.

1.3. The emotional, experiential, and existential crisis

This type of crisis often emerges after major life-altering events: the loss of a loved one, a serious illness diagnosis, divorce, or even a significant age milestone.

You are not only grieving the event itself but also beginning to question the entirety of your existence: “Did anything I have done really matter?”

2. Causes and symptoms of existential crisis

Understanding the causes and recognizing the symptoms is the first step toward not being pulled into a spiral with no way out.

2.1. Causes of an existential crisis

An existential crisis rarely has a single cause. It is typically a combination of several factors:

– Major loss: Losing a job, the death of a loved one, or the end of a long-term relationship can shake a person’s entire framework of meaning.

– Life transitions: Ages 30, 40, and 50 are milestones that prompt people to look back and compare their reality with the expectations they held in youth.

– Confronting death: Whether it is the death of someone close or a personal diagnosis of serious illness, the finite nature of life becomes impossible to ignore.

– Shifts in spirituality or belief: When a belief system collapses, whether religious, ideological, or tied to an admired figure, people can fall into deep confusion about the nature of everything.

– Prolonged isolation: Particularly in the wake of COVID-19, many people experienced extended social isolation that led them to question their relationships and life goals entirely.

2.2. Common symptoms of an existential crisis

Not everyone recognizes they are in an existential crisis because symptoms tend to develop gradually and are easy to mistake for ordinary fatigue. Key signs to watch for include:

– A persistent sense of emptiness or meaninglessness without a clear reason

– Recurring questions about one’s identity, purpose, or values

– Loss of interest in things that once brought joy

– Anxiety about death or the finite nature of life

– Feeling disconnected from those around you, including close family and friends

– Difficulty making decisions because every option feels equally pointless

– Sleep disturbances and low energy with no physical cause

3. Ways to overcome an existential crisis

There are no shortcuts. Overcoming an existential crisis is a process. That said, every small step matters, and the following are effective approaches shared by psychologists and people who have been through it.

3.1. Lean on the people you love

When an existential crisis makes you want to withdraw, resist the urge to handle it alone. In practice, an honest conversation with someone you trust can break through the sense of isolation far more effectively than hours of solo analysis.

3.2. Express your emotions

Allow yourself to feel the confusion, sadness, or frustration without judging it. Emotions that are expressed safely lose their power to control you.

3.3. Find joy in small things

If the question “What is the meaning of life?” feels too large to answer, make the question smaller: “What made me feel even slightly better today?” The answer could be anything from a favorite meal to a song you have listened to hundreds of times.

These small moments do not answer the existential question, but they remind you that life is not entirely a burden.

3.4. Focus on what you can control

An existential crisis often comes with a sense of helplessness in the face of questions too big to answer, such as death, meaning, or the universe. Rather than trying to resolve all of it, focusing on what is within your control is the wiser approach.

Taking agency over small things creates a sense of stability and groundedness.

3.5. Keep an online journal

Writing down your thoughts is one of the most effective emotional processing tools supported by psychology. When you find words for what is happening inside you, you create distance between yourself and your emotions, and from that distance, you begin to understand them more clearly.

Built with the goal of helping you better understand and appreciate each day as you live it, MemoirMe supports you in organizing scattered thoughts into deeper self-awareness over time.

3.6. Maintain a healthy lifestyle

Poor sleep and an unhealthy lifestyle consistently worsen psychological difficulties, including existential crises. The brain needs adequate nutrition and recovery time to process emotions effectively.

A healthy routine is not a miracle solution, but it is always the foundation that every other form of healing depends on.

3.7. Join a support group

Knowing that you are not the only one going through this has a particular kind of healing power. Support groups, whether in person or online, create a space to share without fear of judgment.

An existential crisis is not a sign of weakness. Many people are working through the same thing and making the effort to understand themselves better each day. What matters is finding the right way to work through it rather than shutting yourself away.

If you want to start overcoming your crisis but are not sure where to begin, try writing down your thoughts each day with MemoirME.