Existential Crisis & Challenges

couple sitting on bench in front of beach Existential Crisis

Understanding Existential Crisis: Symptoms, Causes, and Treatment Options

At some point in life, many people find themselves asking big questions: What’s the meaning of my life? Am I on the right path? Does what I’m doing really matter? An existential crisis happens when those questions become overwhelming, creating confusion, doubt, or even despair.

This experience is more common than most realize. It can happen in young adulthood, during major transitions, after loss, or in the midst of professional success that feels strangely empty. For some, it’s triggered by trauma or illness; for others, by a quiet sense that life doesn’t feel as purposeful as it should.

At Groundbreaker Therapy, we help people move through existential challenges with clarity and compassion. Our goal is to guide clients toward a deeper sense of meaning, balance, and connection — whether you’re a student trying to find your identity, a professional redefining success, or anyone wrestling with life’s big questions.

What Is an Existential Crisis?

An existential crisis is a period of deep questioning about meaning, purpose, freedom, identity, or mortality. While existential thinking is part of being human, a crisis occurs when these reflections lead to distress, paralysis, or hopelessness rather than growth.

Common themes in existential crises include:

Questioning the purpose of life or personal direction
Feeling empty despite outward success
Struggling with freedom and responsibility
Fear of death or meaninglessness
Identity confusion during transitions (career change, college, aging, etc.)
Disillusionment with values, religion, or relationships

While not a clinical diagnosis, existential challenges often overlap with depression, anxiety, or burnout — and can benefit greatly from therapy.

Common Symptoms of an Existential Crisis

Existential crises often show up emotionally, physically, and behaviorally.

Emotional & Cognitive:

Persistent questioning of life’s meaning
Hopelessness or despair
Anxiety about mortality or the future
Guilt or regret over past choices
Feeling disconnected from values or identity

Behavioral:

Withdrawal from relationships or activities
Difficulty making decisions or setting goals
Burnout or lack of motivation
Perfectionism or paralysis around “big life choices”

Physical:

Fatigue or sleep problems
Restlessness or tension
Low energy or difficulty concentrating

If these symptoms are left unaddressed, they can lead to depression, anxiety, or destructive coping behaviors. Therapy provides tools to navigate existential questions in ways that bring growth instead of despair.

What Causes Existential Challenges?

Existential crises are often triggered by life transitions, trauma, or periods of intense self-reflection.

Common causes include:

Major life transitions: Graduation, career changes, parenthood, retirement.
Loss or trauma: Death of a loved one, serious illness, or divorce.
Professional success without fulfillment: Achieving goals yet feeling empty.
Creative and sensitive personalities: Deeply reflective people often grapple with meaning more intensely.
Cultural or spiritual shifts: Questioning religion, values, or identity.

At Groundbreaker Therapy, we often see existential challenges arise for professionals facing burnout, college students navigating identity, and young adults trying to build meaningful lives in a fast-paced world.

Existential Crisis Diagnosis

Because an existential crisis is not a formal mental health diagnosis, the assessment focuses on identifying the impact of existential distress. A therapist will explore:

The intensity and duration of symptoms.
Overlap with depression, anxiety, or trauma.
How existential questioning is affecting work, relationships, and wellbeing.
Whether the client feels stuck or is able to use reflection for growth.

By clarifying the distinction between natural questioning and paralyzing distress, therapy creates a foundation for healing and direction.

Existential Crisis Treatment Options

What Is Best for an Existential Crisis?

The most effective treatment for existential challenges is psychotherapy that combines reflection with practical skill-building. At Groundbreaker Therapy, we integrate Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) with existential, humanistic, and mindfulness-based approaches to help clients explore life’s big questions while also learning to regulate emotions and build meaningful action.

Medication is not typically prescribed specifically for existential concerns, though it may be used for co-occurring depression or anxiety. The cornerstone of treatment is therapy that blends insight with practical strategies.

Groundbreaker’s Approach to Existential Challenges

Our specialties include:

Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT): Skills in mindfulness, distress tolerance, emotion regulation, and interpersonal effectiveness to anchor clients while exploring deeper questions.
Existential Therapy: Exploring meaning, freedom, mortality, and responsibility in a supportive, non-judgmental space.
Counseling for Professionals: Helping leaders, creatives, healthcare workers, and educators rediscover purpose while managing stress and performance demands.
Young Professionals’ Mental Health: Guiding adults in their 20s and 30s toward work-life balance and meaningful careers.
College Mental Health: Supporting students who are building identity, values, and goals in the midst of academic and social pressures.

Other therapies we may integrate:

Existential Therapy: Directly addresses meaning, purpose, mortality, freedom, and identity — the core themes of existential crises.
Humanistic Therapy: Emphasizes personal growth, authenticity, and self-acceptance, helping individuals navigate identity struggles and life challenges.
Client-Centered Therapy: Provides a supportive, nonjudgmental space that fosters self-exploration and the discovery of meaning.
Integrative Therapy: Allows blending existential and humanistic approaches with cognitive or mindfulness-based methods to support both meaning-making and emotional regulation.

Each client’s plan is personalized — blending existential exploration with skill-building to move from confusion to clarity.

Living With Existential Challenges

Living with an existential crisis can feel overwhelming, but it can also be an opportunity for growth. Many clients find that with therapy, they can:

Clarify values and align life choices with them.
Build resilience against anxiety about mortality or uncertainty.
Use mindfulness and DBT skills to tolerate distress while exploring deeper meaning.
Develop healthier relationships and boundaries.
Discover purpose in both personal and professional life.
Cultivate self-compassion and acceptance of imperfection.

Rather than being a dead end, an existential crisis can become a turning point — the beginning of a more authentic and meaningful way of living.

How Groundbreaker Therapy Can Help

At Groundbreaker Therapy, we recognize that existential crises are part of the human condition — but that doesn’t mean you should face them alone. We provide:

Expertise in DBT, existential, and humanistic therapy.
Specialized counseling for professionals, young adults, and students.
Integrative therapy plans that balance reflection with action.
A compassionate environment for exploring life’s biggest questions without judgment.
Flexible scheduling with in-person and virtual options.

If you’re feeling lost, questioning your direction, or struggling to find meaning, you’re not broken — you’re human. With the right support, these challenges can lead to growth, clarity, and purpose. Schedule a consultation with Groundbreaker Therapy today and begin transforming uncertainty into clarity and meaning.