When Depression Gets Existential, Live One Day at a Time

Do you have existential depression? Answer these questions: Do you feel like you are living on autopilot with no higher purpose? Do you feel like a hamster on a wheel, stuck with the same dull routine day after day? Do you feel that you are not doing your part to leave the world a better place than you found it—and maybe you never can? If these kinds of existential thoughts make your depression harder to deal with, then in my experience, you might have a case of existential depression. 

What Is Existential Depression?

According to Eggshell Therapy and Coaching:¹ 

"Existential depression is a crisis that arises when one confronts issues such as the meaning of life, isolation, death, and their place in the world. Existential depression is if you see and feel what others don't. Existential depression is when you are bothered about the gap between what could be and what is—both in yourself, others, and the wider world."

From what I know, it commonly affects idealistic individuals with ethics, high moral standards, and a burning desire for freedom and authenticity. Folks with these qualities strive to live on their own terms, no matter what the cost. Therefore, it's no surprise that all of the existentially depressed people I know are creatives, rebels, trailblazers, or metaphorical black sheep. 

Coping with Existential Depression

As you can imagine, existential depression is incredibly difficult to deal with. Personally, I've noticed that if left unchecked, it can become all-consuming. I've seen it lead to reckless behavior, addiction, self-harm, suicide attempts, and death by suicide. The only way I know how to manage it is to first acknowledge and accept it without assuming that something is mentally broken or deficient. It is perfectly normal to experience existential depression when you are an intense, emotionally intelligent, ethical human being.

Once you have accepted the way you are feeling without self-blaming, the second step is to take small actions toward living on your terms one day at a time. On a macro level, you cannot change and control the world or other people. Therefore, you can do the next best thing: change and control your own actions. 

Have you ever experienced existential depression? What measures did you take to manage it? Please share your thoughts in the comment section below. 

Source

1. Lo, I., "Existential Depression: When You Are an Intense and Sensitive Person." Eggshell Therapy and Coaching, Accessed February 11, 2021.