Practical Tips for Dealing with Existential Anxiety

Anxiety is a normal part of the human experience, as are concerns about existential topics such as death, aging, world events, why we are here, and what the future holds. For some people, pondering these things serves as motivation to find their purpose and grow as they work toward specific goals. For others, it can be a source of stress and anxiety.

Existential anxiety, also known as existential angst or dread, is a chronic feeling of unease or panic triggered by thoughts of mortality, the lack of meaning and purpose in life, and that nothing is certain other than the inevitability of death.

Although existential anxiety can appear at any stage of life, it is often sparked by a major life event, transition, or time of uncertainty, that leads to a loss of security and causes you to question your beliefs and who you are.

Common signs of existential anxiety.

• Frequent thoughts about the finite nature of life.
• Feeling panicky when you think about death.
• Wondering why you are here and what the point of anything is if you’re ultimately going to die.
• Feeling that life is pointless and your existence is meaningless.
• Having trouble making decisions, setting goals, or planning for the future.
• Feeling hopeless and empty.
• Lack of motivation or interest in activities you used to enjoy.
• Feeling as though getting through each day is a struggle.
• Panic attacks.
• Having regrets about your past and wondering what your life would be like if you had made different choices .
• Engaging in risky behaviors such as substance abuse or promiscuity .
• Trying to escape your anxiety through compensating activities such as excessive shopping or use of media.
• Questioning your faith and/or other long-held beliefs.

Tips for dealing with existential anxiety.

• Accept the uncertainty of life and that the answers to some questions are unknowable.
• Think about what in your life is most important to you and how you really would like to live.
• Reflect on whether or not the things you are involved in are meaningful to you.
• Pinpoint things that mean the most to you and act on them.
• Focus on the here and now rather than dwell on the future or the past.
• Look for meaning and contentment in small, everyday things.
• Adjust your priorities, and focus on what is personally meaningful to you.
• Keep a list of things you are thankful for.
• Talk about your feelings to supportive friends or family members.
• Journal about your thoughts and feelings.
• Make time to connect with friends and loved ones.
• Look for little ways you can expand your world by making new friends and trying new things.
• Identify your strengths and talents, and look for ways to put them to use.
• Become involved in your church and/or community and look for ways you can be of service to others.
• Engage in activities that bring you joy.
• Become a volunteer.
• Get involved in things that have a purpose and make you feel connected to something bigger.
• Focus on the things that are in your control rather than on issues you have no way of impacting.
• Consider counseling.

Counseling for existential anxiety.

Existential anxiety tends to be an abstract, generalized feeling of unease or dread, as opposed to other types of anxiety that are tied to specific events or situations. Because of its vagueness, there is no formal diagnosis for it in the DSM-5 (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders), nor are there any specific treatment plans for it.

Counseling typically consists of meeting with a trained mental health professional who can help you explore your anxiety and find constructive ways to channel it by working through your feelings, gaining new perspectives for looking at life and your place in it, reframing your thinking, and developing a sense of direction.

According to existential therapists, the solution to existential anxiety is to be found in forming genuine, enriching relationships with others and creating your own purpose in a purposeless world.

The benefit of Christian counseling.

Christian counseling goes a step further by combining existential therapy with Biblical principles and prayer. The Bible contains the answers to all our questions and addresses all our fears. It alone can provide you with meaning and purpose.

God created human beings with a need for relationships (Genesis 2:18). However, our most important relationship is our relationship with Him. Separation from Him is the ultimate source of existential anxiety.

There is a void in each one of us that Christ alone can fill. True meaning, purpose, and freedom can only be found through accepting the free gift of salvation He purchased for us by His death on the cross (Ephesians 2:1-5,10; John 8:36; Romans 8:3; Colossians 1:13).

If you have questions or would like to set up an appointment to meet with one of the faith-based counselors in our online directory, please give us a call at Frisco Christian Counseling in Texas.