Have you ever heard about existential crisis and how it can affect your life and the lives of those around you? The famous question “What is the meaning of life?” is not just a fleeting thought but can be considered the initial trigger for an existential crisis. This is an issue experienced by many people, often in significant numbers, but it manifests uniquely for each individual, affecting their actions, relationships, and daily performance.
Understanding what an existential crisis is, how it presents itself, and especially how to deal with it is essential to promote well-being and quality of life. The existential crisis can arise at different times in life, as a consequence of impactful events or dissatisfaction with routine. It ends up instigating deep reflections on one’s own existence.
We emphasize the importance of understanding this topic by health professionals. They have a key role in providing support and emotional assistance to these patients, especially those dealing therapeutically. In this context, hypnosis stands out as an effective tool that can assist in this journey.
Throughout this article, from Understanding the existential crisis to Future perspective: Overcoming and growing from the existential crisis, we will delve into this topic, understanding signs and symptoms and proposing strategies to deal with this situation, combining knowledge from psychology and hypnosis.
Are we ready for this journey of self-discovery and overcoming? Then let’s get started. Welcome to our conversation about the existential crisis.
Understanding the existential crisis
In simple terms, the term “what is an existential crisis” can be described as a period of deep questioning, doubts, and internal conflicts about one’s own existence. These are moments that can even evoke fear and confusion, as they challenge the certainties we have about ourselves and the world around us.
These questions can arise from a variety of life experiences, such as: losing a loved one, drastic lifestyle changes, romantic or professional disappointments, or even the absence of a clear life purpose. These triggers can lead to questions like: “Why am I here?”, “What is the meaning of my life?”, and “What do I really want?”
The existential crisis can be understood as a transitional phase where the person begins to question and reflect on their own values, beliefs, and life purpose. This phase can be especially intense and may take some time to overcome. However, it is important to remember that it is a normal process of self-discovery and personal growth, where the person is seeking to rebuild their identity.
Although often experienced with much anguish and emotional discomfort, an existential crisis can also be a great opportunity for personal growth, for seeking self-knowledge and emotional maturity, leading the person to build a life sense more aligned with their true aspirations and values.
Signs and symptoms of an existential crisis
Understanding what an existential crisis is can be challenging, but identifying its signs and symptoms is the first step to helping someone deal with it. A person going through an existential crisis may feel a wave of intense and confusing emotions. They may question the meaning of their life, feel adrift without a clear purpose, or experience a sense of emptiness and worthlessness.
Furthermore, physical symptoms may also emerge. Difficulty sleeping, mood changes, anxiety, and even physical symptoms like body aches can be signs of an existential crisis. It is common for these emotions to lead to social isolation, as the person may find it difficult to connect with others due to these deep internal issues.
The loss of interest in previously enjoyable activities and a sense of disconnection from reality are also common signs. The affected person may feel “stuck” in their life, feeling unable to make significant changes or move towards their goals. This feeling of stagnation often leads to despair or anxiety.
It is crucial to pay attention to these symptoms, as they indicate that something deeper is happening. Recognizing these signs and seeking professional help is the first step to overcoming an existential crisis.
Why and when existential crisis occurs
The existential crisis occurs when we question our own existence and the meaning of life. These uncertainties often arise during difficult times, thus setting the stage for what is an existential crisis.
This crisis can occur due to different factors that go beyond deep reflection on life. Sometimes, it is triggered by a significant change or traumatic events. Grief, job loss, serious illness, divorce, or any other major life change can serve as a trigger.
Practically everyone goes through this type of crisis at some point, but it is usually more common during life milestones, such as reaching certain ages. Teenagers and young adults, for example, often experience existential crises while navigating the changes of puberty and adulthood.
Later stages of life, such as middle age, can also bring about questioning. This can happen when facing aging, realizing that life is finite, and that perhaps they have not lived as they wanted or achieved their goals.
Understanding the context and trigger of the existential crisis is the first step to effectively dealing with it and helping the person find a new sense in life.
Relationship between existential crisis and substance use
Substance use can be an attempt to mask the discomfort caused by the existential crisis. This happens because during a crisis, there is a desperate search for answers and relief, making the person vulnerable to using substances that can momentarily mask the uncomfortable symptoms.
Often, the person mistakenly believes that alcohol, drugs, or medications can act as a kind of “magic solution”. Unfortunately, this “solution” is only temporary and can lead to a downward spiral of dependency.
The concerning aspect is that the continued use of these substances worsens the situation, intensifying feelings of despair and suffering, creating a vicious cycle that is difficult to break.
Moreover, prolonged substance use can bring serious damage to physical and mental health, affecting the person’s ability to deal with life’s challenges, including the existential crisis.
Understanding that substance intake is a mask for the problem and not a definitive solution is the first step to seeking help and addressing the underlying issues behind the existential crisis.
How to deal with the existential crisis: effective strategies
When dealing with the existential crisis, it is essential to remember that each individual is unique and may react differently to similar situations. However, there are some effective strategies that can help navigate this moment.
Self-reflection is an important first step. Understanding what an existential crisis is and recognizing feelings of doubt and confusion as a normal part of the human process promotes emotional balance and prepares the ground for healthy coping.
Seeking professional support is also part of this journey. A certified professional can offer an effective clinical approach, such as hypnosis, to help deal with the intense emotions and thoughts that characterize the crisis.
An important skill is reframe or cognitive restructuring. This is a technique in which the person learns to identify negative or harmful thoughts and change them.
Other resources, such as mindfulness practices and valuing can also be helpful, helping to maintain focus on the present and finding meaning in everyday actions. Ultimately, it is important to remember that this is a process. There is no magic formula to “cure” an existential crisis, but with the right attitude and appropriate support, it is certainly possible to overcome it.
The importance of self-knowledge in overcoming the existential crisis
Overcoming an existential crisis requires time, patience, and above all, self-knowledge. Self-knowledge is the process of understanding who you are, your values, beliefs, and dreams. Understanding what drives us and what our limits are helps to have greater clarity in the face of life’s complexity.
When someone asks “what is an existential crisis“, much is said about uncertainties, despair, and questioning. Self-knowledge allows us to face these issues in a more strengthened way, as by understanding our feelings and behaviors, it is possible to find answers more aligned with our true essence.
Moreover, self-knowledge is essential for identifying negative emotions that may be contributing to the aggravation of the existential crisis. By identifying these emotions, it is possible to seek appropriate strategies to deal with them, preventing these feelings from consuming us.
It is important to remember that self-knowledge is not a final destination but a continuous process. Throughout life, we are constantly challenged to revisit our beliefs and attitudes formed in the past and adapt to new realities around us. This adaptive capacity is crucial to overcoming an existential crisis, as it allows us to maintain connection with ourselves, even in the face of challenging circumstances.
The role of psychology and hypnosis in managing the existential crisis
Amidst the complexity of what an existential crisis is, psychology and hypnosis play a fundamental role. These disciplines contribute to managing an existential crisis by helping individuals find meaning in their lives and effectively deal with the distress that often accompanies these crises.
The process involves delving deep into personal issues and internal conflicts. A therapeutic approach that includes hypnosis can be a powerful support in this regard.
Hypnosis can facilitate access to thoughts, emotions, and memories, enhancing the effectiveness of therapy. The individual can thus better deal with the existential crisis by connecting with their innermost self in a safe and guided manner.
While the possibility of working collaboratively during sessions is empowering, it is essential to understand that hypnosis is not a quick or ‘magic’ solution. It still requires the individual’s effort to make the necessary changes and decisions that promote relief from the existential crisis.
Hypnosis techniques for stress and anxiety relief in existential crisis
Understanding the existential crisis is fundamental in applying clinical hypnosis effectively. The stress and anxiety often associated with this state can be alleviated with appropriate hypnosis techniques.
The first step is to guide the individual to a state of deep relaxation. We achieve this through a series of breathing and visualization techniques that direct the mind away from everyday worries. With the mind relaxed, we can begin to work on the roots of the existential crisis.
The technique of cognitive restructuring, when applied during hypnosis, is a powerful tool for dealing with negative thoughts that fuel the cycle of stress and anxiety. In this technique, we help the patient recognize and challenge negative thoughts, replacing them with more positive and realistic views. In this way, it is possible for them to interpret their environment and react to it in a healthier way, promoting a sense of relief and tranquility.
Mindfulness practices are also useful in this process. They allow the person to be present in the moment, without the worry of anticipating future problems or dwelling on past issues.
Clinical hypnosis is an effective option for reducing symptoms related to stress and anxiety during the existential crisis. The approach is evidence-based, ethical, and aims to promote the patient’s emotional health by restructuring how they interpret and react to their environment.
Future perspective: Overcoming and growing from the existential crisis
One of the main lessons learned from an existential crisis is that this often uncomfortable inner journey becomes a springboard for personal growth. Instead of seeing the crisis as a dead end, we can change the perspective and see it as a means for self-discovery.
By questioning the nature of our lives and confronting negativities, we face our deepest fears. And so, we gain the opportunity to free ourselves from these fears, allowing for personal transformation and the liberation of the old self for the emergence of a new one.
In the struggle to understand what an existential crisis is, we also discover that clinical hypnosis can be a valuable tool to help navigate through this journey. It allows access to automatic thoughts and behaviors, facilitating the implementation of actions that generate the emotional balance needed to overcome the crisis.
In the end, overcoming an existential crisis allows us to grow and evolve in a way that would not be possible without such painful experiences. With clinical hypnosis, we can learn to deal with negative emotions, transforming them into valuable lessons for our own development.
And by growing from the crisis, we become more resilient, aware, and at peace with ourselves and the world around us. After all, the crisis is ultimately just a step in our journey of self-discovery and personal fulfillment.
Conclusion
In summary, “what is an existential crisis” can be defined, from a psychological point of view, as an emotional state that emerges when a person questions the meaning, purpose, and value of life. This state is often accompanied by feelings of dissatisfaction, anguish, and anxiety.
Understanding this crisis and its manifestations is the first step both for those experiencing the situation and for assisting others in overcoming it. The second step is to seek effective strategies to deal with it.
Methods that help deal with existential crises, such as cognitive-behavioral therapy and hypnosis based on scientific foundations, are increasingly recognized by science.
Hypnosis, in particular, has proven to be an effective tool. Hypnosis techniques have the ability to reduce anxiety, stress, and facilitate the change of automatic behaviors, being powerful allies for professionals in helping people facing an existential crisis.
If you are interested in learning scientific hypnosis to apply professionally, whether to enhance your results in your current profession or even to have a new profession, I invite you to learn about the training and postgraduate courses in evidence-based hypnosis from the Brazilian Society of Hypnosis. Click here to learn more.
Frequently Asked Questions
How can clinical hypnosis help in treating existential crisis?
Clinical hypnosis is a useful therapeutic tool for dealing with existential crisis. It can help reduce stress and anxiety, providing deep relaxation. Additionally, hypnosis enables access to deep thoughts, allowing for better self-understanding and addressing existential issues.
Is it possible to overcome an existential crisis alone?
Dealing with an existential crisis alone can be challenging. Although self-knowledge is essential, professional counseling such as psychotherapy or clinical hypnosis can offer valuable insights and effective coping strategies.
What is the connection between existential crisis and substance use?
People going through an existential crisis may resort to substance use as a form of escapism or to relieve distress. However, this only worsens the situation. The right approach is to seek professional help and work to resolve underlying issues.
Can existential crisis lead to mental health problems?
An existential crisis, if left untreated, can lead to serious mental health problems, including depression and anxiety. It is crucial to seek professional help if you find it difficult to handle the crisis alone.
How to become a professional in clinical hypnosis?
To become a professional in clinical hypnosis, the first step is to obtain proper education and training. Many organizations offer certification courses in hypnotherapy. Additionally, it is essential to gain practical experience through supervised work.
