Existential Crisis and Mental Health: Rediscovering Purpose Amid Uncertainty
This is the essence of an existential crisis: a deeply personal reckoning with life’s meaning, your values, and your identity.
That Moment When Everything Feels Unsteady
You’re driving home, walking your dog, or lying in bed trying to fall asleep when it hits you — an unexpected and disorienting wave of questions. Why am I here? What’s the purpose of all this? Am I on the right path? These questions don’t come with easy answers, and they linger, churning in your mind.
This is the essence of an existential crisis: a deeply personal reckoning with life’s meaning, your values, and your identity. It’s a universal human experience, but when you’re in the middle of it, it can feel isolating and even frightening.
Existential crises often arise during times of transition — finishing school, starting a new job, or navigating a loss — but they can also emerge quietly, during the still moments when life feels stagnant or off course. While they bring profound discomfort, they also carry the potential for transformation. With support and introspection, an existential crisis can become a doorway to a richer, more purposeful life.
At Wave, we’ve seen how people can thrive when they’re given the tools to navigate this journey. Our evidence-based approach combines therapeutic expertise and practical resources to help you find clarity and purpose, even when the path forward feels uncertain.
The Emotional Weight of Existential Crises
When an existential crisis takes hold, it often feels like the ground beneath your feet has shifted. Things that once seemed stable — your career, your relationships, your sense of identity — now feel fragile or even meaningless. It’s not uncommon to question everything: the decisions you’ve made, the life you’ve built, and the future you’re heading toward.
This loss of meaning can stir up intense emotions. You might feel anxious about the uncertainty of it all, with racing thoughts and a sense of urgency to “figure things out.” Or you might feel a heavy, unshakable sadness, as if the world has lost its color. These feelings can be compounded by self-doubt, leaving you wondering if there’s something wrong with you for feeling this way.
But this emotional turmoil isn’t a sign of failure or weakness. It’s a natural response to grappling with life’s most fundamental questions. When you start asking, What’s my purpose? or Am I living authentically? you’re confronting the complexity of being human. These questions have been explored by philosophers for centuries — and just like them, you don’t have to answer them all at once.
The Role of Triggers in Existential Crises
Existential crises often don’t emerge from thin air. Instead, they are set in motion by life’s pivotal moments — events or transitions that challenge our sense of self and disrupt the narratives we hold about who we are and what we value. These triggers act like a mirror, forcing us to confront questions about meaning, purpose, and identity.
Major Life Transitions
Transitions are a common spark for existential questioning because they shake up the routines and roles we rely on for stability. Starting a new job, moving to a new city, or entering a new stage of life — whether it’s becoming a parent, retiring, or transitioning to adulthood — can leave you feeling disoriented.
Take, for example, a promotion at work. On paper, it’s a success. But with it comes a shift in identity — new responsibilities, altered relationships, and maybe even a reassessment of whether this path aligns with your long-term goals. The same applies to leaving a familiar environment, such as moving away from a supportive community or transitioning from school to the workforce. These shifts can leave you feeling untethered, questioning whether you’re on the “right” path or whether you even want what you’ve been striving for.
Loss
Loss, in any form, often cuts to the heart of our beliefs about permanence and purpose. Whether it’s the death of a loved one, the end of a significant relationship, or a sudden upheaval in circumstances, these experiences force us to grapple with life’s fragility.
The death of someone close, for instance, often brings an acute awareness of mortality, reminding us that life is finite. This awareness can prompt questions about how we’re spending our time and whether we’re honoring our values. Similarly, the end of a relationship — whether through a breakup, divorce, or drifting apart — can lead to a reevaluation of who we are outside of that connection.
Even the loss of a dream or long-held expectation can be disorienting. Maybe you had a vision of where your life would be by now, only to find that reality looks very different. That gap between expectation and reality can feel like a chasm, forcing you to reconsider not only what you want but why you wanted it in the first place.
Milestones
Milestones, while often celebrated, can also bring an undercurrent of existential questioning. A milestone birthday, like turning 20, 30, 40, 50, or 60 often carries societal expectations about what you should have achieved by that age. If you feel like you haven’t “measured up,” it can trigger feelings of inadequacy or regret.
Even when milestones align with your achievements — graduating, getting married, or reaching a long-term goal — they can prompt reflection. You might find yourself wondering, Is this it? or What comes next? For many, milestones highlight the passage of time and force a reckoning with what truly matters.
For instance, completing a significant professional goal, like earning a promotion or publishing a book, might initially bring pride but later leave you questioning if it’s enough to sustain you in the long term. Similarly, achieving personal milestones, like buying a house or starting a family, might reveal complexities you hadn’t anticipated, pushing you to dig deeper into your values and priorities.
Periods of Stillness
Not all existential crises are sparked by dramatic events. Sometimes, they emerge in the quieter moments — periods of stagnation or boredom when life seems to have lost its momentum. This can happen when routines become monotonous, when external challenges are absent, or when the sense of progress feels elusive.
For example, you might find yourself settled into a steady job or relationship, only to feel a creeping sense of dissatisfaction. Without the distraction of external change, you may become more attuned to internal conflicts or unmet aspirations. These periods of stillness can feel uncomfortable because they strip away the noise, leaving you face-to-face with questions you’ve been avoiding.
Unspoken Narratives That Triggers Disrupt
Each of these triggers challenges the narratives we construct to make sense of our lives. We often build stories around success, love, progress, or identity, but when those stories are disrupted — whether by external events or internal questioning — it can feel like losing your footing.
For example:
“I’m supposed to have my life figured out by 30.” A milestone birthday might challenge this belief, especially if you feel behind.
“Hard work will always pay off.” Losing a job or experiencing failure might force you to question this principle and redefine success.
“I’ll be happy when I achieve [X].” Reaching a long-term goal only to feel unfulfilled might reveal that your happiness depends on more than external accomplishments.
These moments of disruption are painful, but they also create a powerful opportunity. By breaking down old narratives, they open space for new stories — ones that are more authentic and aligned with who you are now.
The Opportunity Within Triggers
At Wave, we believe these moments of questioning are an opportunity for growth, not just challenges to overcome.
While the events that spark existential crises are often painful or disorienting, they also carry the seeds of transformation. They push you to ask questions you might otherwise avoid:
What do I value most deeply?
Am I living in alignment with those values?
How can I redefine success, love, or fulfillment in a way that feels authentic to me?
These questions aren’t easy, and the answers may take time to unfold. But they’re worth pursuing because they guide you toward a life that feels more purposeful and true to who you are.
At Wave, we believe these moments of questioning are an opportunity for growth, not just challenges to overcome. Our mental health coaches are here to help you navigate the uncertainty, offering both the tools and the space to explore what truly matters to you. Whether you’re reevaluating your goals, processing a loss, or seeking clarity during a period of stillness, we’ll walk with you every step of the way.
How Mental Health Intersects with Existential Crises
An existential crisis doesn’t just challenge your worldview — it also affects your mental health. The emotional intensity of this experience can amplify anxiety, depression, and feelings of isolation.
Anxiety often accompanies the uncertainty of existential questioning. You might feel overwhelmed by the sheer number of possibilities, afraid of making the wrong choices, or preoccupied with “what if” scenarios. This kind of anxiety can make it hard to focus on the present, as your mind is constantly pulled toward the unknown.
Depression can also take root, especially if you feel stuck or disconnected from what used to bring you joy. The question “What’s the point?” can feel heavy and unrelenting, making it difficult to engage with life’s daily rhythms.
At Wave, we understand that these feelings are part of the process, not obstacles to be ignored. Our board-certified mental health coaches specialize in helping you navigate the intersection of mental health and existential exploration. Through tailored support, we guide you toward managing these emotions while creating space for growth.
Finding Support: How Mental Health Coaching Can Be a Lifeline
When you’re navigating the overwhelming questions of an existential crisis, mental health coaching can serve as a source of stability and clarity. With coaching, you’ll have a proactive, goal-oriented partnership that helps you tackle life’s big questions head-on. A mental health coach acts as your guide, offering tools and strategies to help you explore your values, address uncertainties, and regain a sense of purpose.
At Wave, our coaches specialize in helping clients navigate these challenging moments. Coaching sessions create a space where you can explore profound questions like:
What does a meaningful life look like for me?
What truly aligns with my values and goals?
How can I take practical steps to live authentically in the face of uncertainty?
Coaches at Wave use evidence-based approaches, such as skills from cognitive behavioral therapy, to help you reframe unhelpful thought patterns and make meaningful progress. If you’re stuck in a mindset like, I’ll never figure this out, your coach will work with you to shift your perspective to something more constructive, such as, I don’t need all the answers right now; I can focus on the next step. This focus on action empowers you to move forward with acceptance, even if you don’t have every piece of the puzzle figured out.
Mental health coaching isn’t about telling you what to do — it’s about helping you uncover what’s most important to you and building a personalized roadmap to get there. Wave’s coaches are trained to blend empathetic listening with actionable guidance, ensuring that each session leaves you feeling supported and equipped to make progress. Whether it’s setting goals, developing resilience, or simply finding clarity in your thoughts, coaching can provide the direction and momentum you need to move through an existential crisis with confidence.
Wave’s mental health coaching program also integrates technology to keep you supported between sessions. With tools like daily mood check-ins, personalized content recommendations, and interactive exercises, you’ll have resources at your fingertips to stay aligned with your goals. Together with your coach, you can turn the uncertainty of an existential crisis into an opportunity for growth and transformation.
Turning Crisis Into Opportunity
While an existential crisis can feel like a period of upheaval, it’s also an opportunity for growth. Think of it as a reset button — a chance to step back, evaluate your life, and align your actions with your deepest values.
This process isn’t about finding quick answers. It’s about giving yourself the time and space to explore what matters most to you. Journaling can be a powerful tool during this time, helping you untangle your thoughts and reflect on your priorities. Writing prompts like What brings me joy? or What do I want to let go of? can guide your exploration.
Engaging in new experiences can also reignite your sense of curiosity and possibility. Whether it’s volunteering, trying a creative pursuit, or traveling to a new place, these activities can provide fresh perspectives and remind you that life is full of potential.
Building Resilience for the Journey Ahead
As you navigate your existential crisis, building resilience is key. Resilience doesn’t mean avoiding challenges — it means learning to adapt and grow through them.
Start by focusing on small, consistent habits that nurture your wellbeing. This might include daily mindfulness practices, regular physical activity, or spending time with loved ones who support and uplift you.
It’s also important to set boundaries that protect your mental health. If certain environments or conversations intensify your anxiety, give yourself permission to step away.
At Wave, we believe resilience is built through both self-reflection and connection. That’s why our mental health coaches work alongside you to develop strategies that not only address your immediate concerns but also empower you to face future challenges with confidence.
Finding Meaning in Everyday Life
One of the most powerful lessons of an existential crisis is that meaning isn’t something you discover once and for all — it’s something you create, moment by moment. It might be in the way you show kindness to a stranger, the time you spend nurturing relationships, or the effort you put into a creative project.
When you focus on these small, meaningful actions, you begin to shift your perspective. Instead of seeing life as something you have to figure out, you start to see it as something you get to experience and shape.
A New Chapter with Wave
An existential crisis isn’t just a period of questioning — it’s the start of something new. It’s an invitation to reconnect with your values, explore your potential, and build a life that feels authentic and fulfilling.
At Wave, we’re here to help you navigate this journey. Through personalized mental health coaching and practical tools, we’ll guide you toward clarity, resilience, and self-discovery. An existential crisis can be the beginning of a chapter filled with growth and purpose.
Let’s take the first step together. Download the Wave app today.