Ever had an existential crisis? If so, how did you get over it, if at all?

Question

Please only answer if you've actually had one.

I had a really, really major one a while back. Nearly killed myself and was very seriously contemplating self-mutilation to see if it was all real. It sort of phased out on its own and now only comes back in occasional bursts. It has left me with a heightened sense of consciousness I can't really explain. More aware of the fact that I am one person in one body is the closest way to put it.

I'm still not completely convinced but I've stopped caring. I seem to be stuck here, in whatever or wherever this is, and I have no control over much of anything, so I might as well take advantage of what's available.

When it does come back, though, it's pretty bad...I get back to the thinking about suicide and not trusting any of my sense, or my mind. I usually manage to sleep it off, and the next day I work myself extra hard on not enough sleep so I'm too tired to think. Has about a 60% success rate.

What do you do to keep reality stable?

I might get checked out soon.

Right now, with my family life what it is and money being tight, I don't think we could handle the emotional and financial strain.

Answer 1

At one time I thought I had an existential crisis. I was 16 and I was reading Sartre's trilogy. In hindsight, many years later, I realize that I was deeply depressed and reading Sartre only made it worse. At least in part because I was probably too young/inexperienced/sensitive to be reading Sartre to begin with.

I think it is really a good thing that you have chosen a forum like this, even though you are anonymous, to voice your serious concerns about your own state of mind and well being.

It would be an even greater, more courageous step for you to find somebody to talk to face to face about how you are feeling emotionally, your fears for your own safety, your concerns about feeling outside of yourself from time to time, and how to get a handle on all of this.

I sincerely hope you do. Depression is a battle that can be fought and won. Please take the next step. Posting your message was a healthy first step. Talking to somebody, in my opinion, will at least begin to help you keep a grip on reality. Peace...

Please remember that there are rabbis, priests, ministers, social service agencies, school counselors and so forth available to people who are financially stressed and cannot pay the typical fee to talk to a professional.

Answer 2

The philosophical response is:
1. Identify the areas that you can control or influence, and concentrate on those.
2. Take an interest in other things, but don't stress about them.
For example: I can influence my co-workers, so I focus on my relationships at work.
I cannot influence the NBA playoffs, so I am amuse by them, but I don't stress out over who wins or loses.

The ACTUAL answer to your question is:
you may be suffering the beginnings of schizophrenia. Get a mental health evaluation. Suicidal thoughts and losing a sence of connection with your body are NOT good signs.

Answer 3

Realizing the fullness of my existance . Realising that subject is simplest the end of the iceberg relating to life. It used to be extra that predicament resulted in to this. The existential detail of any such predicament is I feel within the consciousness that it's greater than the brain can relatively fully grasp. Realising that One is aware of not anything is tricky ample. Accepting this truth is tricky for the ego. Perhaps predicament' are a phenomenon in which we discover ourselves emerging from the ashes of our beyond who is time has come. The kingdom of fake expertise used to be a raging inferno that has been smouldering for decades. The predicament started lengthy earlier than the flames engulfed that which I had as soon as held as fact. There are emotions of bewilderment and loss or even grieving levels of a variety. It is not possible to peer at that factor that new existence is rising inside the lawn of our attention. I have witnessed it with out judgment up to that's viable and recognise that difference and new existence is viable for every one among us as for all folks. I have found out that it's worry that holds us again in a single style or one other and that during a predicament there is not relatively time to worry. You consider it of direction however you wouldn't have the time to consider it. You enjoy it and then you definitely turn out to be mindful that your are experiencing it. I do not feel your belief of truth can not now not difference. I do not think that the arena will ever seem the equal once more.

Answer 4

You want answers? Look into yourself. Learn to meditate; insight meditation. It's simple, just sit somewhere comfortable and quiet with your eyes closed and concentrate on now. Don't worry about the past or future, only now. When thoughts arise, note them, but don't follow them. Keep on the NOW. Once you can keep you mind silent for a bit, start concentrating on your breath. Watch the in and out at your nose, the feeling of it. Note how long or short it is, but stay with it in every moment. You can also mentally think a two syllable word (first syllable on the in breath, 2nd on the out) but otherwise try to stop internal dialog if you are watching your breath. Try to watch it without breaking your fixation. It will take time to do it, just keep practicing every day at least 30 min a day (after you get used to it, might want to start at 15 min).

To quote you, you said :

"I'm still not completely convinced but I've stopped caring. I seem to be stuck here, in whatever or wherever this is, and I have no control over much of anything, so I might as well take advantage of what's available."

EXACTLY! So, do not let it affect you. Be dispassionate, but also be mindful. If you are mindful, you will notice helping and caring for others actually boosts your happiness and sense of contentment. When you are dispassionate, things will not disturb you. If you take note that all things in life are impermanent, then you will not be upset or perplexed when they crumble, as that is their nature. Simply notice, but let go.

A wise Buddhist monk, the Venerable Ajahn Chah of Thailand, once had some of the monks at his abby come and complain about all the noise during the weekends in town (loud concerts). It was disturbing their meditation, they said. "No" Ajahn Chah replied "it is you who are disturbing the sounds." Just as you don't have control, neither did the monks, or anyone else for the matter. We all just think we do, or that our tiny piece of power is real power. If you learn to accept things are as the way they are, you will not find conflict and can get on to being content. Wanting creates a discrepancy from how you are now to how you could be. Even when you get to that state you wanted, it's contentment, like all things, is temporary. If you let go of wanting, you will find you can be content where you are (as there is nothing to want!).

If you do not trust your mind, that is ok, you should view all things with a degree of unsureness. They are, after all, impermanent and viewed through your personal biases and filters creating delusion. Simply acknowledge that they occurred, but then move on without assigning value. It is clinging, wanting, and craving that will cause you trouble.

Meditate meditate meditate! I cannot say it enough. Especially if you as having suicidal thoughts. Meditation brings peace, reason, and clarity, and I will stand by those words no matter what. Besides, what if reincarnation is real and committing suicide is just going back to the beginning, the beginning of HUMAN life if you are lucky. Don't you think that if there are answers to be gained, that they might come from deep within?

I highly recommend the book "Mindfulness, Bliss, and Beyond: A Meditator's Handbook" by Ajahn Brahm. You can buy it on amazon. He also has a ton of MP3 or video dharma talks on the website bswa.org Good luck man, and hang in there!

Answer 5

Thinking is a dangerous sport.

A mental health assessment might be helpful for you. The difficult part is that there are also heath issues that can lead to depression. Certain conditions and things like pain can also make a depression worse.

There are also some people who have chemical imbalances and need the extra support to be stable.

Checking in with a counsellor might be a good idea too.

Answer 6

Please talk to someone and get help. You maybe suffering from serious Depression, only a professional can give you the correct answer you need. Good Luck.