Is anyone else in an existential crisis?

Question

....and find that none of the answers that you get fill the deep void you feel inside?

I just feel it is all pointless. People say "create your own meaning", but those words feel empty . I long for some deeper, intrinsic meaning to all the suffering.

I'm about to be homeless and have a neurological condition that precludes friendships or relationships.....so the only certainty is that I will be alone for the rest of my existence here on earth.

I wish I were a linguistic genius so that I could express these thoughts more coherently and not sound like.....a whining teenager musing over Philosophy 101 or something...... am well into middle age and cannot come to grips with the deeper questions, and nothing I hear seems to help

I just find life not worth living without some deeper direction.....i just feel we are all animals governed by biology and instinct - and forces (physics) that are beyond our control......suffering is random and senseless.

People have told me to get mental help -- and I have -- but it is mostly about pill prescribing. I've approached mental health professionals before about my philosophical angst, and at the end of my spiel, they say ".....but what is YOUR concern?" as if the greater questions are somehow irrelevant to one's personal life. Or perhaps they cannot breach the topic due to professional boundaries.

At any rate, I feel alone in this senseless universe and wondering if anyone else feels the same way

(and i know this post sounds silly)

Answer 1

I think that you are expecting something more from life than it is capable of.



Avoid the pill pushers at all cost. They cause way more problems than they solve.



Don't be so sure about the friendship relationship thing. Never can become a self fulfilling prophesy if you repeat it often enough. The only thing that is certain is that tomorrow brings new opportunities.



Love and blessings Don

Answer 2

It's not a silly post. Far from it.



A lot of people who are feeling down will blame others, lash out at those that are not struggling. Instead, you have come to a forum where most people participating try to offer an idea or a thought that might be useful to someone. You post shows that you understand determinism, and seem to be at the stage where I suspect most people who do spend a little time. If everything we do is determined by the combination of our genetics and life experiences so far, then we really don't have free will, right? Perhaps true, but does it matter to us? Since we don't know what we will do until we reach the point of making the decision, we are in a sense revealing our character. And as we do, we have paths to follow that we don't yet know about.



I can see how revealing our character over time is a daunting prospect if we feel unable to affect it in any way. I personally wish to influence the 'content of my character', to borrow a para-phrase from Dr. King. So I've decided to proceed as if I am doing that. I pursue matters of interest to me, because I hope they will help me help my community. And I think about this question you posed often.



I don't think suffering is random, but I do believe that innocents suffer. I think it is a noble pursuit to work to reduce that going forward. Heck, lets try for eliminating it.



We might be wrong about determinism. We've been wrong a lot in the past, about things that seemed to be true for a while.



I would read up on cognitive therapy. The research I am aware of suggests medication and cognitive therapy together are the most effective tools against depression.



Why would someone who writes as well as you have to forgo friendships? You may wish to broaden your definition, and be open to more forms and from different sorts of people. I suspect you will have better days ahead. And I hope for that as well.



Good luck!

Answer 3

This is rational. We are all animals governed by biology and instinct - and forces (physics) that are beyond our control. That does not mean predetermined, they are inherently chaotic and cannot be predicted.



A deeper direction is a contradiction in terms, it implies an aim and an endpoint. Any such endpoint would simply be the back of another beach cave - just a strange smell and some seaweed, and a renewed disappointment. The search for such a thing is more satisfying. Which is why throughout history, personal philosophising has been the world's favourite hobby. Combine it with a bottle of beer.

Answer 4

Your post isnt silly at all. I feel the same way. Some days i look out at my surroundings and wonder whats the point for everything we do? what does it accomplish?? then it usually ends in me crying because i don't understand why we all do all these superficial things. But then i think Although life seems pointless what else is there? death? is that any better? Its such an unknown place.. all i can do is live, thats why im here isnt it? isnt there a bigger plan? and when i think this my mood changes and i feel happier, but the point of existing still envelopes a part in my mind. im just one person. No body cares about who i am, but i care, only i know who i am. and although i feel alone in this godforsaken place i still live, and i still am. Pills can never change how i think it can only blind the truth of what my mind is. (not saying pills cant help you, but too many pills is just absurd)

Hope this helps.

Many hugs.

Amy

Answer 5

I read your question twice; it is not at all facile and I too have currently a not dis-similar situation, minus any drugs that can help..so no, you are not alone in your solitary pursuit of elusive fulfilment of your best potentials..much CAN be done.

I was about to suggest Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, gave a thumbs-up to the perdon wo already has done then thought to add this, and that it`s a good thing to get as many responses as you can ..and the previous answerer is heading the posse in the right direction for further helpful anwers.

All power of successful exploration, to you.

Answer 6

Mr. Reg thinks you aren't alone many have voyaged through exactly where you are to success. God the true God the living God honors our personal judgment hence we don't go through here sans bitter personal angst,but there is through it.