Existential Depression: When Sadness Comes From Meaning, Mortality, and Identity

Some forms of depression don’t arrive with a crash. They drift in quietly, like fog settling over a familiar landscape. Life looks the same, but it feels different. The question isn’t “What’s wrong with me?” so much as “What is the point of all this?”

This is often described as existential depression, a form of psychological distress rooted not primarily in brain chemistry, but in meaning, identity, freedom, and the awareness of mortality. It’s common among deep thinkers, creatives, caregivers, survivors, and people who have experienced loss, transition, or profound awakening.

If you’ve ever felt heavy not because life is hard, but because it feels empty, fragile, or absurd, you’re not alone.

What Is Existential Depression?

Existential depression occurs when people face essential human truths: mortality, isolation, freedom of choice, and the search for meaning (Yalom, 1980). It is not merely the result of a chemical imbalance; rather, it reflects a deeper struggle with purpose and identity.

People experiencing existential depression are often seen as “high-functioning.” They may work, care for others, and meet responsibilities while quietly questioning why any of it matters.

Research suggests existential distress can coexist with, or differ from, major depressive disorder, and therefore may require approaches that go beyond symptom suppression alone (Vos et al., 2015; Schnell, 2020).

Common Signs and Symptoms

Existential depression is often subtle. It’s less like a wave crashing and more like a low hum beneath everyday life.

Emotional and Cognitive Symptoms

• Persistent feelings of emptiness or meaninglessness

• Questioning identity, values, or life direction

• Preoccupation with death, time, or impermanence

• Feeling disconnected even in close relationships

• Loss of motivation without clear sadness

Emotional Tone

• Quiet despair rather than overwhelming hopelessness

• A sense of having “outgrown” previous goals or identities

• Emotional flatness or detachment

Physical and Nervous System Experiences

• Fatigue without a medical explanation

• Restlessness or a heavy, weighed-down feeling

• Difficulty experiencing pleasure in routine activities

Studies link existential distress with depression, anxiety, and reduced quality of life, particularly during major life transitions or periods of global uncertainty (Park, 2010; Arslan et al., 2022).

Why Meaning Matters to Mental Health

Humans are meaning-making beings. When meaning erodes through trauma, loss, burnout, or awakening, the psyche struggles to reorganise itself.

Existential theorists suggest that avoiding these questions can deepen distress, while gently engaging with them may foster resilience and psychological growth (Frankl, 2006; Wong, 2023). In this sense, existential depression is not a failure; it can be an invitation to re-author your life.

Gentle Home Practices for Existential Healing

Existential depression isn’t resolved through positive thinking alone. Healing begins with presence, honesty, and values-based living.

1. Let the Questions Exist

Instead of rushing toward answers, allow space for uncertainty to exist. Sitting with questions can soften their intensity over time.

2. Ground Meaning in the Body

Slow walks, breath awareness, or gentle movement reconnect abstract thoughts to lived experience. Meaning often returns through sensation rather than logic.

3. Practice Small Acts of Purpose

Purpose doesn’t need to be grand. Caring for a plant, choosing sustainable options, or helping someone nearby can restore a sense of contribution.

4. Write Without Resolution

Journaling about mortality, identity, or values without forcing optimism supports emotional integration (Pennebaker & Chung, 2011).

5. Simplify and Live Consciously

Mindful consumption, slower routines, and eco-conscious choices can reduce existential overwhelm by aligning daily life with personal values.

Existential Depression in a Fast World

Modern life leaves little room for reflection. Constant productivity, noise, and comparison can deepen existential fatigue. Many within the Mellow Active community share that slowing down through retreats, intentional rest, and conscious living helped them reconnect with meaning beyond achievement.

Healing doesn’t require escaping life. Sometimes it simply means learning how to inhabit it more gently.

A Soft Call to Action

If this resonates, pause for a moment. Feel your breath. Notice that you are here.

Existential depression does not mean life is empty. It means your inner world is asking for honesty, depth, and alignment. If you’re longing for spaces that honour reflection, rest, and shared humanity, we invite you to join our community where meaning is explored slowly, together.

You don’t need all the answers. You only need permission to ask the questions.

References

Arslan, G., Yıldırım, M., Tanhan, A., Buluş, M., & Allen, K. A. (2022). Coronavirus stress, optimism–pessimism, psychological inflexibility, and psychological health: Psychometric properties of the meaning-based coping scale. Current Psychology, 41(6), 3703–3717.

Frankl, V. E. (2006). Man’s search for meaning. Beacon Press.

Park, C. L. (2010). Making sense of the meaning literature: An integrative review of meaning making and its effects on adjustment to stressful life events. Psychological Bulletin, 136(2), 257–301.

Pennebaker, J. W., & Chung, C. K. (2011). Expressive writing and its links to mental and physical health. Oxford Handbook of Health Psychology, 417–437.

Schnell, T. (2020). The sources of meaning and meaning in life questionnaire (SoMe): Relations to demographics and well-being. Journal of Positive Psychology, 15(4), 483–494.

Vos, J., Craig, M., & Cooper, M. (2015). Existential therapies: A meta-analysis of their effects on psychological outcomes. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 83(1), 115–128.

Wong, P. T. P. (2023). Existential positive psychology and meaning-centred counselling. International Journal of Existential Psychology and Psychotherapy, 10(1), 1–18.

Yalom, I. D. (1980). Existential psychotherapy. Basic Books.

Zika, S., & Chamberlain, K. (1992). On the relation between meaning in life and psychological well-being. British Journal of Psychology, 83(1), 133–145.

Breitbart, W., & Poppito, S. (2014). Meaning-centred group psychotherapy for patients with advanced cancer. Oxford University Press.