With the state of society, politics, the economic climate, rapid shifts in technology, and a variety of other factors, more people seem to be experiencing existential dread.
But, in my own conversations with friends and relatives, I have come to realize that even though more people seem to be expressing the ideas behind this concept, the actual term eludes them.
Having a basic understanding of the meaning of existential dread, the thoughts previous thinkers have had around the topic, and the current best practices in dealing with it may give you a new perspective on the feeling and help you deal with it better on a daily basis.
Understanding Existential Dread
It is important to ensure a basic understanding of the topic and the surrounding terminology before you can gain a practical understanding of what might be causing it and how to deal with it.
Overview of Existentialism
As the name suggests, existential dread stems from Existentialism, a philosophical movement that strove to address the meaning of life.
In short, the Existentialist thinkers tended to lean towards the fact that life has no pre-defined meaning, such as in the case of predestination.
Instead, many existentialist thinkers posit that people create their own meaning. We are free to choose our own paths. But that freedom comes with a degree of responsibility.
I am not an Existentialist at all. And you probably aren’t either. But it is important to understand this background to better contextualize the origins of the phrase.
For a deep dive, check out this article on two of Existentialism’s biggest contributors: Nietzsche vs. Kierkegaard.
Existential Dread Meaning
The psychiatrist Irvin Yalom identified four unavoidable dilemmas that result from existentialism:
- Death
- Freedom
- Isolation
- Meaninglessness
When we truly think about any of these existential concerns, we can develop a sort of dread.
These feelings have been given several names due to the nature of the emotions, and some are used more in certain contexts than others, but essentially, existential dread, existential anxiety, existential despair, existential anguish, and even existential angst all refer to the same emotions resulting from the abovementioned dilemmas (although existential despair is often associated more with a complete existential crisis).
Existential Dread vs. Existential Crisis
It’s important to note that there is a difference between existential dread and an existential crisis. You have likely heard the latter used in conversation, although few people truly understand what it means.
I like to think of them as different levels of the same thing. While existential dread is a feeling that cannot be easily ignored, it doesn’t cripple you or cause you to uproot your life.
An existential crisis occurs when the feelings of anxiety regarding your mortality, purpose, responsibility for your life, or even your perceived meaninglessness become impossible to ignore or move on from, sometimes resulting in you making massive changes.
One example of existential dread could be a school-aged child occasionally realizing that they have some responsibility for their future and having some anxiety regarding that, but then being able to brush those feelings off and move on.
In contrast, a midlife crisis, as it is so aptly named, which often results in people being unable to ignore feelings regarding meaning and purpose to the point where they change careers, perhaps even uproot their families, is an existential crisis.
Existential Dread in History, Literature, and Art
Even though the name hasn’t been around that long, indications of existential dread have been recorded since before the birth of Christ.
Ecclesiastes often addresses topics related to the meaninglessness of human achievement and the inevitability of death. Let’s look at the first few verses of the very first chapter:
1 The words of the Preacher, the son of David, king in Jerusalem.
2 Vanity of vanities, says the Preacher,
vanity of vanities! All is vanity.
3 What does man gain by all the toil
at which he toils under the sun?
4 A generation goes, and a generation comes,
but the earth remains forever.
[Ecclesiastes 1:1-1:4 ESV]
There is no pomp and circumstance. The writer jumps straight in, addressing some of the biggest mental turmoils we face, even thousands of years later, in a simple, almost honest way.
When it comes to art, you don’t need to look very far to find a work with themes of mortality. Van Gogh’s Head of a Skeleton with a Burning Cigarette is one of my personal favorites, although it is almost humorous, in stark contrast to his At Eternity’s Gate.
In terms of literature and modern media, there are countless examples. For simplicity, we can mention only two.
In Dostoevsky’s Crime and Punishment, the character Raskolnikov’s introspection leading up to and after having done something objectively considered terrible deals with all four pillars of Existentialism.
For a more modern example, you need only look at Squidward Tentacles, who is portrayed almost as a caricature of the feeling.
What Causes Existential Dread: Why It Feels so Widespread
There are issues that make it more likely people will feel existential dread at some point or another.
It is important to note these causes, so you can have a better understanding of why you, or someone around you, may be struggling.
Major Life Events
Major events in our lives naturally cause certain emotions to arise, which, in turn, lead to introspection and perhaps a resulting existential dread.
Even if you live an unproblematic life, keeping to yourself, there are certain events that you can’t ignore. The COVID-19 pandemic and the resulting shutdowns are only one such example.
Awareness of Mortality
We all know that we are going to die, but we don’t fully comprehend what that means for much of our younger years.
I still remember the sleepless night when I had nothing to do but think, and think I did, until I wished I hadn’t.
It might be the way that we are rather blase about death in things like films and modern literature, while completely removing ourselves from the physical reality by isolating the dying in hospitals and care facilities, that causes this delay in true comprehension.
This makes it only natural that we feel a little destabilised, especially as life continues as it did before, despite the ground-breaking revelation.
Cultural Emphasis on Self-Realization
I was in my teenage years when I first heard someone talk about their plans to take a gap year, so that they could ‘find themselves.’ But self-realization, or trying to figure out who you are and what your purpose is, isn’t restricted to the formative years of life.
The European Journal of Sustainable Development released an article in 2024 talking about the positives and how having both individual goals and balancing them with societal values can cause social development.
However, the constant pressure on figuring out how to meaningfully contribute to society, societal expectations of this contribution, and plans for continuous future contribution can cause strain.
Think of the concept of the golden child, who can do no wrong in the eyes of their parents, but who ends up developing incredible anxiety under the pressure of expectation. The same thing can happen on a cultural level.
Constant Exposure to Global Concerns
In the past, your exposure to global concerns was limited. Before the internet and the introduction of smartphones, you could only read or listen to a limited amount of news at specific times.
Now, you can see what’s happening on the other side of the world with a click of a button. And thanks to the fact that more views means more money, algorithms tend to push negative views, which are more likely to evoke interaction.
Even if you don’t purposefully look at the news, being on social media runs the risk of incidental exposure. This has been shown to promote existential dread.
Social Fragmentation and Isolation
While there is some discourse over whether or not there is a loneliness epidemic, there is no denying that things have not been the same since 2020, when many people were forced into lockdowns.
Technology provides more opportunities for communication than ever before, but at the same time, the quality of our interactions is not what it once was.
The myriad of negative effects is not fully understood yet, but it is clear that people are being impacted, both mentally and physically.
Automation and a Shifting Job Market
We were told that AI was going to make all of our jobs redundant and that the world itself was going to be automated. Well, we are still waiting for AGI, but there has been a massive upheaval in many industries.
As a writer, I have been forced to adapt. Clients want content written faster than ever before; some have even told me to use AI outright and only fact-check or edit. This is never what I wanted to do, but it is unavoidable.
I think I am becoming reasonably good at it, too.
Being someone who doesn’t attach their whole identity to the work that they do, this has not affected me too much, other than the occasional grumble to myself. But many people make their careers their lives, which means their lives have been turned upside down, and their position in the future is incredibly unsure.
Existential Dread vs Anxiety, Stress, and Burnout
It is important to note that just because you are a little bit stressed or anxious, or you aren’t enjoying the work you are doing, it doesn’t mean that you are experiencing existential dread.
Instances of anxiety happen. Deadlines and uncertainty cause stress. Sometimes, if you have been pushing yourself too hard for too long, ignoring rest and not taking care of yourself properly, you will experience the consequences.
If you want to know if what you are experiencing is an instance of existential dread, consider if the origin comes from grappling with the four major questions we mentioned above: death, freedom, isolation, and meaninglessness.
The Impact on Everyday Life
There are many real-world impacts that might result from a bout of existential dread. It’s important to keep in mind that we are just talking about dread and anxiety, though, not a full-on existential crisis.
Anxiety and feelings of meaninglessness might make you less productive, or cause you to not enjoy things you used to be as motivated as you used to feel.
People who struggle with existential dread may also withdraw socially or isolate themselves slightly.
In some cases, difficulties sleeping or changes in appetite may cause further physical side effects.
Solutions to Existential Dread
Considering that existential dread has been around for so long, it is no surprise that people have explored many solutions.
One solution, explored by Douglas C. Youvan, includes revisiting the past, looking at your memories, so that you can not only comfort yourself but also gain perspective, effectively grounding yourself.
Of course, there are other ways to ground yourself, some of which have even been turned into modern slang: go touch some grass.
Speaking with others, creating things, or even being aware of the fact that existential dread is pretty normal all help.
Faith is another solution. You are still going to die. You may still be overwhelmed at times by the uncertainty of the future. But if you have purpose and rest in that contentment, then brief bouts of existential dread are transient.
Kierkegaard, one of my personal favorite philosophers, argued that angst (as he commonly called it) is inevitable, and emphasized the importance of a lived relationship with God as the only possible solution. I could not agree with him more.
Final Thoughts
Realizing that we are all going to die, truly thinking about what we are doing with our lives, and all the associated feelings are completely normal.
The reality is that our anxiety is not unfounded. But recognizing that the many who came before us experienced this all, and grounding ourselves in what actually matters and what we can do while we are in this world, helps us move beyond these feelings.
After all, as John Donne so eloquently wrote in the final lines of his sonnet, ‘Death, be not proud.’
One short sleep past, we wake eternally
And death shall be no more; Death, thou shalt die.
