Existential Depression: When Life Loses Its Meaning
Existential depression is a little-known but recurrent psychological condition. Some of its characteristics include the feeling that you do not meet the expectations of others, that life is meaningless or that the world is unjust, full of evil and inequality.
This term may sound strange and even clinically unwise. It is true that it does not appear in the DSM-V ( Manual of Diagnosis and Statistics of Mental Disorders ) and most likely you do not know anyone who has been diagnosed with this condition. But existential depression is a common psychological condition and some people suffer from it.
The history of existential depression
In 2012, Dr. Robert Seubert published a research article in the Journal of the European Psychiatric Association to highlight an important fact. Part of our society does not respond to normal treatments for depression and this could be related to personality types and even high intellectual abilities.
Some people navigate other psychic universes, where they ask deeper questions and feel unusual suffering. Anxiety about the future of the world or sadness because you can’t find the real meaning of life could be a very special type of depression.
Existential depression: definition, symptoms and causes
It is possible that this type of depression takes us back to authors such as Søren Kierkegaard or Friedrich Nietzsche. They talked about the principles of individual or personal freedom and responsibility, about human loneliness and about that classic concept of existential anxiety. This last term refers to a fear of the future, the importance of our decisions and the fear of not becoming what we all expect to become. What does all this have to do with existential depression?
One of the personalities who studied this psychological condition the most was Irvin David Yalom, a psychotherapist and professor emeritus of psychiatry at Stanford University. One of his most notable works is the book Existential Psychotherapy. In it, the author talks about the main characteristics of a patient with this type of depression. As you will see, the description is quite similar to the ideas that the most representative figures of existentialism in philosophy have transmitted over time.
A common type of depression in people with high intellectual abilities
Therapeutic strategies
Can we treat existential depression? Like any other type of mood disorder, this condition is also treatable.
In general, it is important for the specialist to individualize the therapeutic strategy and take into account the needs of each patient. In fact, in addition to psychological therapy, some patients may also benefit from drug treatment (antidepressants). But how can a person with high intellectual abilities who suffers from depression be helped?
We should address existential depression, even if it is not included in textbooks
In short, although we do not find existential depression in diagnostic manuals, there are effective treatments and strategies to stimulate the well-being of those who suffer from it. Although it may be difficult for a patient to see a doctor because of this, his feelings for the world around him will cause him to seek help.
