An existential crisis is an overarching concern that life is inherently pointless and that our existence on the planet has no meaning whatsoever. Basically, life's a bitch and then you die, so what is the meaning of life, anyway?
This crisis has been brought about by a number of causes. Obviously, we are still in the midst of a worldwide pandemic. The pandemic has created historic levels of loneliness and social isolation. The impact of this isolation will have long lasting ramifications on our mental health.
The frustration, loneliness and isolation of the pandemic is exacerbated by it's unwillingness to go away. It reminds me of the scene from The Peanuts where Charlie Brown repeatedly tries to kick the football as Lucy jerks it way over and over and over again. That's where we are. Collectively frustrated by getting a glimpse of freedom, only to be disappointed by the next variant that puts everyone back on house arrest.
Beyond the simple frustrations with the virus, there are deeper issues. It seems as if many among us are seeking wisdom to provide meaning in the midst of despair. A sense of how the "pieces" of life fit together and connect to the broader world. An answer to the seemingly unanswerable question: "why am I here?"
The interwebs are chocked full of "experts" trying to answer the unanswerable questions of life: "how to find happiness", "what is the meaning of life?" and "ten ways to find contentedness". These types of articles are wildly popular on sites like Medium, where writers try to stir up interest by posting the "secrets" to a better life.
This existential wanderlust is causing a Mental Health crisis. It has been brought about by a general loss of trust in our institutions. A loss of trust in our political system, frustration with the judicial system and it's perceived inequities, loss of faith in our religious institutions. The loss of trust is leading to more alarming trends, such as a rapid increase in the number of drug overdoses. For the first time in history, the CDC reports that American deaths from drug overdoses exceeded 100,000 lives. That's an increase of 28.5% over the prior reporting period. Said another way, that's 28,500 more more families losing a loved one to overdose than occurred in the prior period.
According to a recent survey of over 1,800 psychologists, 74 percent of shrinks said they were now seeing more patients with anxiety disorders. They are also seeing explosive growth in Depressive disorders, with a 60 percent increase in patient volume. Overall they report a 30% increase in patient volume when compared to pre-pandemic levels. Psychologists are facing their own anxiety from simply trying to meet the growing demand for services. There is also a tremendous shortage in the number of Psychiatrists to meet the growing need of Americans who require medication to control their mental health illnesses.
Accidental drug overdoses are soaring among young people, who are gaining access to cheap, Fentanyl-laced drugs sold on platforms such as Snapchat and Instagram. These drugs are typically counterfeit and are marketed as benzodiazepines, a class of drugs typically marketed to treat anxiety and panic disorders. They ostensibly provide immediate relief within 30-60 minutes. Brand names include Xanax, Valium and Ativan. Yes, while we were focused on the next variant of Covid, Fentanyl laced drugs became the number one killer of Americans age 18-45. Deadlier than Suicide, Covid-19 and Car accidents.
One bright spot in the mental health crisis is the growth of on-line therapy platforms that remove the stigma of visiting a therapists office. This evolution has been a welcome addition during a time when most people were afraid to leave their home for fear of infection. Online therapy platforms have seen a rise in demand during the pandemic as well. MDLive is a telehealth provider with more than 62 million members in the United States. Their online therapy and psychiatric care services increased fivefold in 2020 compared with 2019. Most of these patients were seeking care for anxiety and depressive disorder symptoms.
The existential crisis is the impetus for the growth of apps like Headspace and Calm. These free apps promote their ability to help you-do nothing. Literally nothing. Their meditation modules offer calming sounds and voices that allow users to disconnect from the noisy world for a few minutes each day. The Calm app has been downloaded over 100 million times. Seriously, who couldn’t use 15 minutes of peace & quiet every day?
Another telltale sign is the growth of Yoga. A recent survey by Yoga Journal and Yoga Alliance indicates the tremendous growth in this 5000 year old practice. 34% of Americans say they are somewhat or very likely to practice yoga in the next 12 months – equal to more than 80 million Americans. Reasons cited include flexibility, stress relief and fitness. 86% of practitioners report having a strong sense of mental clarity compared to 77% of non-practitioners. Studios are typically heated, have low-lighting and ask class members to adopt a vow of silence upon entering the studio. As if the studio is a sacred space. It is one of the few places where you cannot be interrupted by a text, email or phone call. Whether it's the quiet, introspective setting or the heat or the simple sense that you are doing something for yourself, Yoga provides a setting for a truly transformative experience. Doing yoga correctly requires an incredible amount of concentration and focus, unless you want to face plant on the mat and break your nose.
Ironically, in the midst of this existential crisis, Americans are shifting away from religious affiliation. And, maybe that shift is a contributor to the collective angst and anxiety over life's meaning. About 30% of adults do not have a religious affiliation, six percentage points higher than it was five years ago. Yet, it seems that the answers that organized religion ponders are exactly what is lacking in many lives. If wisdom is truly about realizing meaning in life, what better opportunity to sort out these types of questions than a religious setting? Ironically, many now find themselves "spiritual", but not religious. As if they've identified a path to heaven and a relationship with God outside of any formal path. But, one of the key ingredients to religious affiliation isn't simply the content. It's the community. The merging together of a community of otherwise unconnected lives in a search for the greater meaning of life. A merging together of people to collectively sort out how the pieces fit together to answer the question: "why am I here?"
As we bring this pandemic to an eventual close, let's be mindful of the struggles those around us are facing. These existential questions are not easy to answer and they are not fleeting. Long after the pandemic is finished, those around us will continue to suffer the long-term impact of covid loneliness and isolation. They will continue to suffer from the ill effects of anxiety and depression. And, they will continue to navigate through these very difficult existential questions of life. One simple way to find a sense of meaning in your own life is to help others find meaning in their lives. Whether by way of a simple gesture of kindness and support, or an effort to introduce others to mindfulness apps, on-line therapy, yoga, meditation and/or organized religion.