Understanding and Managing Existential Anxiety in Modern Times

This episode delves into existential anxiety, a phenomenon Dr. Tracey Marks suggests has become more prevalent since 2020 due to global events like the pandemic, political unrest, social injustice, and war. It introduces existentialism as a philosophy asserting that life lacks inherent meaning, which individuals must assign themselves, emphasizing personal responsibility for choices and outcomes, facilitated by freedom comprising 'agency' and 'will'. Modern existential theory further identifies four fundamental human fears: death, freedom, existential isolation, and meaninglessness, all of which have been acutely triggered by recent global crises.

The discussion highlights various triggers for existential anxiety, ranging from broad societal upheavals to personal life transitions. Examples include graduating college (representing unwanted freedom), marriage (fear of isolation or loss of freedom), parental death (fear of one's own mortality), ending a relationship (fear of isolation), and selling a long-term business (fear of meaninglessness). These situations can escalate into full-blown existential crises or, conversely, serve as catalysts for profound self-reflection and positive life changes, demonstrating the dual potential of such experiences.

The podcast also addresses maladaptive coping mechanisms, which Dr. Aaron Keshen termed "purpose substitutes" in a 2006 paper on existential therapy. These include overindulgence in substances, excessive shopping, forming unfulfilling relationships, zealous support of causes, obsessive pursuit of money or power, excessive media consumption, and overworking. Dr. Marks encourages listeners to recognize these behaviors as indicators of underlying voids, prompting introspection to identify areas for personal improvement rather than merely suppressing anxiety.

Ultimately, the episode offers practical strategies for managing existential anxiety, primarily by cultivating purpose and value. It stresses that values shape life intentions and decisions, and that regret over wasted time can lead to anxiety and depression. For specific death anxiety, the advice is to align with a worldview, religious/spiritual group, or a cause larger than oneself (e.g., environmentalism), which can provide a sense of "relative immortality" and buffer the fear of ultimate cessation, allowing one's beliefs and contributions to live on beyond individual experience.

"If you hadn't experienced existential anxiety before 2020, you probably have had it to some degree since 2020."

"Existentialism is a philosophy that teaches that life doesn't have inherent meaning, we assign it meaning."

"Our freedom allows us to assume this responsibility and has two components, agency and will."

"Modern theorists came along and further developed the existentialism concept by identifying four basic human fears, death, freedom, existential isolation, and meaninglessness."

"So sometimes, existential crises can produce self-improvement because they prompt you to self reflect and make different life decisions."

"Dr. Aaron Keshen wrote a 2006 paper on existential therapy and identified these activities as purpose substitutes."

"Finding purpose and value can remedy all types of existential anxiety."

"Even though death is inevitable, meaning and value are powerful buffers against death anxiety."

"When you believe in a higher power or attach yourself to a movement, you gain relative immortality through your beliefs, living on past your experience."