Existential despair

Existential despair is when people feel very sad or hopeless about the meaning and purpose of their lives. It can happen when they start to question why they are alive and what their place is in the world. Imagine feeling like you are lost in a forest and you don't know which way to go.

People might experience existential despair when they can't find a satisfactory answer about what life is for, and they feel like there's no point in doing anything. It can also be a result of mourning a significant loss that forces people to re-evaluate their beliefs and values. It's like when you lose a favorite toy, and you feel like nothing else matters anymore.

Existential despair can make people feel very isolated, weird, and alone because they often think that nobody else feels the same way they do. Imagine feeling like you're different from all the other kids, and you don't know how to belong.

However, it's important to understand that existential despair is normal, and many people go through it. It can be a sign that people are asking deep questions and trying to make sense of their lives. Like how we ask why the sky is blue, we wonder what our place is in the world and why we're here.

To cope with existential despair, people can talk with others, explore their feelings, or seek guidance from a counselor or a trusted friend. Like asking an adult to help you find your way home when you're lost in the forest. In the end, people may not find all the answers they're looking for, but they can learn to live with and even appreciate the mysteries and uncertainties of life.