We all go through transition periods in our lives; times when things need to change. There are moments when you face the fact that a relationship isn’t working. Those times are hard, but they’re necessary for us to deal with; otherwise, things remain stagnant. When you recognize that your marriage isn’t working, that can be a hard realization. But, what if it’s not true? What if you think your marriage isn’t working, but it’s just that you’re having an existential crisis? How do you know the difference?
What’s an Existential Crisis?
An existential crisis happens when you start to question your meaning, and why you’re here. When you begin to wonder why you’re on earth, you might take stock of what your life is like, and consider changing things. Maybe you are thinking about your job and the family that you have. Then you may begin to think about your marriage. For some people marriage is comforting, and you feel understood. You have somebody to spend the rest of your life with who gets you. But when you’re experiencing an existential crisis, you might not recognize yourself; t could be hard for your partner to know what you’re going through right now. But that doesn’t mean that you need to leave your marriage. What it indicates is that you’re going through a change in your life and if you love your partner, it’s time to let them in and tell them what’s going on.
Try talking to your partner about your crisis.
The first thing to do is talk to your partner about what you’re experiencing. An existential crisis can be scary, but you don’t have to do this alone. Explain to them that you’re not sure what your purpose is, and you’re afraid. You want to find meaning in your life, but it’s difficult. They don’t have to solve the problem for you. You can tell them that they are not responsible for figuring out what you need to do with your life. What you’re looking for is not guidance but support. You’re changing, but just because things are different doesn’t mean that your marriage has to be affected. It might be difficult for you to talk to your partner about what you’re experiencing and that’s okay too.
If they don’t get it
Your partner doesn’t get it it’s not their fault. They might not understand because they’ve never been through an existential crisis before. If you try your best to explain it to them and they don’t understand that’s okay. They’re not trying to be unsupportive to you, but they might not understand where you’re coming from because they have never struggled with the meaning of their life. You might benefit from a translator; a person who can help explain your feelings to your partner. That’s where couples counseling can help.
Online couples counseling and existential crises
Maybe your marriage isn’t over. If you’re experiencing an existential crisis and you’re having a difficult time explaining what’s going on to your partner consider trying couples counseling. Online couples counseling is an excellent place to talk out issues with your partner. You can sit with a licensed counselor and explain what’s happening in your mind so that your partner can understand. You might feel alone, but a licensed couples counselor can be the translator between you and your partner. They can talk about what’s happening for you to your partner and show them ways to be supportive to. Feeling like you don’t know your place in the world is scary. But a licensed online counselor who works with couples will be able to explain to your partner what you’re experiencing and how they can support you during this time. And there may be a time when you can be there for your partner. You don’t necessarily have to leave your marriage just because you’re going a tough time. Consider talking to a couples counselor about your existential crisis, and they can bridge the gap between you and your partner.
This is a featured post by site sponsor Better Help.
Photo credit: Shutterstock