There are many things that people struggle with in life, sometimes just because of life itself. People are naturally worried about what bad things could happen to them. Sometimes, the fear can be so heavy that it can lead to anxiety. The thought of living in this world can be tasking for many because of the challenges that are part of being in it.

Think of the different things society demands from being socially acceptable, having a stable livelihood, and keeping up with and paying debts. It can be a lot for any individual to handle.

While many have fears stemming from life, numerous people also fear death. Death is a part of existence that can be worrisome, which can distract people from living in the moment.

Existential therapy is a method that seeks to work against that by helping individuals accept morality. This therapy covers subjects to help people reconcile with and live life, including the role of choice, freedom, and self-responsibility.

What Is Existential Therapy?

Existential therapy is a style of therapy that emphasizes the human condition as a whole. It uses a positive approach that applauds human capacities and aspirations while simultaneously acknowledging human limitations.

Existential therapy encourages people to address the emotional issues they face and take responsibility for the decisions that contribute to the development of those issues. People who participate in this form of therapy are guided to accept their fears and given the skills necessary to overcome these fears through action.

The Role of Choice and Freedom

Existential therapy helps individuals embrace life and develop the concept of choice. They can then use this concept of choice to maximize their existence.

Freedom of choice should be exercised enough to live a meaningful life, and each person is responsible for making their life as meaningful as possible. People should make choices that produce the best outcomes for themselves and those around them.

However, this shouldn’t be anything to be more worried about, but quite the opposite. Choice comes in conjunction with the concept of freedom; having free will means that choices are being made to live a life worth having despite not knowing what is ahead.

Freedom enables individuals to grow. It teaches us that it doesn’t matter if a mistake was made; there’s always a way to learn from it and improve. Knowing that one is free to be who they want to be is fulfilling.

However, many people may still worry about living a meaningful life. It can be scary to make choices; what if you make the wrong choice? The beauty of freedom of choice lies in knowing that no one controls that choice but you; no outside influences were made in that choice.

The Role of Self-Responsibility

Being aware of life and the existential is incomplete if a person doesn’t assume a position of responsibility. Self-responsibility goes hand-in-hand with the idea of choices being made to forge a meaningful life. People need to be aware of how these decisions affect themselves and affect those around them.

It’s essential to recognize how different things can influence an individual. Part of self-responsibility is making sure how individuals respond to life in a positive light.

Many negative outside forces can hit anyone at any time; this is part of the nature of existence. However, it’s up to the individual to be responsible for behaving against these negatives and overcoming them.

Death and Morality

At one point, almost anyone in the world has feared dying and dreads the thought of their own mortality. It is important to remember that this is a natural fear to have.

Death is a concept that many have studied and theorized about. What will happen once that moment arrives? Are there ways we can prevent death from ever occurring?

However, the reality of everyone’s existence is that death is inevitable. This fact does not stray people from fearing death but instead helps them recognize that they can enjoy the here and now. The concept of mortality can help individuals take a step towards embracing life to its fullest.

Live In “The Now”

“Living in the now” can be a grueling term, but it should be seen as motivation; life is too short. Life is too short to be worried about what could happen or what happened. Instead, individuals should focus on what is current and how to live a healthy future for themselves and everyone surrounding them.

Many things will surface that can take a toll on an individual’s life, and it’s not always easy to deal with. That’s okay. What’s important is not to let it consume life as a whole and allow oneself to move forward and live a meaningful life.

Life can be challenging at times. From societal pressures, how to live life, wanting to connect with others, and pondering about death, living can be a lot for anyone to worry about. These thoughts can take an individual away from living in the moment and create anxiety, which is why existential therapy is a method that seeks to increase awareness of the present while grasping existential concepts to live life to the fullest. This therapy grants the opportunity to open up a new perspective on life and appreciate its beauty. Through this therapeutic method, a person learns about the role of choice and freedom, self-responsibility, and reconciling with mortality. At Sabino Recovery, existential therapy is one of the many treatments available at our facility to help residents heal from trauma and trauma-induced symptoms. If you or a loved one are struggling with trauma, addiction, or other mental health issues, call Sabino Recovery at (844) 227-7014 today.