Is it normal to constantly question my existence?

Question

I have been losing touch with reality for a long time now.. It seems it had started at a certain point in my life, and has gotten more intense every day. I find myself questioning existence every single day.. Almost every hour actually. Everyone else seems to oblivious to the strangeness of human existence, while I'm sitting here with racing bottomless thoughts in my mind. I just want to enjoy life, but it's difficult when none of it ever makes sense to me. I think about how young I am, and how much longer I have to be alive and deal with this. I'm only 17 and I almost can't wait for death, but at the same time I feel like I should be making more of myself. What should I do? How does one find a purpose in this life?

Answer 1

Oh my gosh, I totally understand (I think). I'm also 17, and so much of the time my mind is just questioning everything. Not my existence, exactly - I'm pretty sure I exist - but everything else in life just seems so confusing, I can't decide what I believe in at all. Life seems so absurd sometimes, I can't get my head around it.

I don't know how normal is it to question existence, but I'm sure there are lots of others - even teenagers - who question things. As for finding a purpose in life...I don't know. I guess, at the moment I'm just trying to live a normal life, finishing school, planning to go to university, and live the life that most people in my situation would. I don't think we're going to find an absolute meaning or purpose in life, but we can still try and enjoy life while we have it. Yeah, it might seem purposeless and futile sometimes (often), but it's our only shot at life so we might as well make the most of it. At least, I think it's our only shot at life, I don't know, maybe reincarnation is true... Just try to have fun, don't harm others, and find things to do in life that you enjoy. "Life may be scary, but it's only temporary." Enjoy it while it lasts, and good luck with everything.

Answer 2

Existentialism is a harsh philosophy to cope with. But at that age, you really shouldn't drown yourself with such nonsense. Your best years are still ahead of you; you WILL find a purpose in life, and you WILL meet people who will count on you.

You need to get out and do something you enjoy. Hang out with people. Feel needed. Enjoy life before it gets even more complicated.

Answer 3

It is normal but i would say it is just a waste of time. I believe there is no purpose for our existence; we simply exist, just like energy & matter, like any other mammals, insects(not that i have evidence to back it up, just my personal opinion). We have developed cognitive ability, and tend to question things that are not exactly something to ponder about. If i were you, i would not "elevate" our existence to metaphysical level, rather, i would look at it in "scientific" perspective.

How does one find a purpose in this life? Follow your dreams, do what you love, be happy, etc.  

Answer 4

yes, its normal

my sis does it all the time

LOL

trust meyou'll get over it

ou're youg, don't think that you shoud be working on your life's bigest accomplshment when youre only 17

sed time withyo're friends and try to have agreat time all thetime and entually you'll forget about all of your negative thoughts

Answer 5

You are an unusually sensitive and intelligent person to think so deeply at such a young age.  Such insight can take you very far, but beware of just spinning your wheels fruitlessly.  Study up on meditation and yoga, and learn how to best channel your mental energy to derive answers for these nagging questions.

If you persist and go deeply inside, eventually you will find the peace you seek. The answers lie within!

Answer 6

I think I've bottomed out as well.  My question was right up this alley. "Have I reached the ultimate level of not giving a c**p?" I've actually wished for death many  times to stop the monotonous daily activities which some praise.    I don't want to work 80% of my life just to exist.   40% of that goes to taxes.  Sometimes I feel everything's overrated, but people in dirt floor tin shacks in 3rd world countries do whatever it takes to stay alive another day.  

I feel confused as if I'm missing out on something that they know that I don't.  Some respond, people care about you and so does "God."  Some say you evolved and sole purpose to reproduce.  Some want to make changes in the world and succeed and participate in activities deemed fun.  Some find this to be a meaningless place in a vast universe where you personally choose to do whatever you wish.

I suppose I fall in the last choice and don't really have the want to care.

Answer 7

yeah , i have a similar problem with you ,but i am off it now ,why not try to ask what can make you happy first , and what you want to do ,what can you  bring to others .when you know what can make you happy just go for it .when you find your source of happiness, you will no  longer be bothered by questions like that .

Answer 8

welcome to the club of life... most spend a lifetime tryiing to figure it out,   46 here and still don't have the answers...yet

but I can say that if you change your focus to others with problems that you might help them, you problems soon don't seem so bad...

try getting involved with positive people < like in a church youth group, you wanna taklk about happy people!!!!  they help make the world a better place... just a suggestion ... god bless and don't rush life, you'll soon find your looking back with regreats...

Answer 9

Do you have a boyfriend? Do you have many friends? Have you talked to them about it? Also, if you have any clubs or sports that you are the least bit interested in, join them. Give yourself a purpose to be there! You're fine, just grasp hold of reality, and drag your bottom back here with all of us!

Answer 10

Yes it is very normal , I think,we all are wondering,  of this well I do , is kinda weird why were here anyway? I think most people wonder at times

take care.

Answer 11

Chosen one,

Your spirit wants life, but what is life?  The strangeness your are seeing in humanity and existence here on earth, is the very fact that we were all created for more than this.

You want to enjoy life, but what does that mean?

Your questions are powerful tools to getting true answers.

I understand how you feel, I know because I have been where you are, and it's very lonely.  You feel it in the pit of your stomach.

You feel it when you watch a movie, where loved ones that have been torn apart are reunited and it moves you deeply.  It's an unbelievably intense longing.

What should you do?  Use this format with all your pondering:

-WHAT do I believe

-WHY do I believe what I believe

-HOW did I come to believe this way

Once you have answered what why and how truthfully ask,

-WHAT am I going to do about it.

Your struggle is a spiritual one.

Finding Ephraim

Answer 12

Yes.

It is part of the human experience and to some degree, we all do.

At the height of this, I read biographies of famous persons to both distract my painful thoughts and to give me inspiration.

Answer 13

im in the same position!!!!! and im 15...  and i hate how i have to conform to the outside world to get by... we are just too deep

Answer 14

I feel the same way. People tell me it's an age thing. So yeah, it's probably normal. Doesn't make it any more fun though.

If I'm feeling extra glum about those questions, it sometimes helps me to read a book. Distract myself from more depressing thoughts.

By the way, I'm 20. I really miss high school when I didn't have to worry about choosing a career and a place to live.

Answer 15

...get a job, pay some bills and take responsibility for your thoughts, words and actions...good luck...