Monsters and Poetry: Mental health ideas to respond to existential dread
As a social worker and therapist, my job is to listen deeply to the people I consult with. I love that a lot of my clients are children, teens and young adults. I am struck by their political awareness, knowledge about things like the socially constructed nature of gender or the impact of colonialism. It is also a time when young people are living with the knowledge and impact of overwhelming crises, including the climate crisis, multiple wars, the affordability crisis and now the uncertainty and risk of Trump 2.0.
These issues come into the therapy room and although they are often not the focus in therapy, they are part of the air we breathe right now. I believe it is important to acknowledge and hold space for this. When we acknowledge and recognize these things, it can help us cope. One of the foundational principles I connect to as a social worker is that context matters, our environment matters, and we do not exist in isolation.
There was a recent article by New York Times columnist Ezra Klein entitled “Now Is The Time of Monsters”. This article inspired the title of this blog post and got me thinking about how to cope with these types of overwhelming existential crises. This last December, my family celebrated the Dutch tradition of Sinterklaas, where we each made a handmade gift for one person and wrote a poem. Since that time, I have been leaning on poetry to respond to my own existential dread. Specifically poems such as Today My Hope Is Vertical, by Jane Hirschfield, and Invitation by Mary Oliver.
Ideas to cope with your own existential dread:
- Connect to what is meaningful for you. What gives you joy or aligns with your values? This could be as simple as slowing down and listening to the birds on a walk, going out for karaoke with your friends, or cooking a meal for yourself. Consider actions that are restorative rather than a distraction. (Don’t get me wrong, I love a good distraction, but it doesn’t hit in the same way.)
- Name it. Acknowledging how we feel is a simple and surprisingly effective way to cope and change our relationship to existential dread. We know that when we express ourselves to someone else, we are often able to organize our thoughts, connect to social support and reduce our feelings of isolation.
- Take one small action. It can be as simple as deciding to curate your social media feed, or signing an online petition, or donating your time or money to a cause you believe in. A small action can connect you to your own sense of purpose.
- Recognize that feelings of dread are part of being human at times and work with acknowledging and accepting them. The idea of acceptance does not mean giving up. It is one of those ideas that is simple but not easy. And, when we allow for our feelings, it often makes it more possible to move through an experience.
I’d love to hear from you about what has helped you respond to existential dread. I know that the therapists at our clinic acknowledge and can connect with these thoughts and experiences. We invite you to bring your whole self into therapy.
Ellie Lathrop is a registered social worker who specializes in seeing young people, families, and adults. Ellie’s practice is informed by evidence-based modalities such as Emotionally-Focused Therapy, Narrative Therapy, Mindfulness, Self-Compassion and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy.
Your Therapy is a safe, welcoming counselling therapy practice in the Greater Toronto Area. Thanks for reading and, as always, please feel free to reach out with questions about talk therapy or other mental health issues. We offer mental health therapy and more.
