Existential crises - anyone else get them?

[Overcoming]

Ever since I was a child I've always thought deeply about the meaning of life and my purpose for being here. It's something I find very difficult to shake off - it's this constant monologue running through my head. I'm always thinking about what kind of life I want to live, picking apart my values and my overall purpose in life. I feel so many people just go through the expected motions in life, work, buy a house, marry, have children without really even thinking about whether it's right for them. I have the opposite problem, where I'm constantly reassessing what I want to the point where I get so confused and paralysed in inaction.

Understandably it gets very tiring to live like this! I wish I could just switch off this part of my brain and I find it difficult to relate to the ease and pragmatism with which other people approach their lives. I think almost every day about whether I'm actually happy in my marriage, in my job, my life trajectory. I know it sounds crazy but it's the way I've always been. My friends joke about how I'm in a permanent state of existential crisis and it's true. Can anyone else relate?

No, I just coast along counting my blessings. Whenever I'm upset I get out for a walk or run or into the garden. The natural seasons ground me. Seeing the birds, the wild flowers, making things grow.

I've often felt I could have done things better, had a better career and more success but I enjoy my life so if anyone judges me, sod them.

I feel like that op I think it's anxiety

I've never been a coasting sort of person - it just never happens with me! I think part of it is anxiety for sure but it's also this obsessive need to understand, to question, unravel things.

I get this!

I think it's definitely an anxiety thing, and weirdly I usually get it in summer, warm peaceful days where the birds are singing and the sun is shining I can be just going about my business and this feeling like a wave of fear comes over me and I question what it's all about, I think it's the fear of insignificance for me, like how can I possibly mean anything compared to all else there is in the world!

I've often wondered if I have SAD but the opposite of most, I'm much less anxious, calmer and more at peace in winter.

Oh I get this!!

Sudden, ‘I’m going to die and it could happen at any time and it could hurt, but it WILL happen’ thoughts.

Horrible.

I thought everyone got them.

I get this too- I constantly second guess myself, also worry that life can flip so quickly and we re never far from being homeless or ill or any other worry like it.
I can’t turn it off.constantly doubt my partner loves me ( after 2 cheating husbands). I can’t relax .. ever... it’s like a crisis is just around the corner permanently..

Have no idea how to stop it though