Who we are in this vast world is shaped by our personal identity. This is our sense of self that has been helping every one of us navigate through different stages of life and it’s basically how you would describe yourself if someone asked you to.
So, what happens if suddenly you feel like you’ve lost your sense of identity? It’s the one thing that separates you from everyone else and now that you don’t know who you are and what your purpose is anymore. Everything feels like it’s breaking down.
Don’t worry because many of us have been there. The journey back to self-identity can be very intimidating but the first step is to understand what exactly you’re going through and where to go from here:
It can happen to anyone
An identity crisis can come when you least expect it. This is something that many teenagers go through as they start transitioning into adulthood but surprisingly, it can also happen to people who are well into their retirement age.
This should tell you that it’s not odd that you’re having a crisis somewhere in your 30s or even 40s when everyone expects you to have a strong sense of identity already.
Your expectation was that you should have had all the answers by now but, just be patient with yourself. Life is a learning process.
It often comes after a major life change
A personal crisis often comes during those seasons when you’ve just gone through, are going through or are expecting to go through a big shift in your life.
It’s common to question who you are after something traumatizing like divorce or the loss of a loved one and sometimes it might be connected to something you’re excited but nervous about like motherhood.
If you’re at a stage in your life where there’s a lot going on, it might be why you’re experiencing this crisis.
It can leave you more vulnerable to mental health problems
For some people, an identity crisis doesn’t feel too serious. They understand that this is a part of life and you don’t need to know every detail about your identity.
For most people though, it can, unfortunately, lead to deeper problems like depression when you stay stagnant in this crisis for a long time.
It can have some benefits
There is nothing fun about a crisis like this one. But some of the toughest seasons give us the most valuable lessons for life.
As you learn more about yourself you realise that this crisis might have been what you needed to appreciate who you are in all aspects. These are some of the things that help us become more resilient.
You will overcome
The main thing that you need to understand about it is that it feels scary right now but it will pass. You can explore different coping methods and if you’re feeling overwhelmed, talk to someone like a close friend or a therapist.
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