Kanisa George
MUCH OF life is shrouded in confusion and uncertainty. We move from one stage to the next, never really knowing what will happen around the corner. So, we live each day the best way we know how: living and learning as we go along.
Some days we blow past our expectations, and others we hang on for dear life. Through it all, all we have to depend on are our experiences and the realities we imagine for our future.
However, future realities are not usually in line with the ones we have dreamt up for ourselves. Sometimes we may find that the path to the desires we hoped for is laden with obstacles we consider so far beyond us that we do not even attempt to achieve them.
Our experiences often bring us stress and uncertainty that can have a devastating impact on our quality of life. Every stage has unique challenges and hurdles to overcome, and the very start of adulthood might be the most perilous.
There is no easy way to explain the seismic shift in perspective, experiences and responsibilities one faces when one infiltrates the realm of adulthood. There is no instruction manual, and in some cases very little hand holding throughout the process. Without really understanding what we are facing, some of us are left to deal with the very harsh reality of a quarter-life crisis.
A quarter-life crisis is not a unique experience. It is a normal part of the maturing process, involving anxiety over the direction and quality of one's life. You are not alone in this journey.
It is a period in a young adult's life defined by stress and anxiety, which typically happens between one's mid-twenties and early thirties. Licensed psychologist Rachel Needle, PsyD, explains that a quarter-life crisis is a feeling of stress and uncertainty often triggered around that time in someone's life when they are trying to figure out who they are and what they want. She relates that people might feel lost, trapped - personally or professionally - and uninspired due to the immense pressure they are under to get things right.
As a millennial, I can speak for my contemporaries when I say that the weight of reality can sometimes be too much to bear, and the questions one has to grapple with can undermine how well we navigate life.
"What am I doing with my life?"
"How would everything work out?"
Feelings of "this is not it, but I have no idea what it is" dominate the experience at this time and can erode any sense of self we have worked so hard to build and maintain. One expert highlighted that when we experience dramatic upheaval, change and disappointment, which is common during the early parts of our adult lives, it can lead to one feeling overwhelmed and unsure of themselves.
Therapist Blaylock-Solar notes that comparison can be a big trigger of quarter-life crises. Seeing friends advance in their careers or get married can easily trigger a sense of, "Why isn't that happening for me? What is wrong with me?" This can also trigger feelings of loneliness; you may lack direction and struggle to make difficul
