Existential Angst in Youth

Adolescence is an important time of self-discovery during which teens often grapple with questions about identity and purpose. They want to understand who they are and their place in the world and this can bring about profound existential reflection. In today’s world, our youth can feel like the future is uncertain as they experience rapid societal changes, some economic instability and global challenges like climate change.

In addition, they feel the pressure to make life-defining choices such as what they will do beyond high school and planning for a career. In today’s Voices of Compassion episode, we talk with CHC psychologists, Dr. Erin Hoolihan and Dr. Tracy Cavaligos. We’ll talk about how adolescents may find it challenging to navigate a world filled with unknowns, which can lead to heightened anxiety. You’ll learn how you can develop a greater understanding of how this impacts youth and how you can effectively support them in this developmental period.

All Voices of Compassion podcast episodes are available on-demand to stream or download. Listen to Existential Angst in Youth online at podcasts.chconline.org. You can also subscribe to Voices of Compassion on Apple podcasts, Spotify and other podcast apps.