Depression as Disconnection from Life: 
An Existential Perspective on Inner Fracture 
and Paths to Healing 

Dr. Alfried Laengle is a renowned psychotherapist, clinical psychologist, and physician, widely recognized for founding the modern approach to Existential Analysis. He is one of the foremost experts in existential psychotherapy and worked closely with Viktor Frankl for many years.

Dr. Laengle developed the concept of the Four Fundamental Motivations, a cornerstone of existential analysis that provides a comprehensive framework for understanding human experience and finding meaning in life.

Lost Within: The Deep Self-Disconnection
of Depression 

In these moments, everything that once provided strength and purpose seems to dissolve in cold waters, leaving only helplessness and a desperate wish to be anyone but oneself. Much like in depersonalization, there’s a longing to escape into a simpler life, free from the inner emptiness consuming from within.

Depression becomes silence—a fading of the desire to speak or share. Each new day is met with the oppressive sense that words have lost their meaning. Life becomes a series of actions devoid of depth, where one exists but no longer feels alive.

The Hollowing Effect of Depression:
When Values Lose Their Meaning

This inner rupture—between the world, others, and oneself—forms the core of depression. Although depression might initially protect the psyche from pain, it ultimately becomes a prison, preventing authentic connection with others. Life suddenly stops being rich and meaningful, as if a heavy curtain has fallen, blocking out the world’s beauty. For some, life feels dull and devoid of value, like a snow-covered field with no visible path.

Trapped by Expectations: 
The Path to Letting Go

Depression often arises from clinging to unrealistic expectations, leading to a state of “soul paralysis”. Life loses its vibrancy, but the person feels powerless to change. An existential choice emerges: to mourn the loss, confront the sorrow, and seek healing, or to turn away, closing oneself off from life.

Without release, depression creates a vicious cycle of passivity and unfulfilled desires, deepening feelings of inadequacy and emptiness. The unmet expectations build up, creating a sense of entrapment. Depression grows as the dialogue with reality fades, leaving one isolated in a world of unmet ideals, ultimately questioning the worth of life itself.