Unpack Kierkegaard’s definition of despair and compare it with clinical depression to highlight unique existential insights.
In today’s world, the words depression and despair are often used interchangeably. Both describe deep emotional pain, a loss of hope, and a sense that something inside us has gone terribly wrong. But Danish philosopher Søren Kierkegaard would ask us to pause—because, in his eyes, despair is something quite different.
While depression is now seen as a medical condition—something that affects the brain and body—Kierkegaard saw despair as a spiritual crisis. Not a diagnosis, but a disconnection. A sickness of the soul. And in that difference lies a powerful insight into the human experience of suffering.
What Is Depression?
Depression, as we understand it today, is a clinical condition. It’s marked by persistent sadness, low energy, disinterest in life, changes in appetite or sleep, and often, a numbing sense of hopelessness. It can be caused by a mix of biological, psychological, and social factors.
For many, therapy and medication provide real and necessary support. There’s no shame in treating depression—it’s real, valid, and deserves compassionate care.
But even with treatment, many still feel something unresolved. Something deeper.
That’s where Kierkegaard comes in.
Kierkegaard’s Concept of Despair
In his book The Sickness Unto Death, Kierkegaard describes despair not as a feeling, but as a misalignment of the self. It happens when we live out of step with who we truly are—when we either try to be someone we’re not, or try to escape being ourselves altogether.
“Despair is the misrelation in the self, a sickness of the spirit.”
For Kierkegaard, despair arises when we forget our spiritual identity—when we deny our relationship with the eternal, with God. It can look like sadness, or numbness, or even high achievement masking emptiness. But at its core, despair is a life lived out of tune with meaning.
Depression vs Despair: What’s the Difference?
Clinical Depression | Kierkegaardian Despair |
Often rooted in biology and environment | Rooted in existential and spiritual disconnection |
Described as an illness to be treated | Described as a condition of the soul |
Focuses on symptom relief and emotional recovery | Focuses on selfhood, purpose, and alignment with God |
May be temporary or chronic | Exists as a human condition—conscious or not |
Can exist without despair | Can exist alongside or without clinical depression |
It’s entirely possible, Kierkegaard suggests, to feel fine on the outside and still be in despair. Likewise, someone suffering from depression may not be in existential despair if they remain grounded in their identity and meaning.
Why This Distinction Matters
Recognising the difference between depression and despair doesn’t diminish the seriousness of either—it adds depth to our understanding of suffering.
Modern therapy helps us regulate emotions and retrain thinking. But Kierkegaard reminds us that we must also ask deeper questions:
- Who am I, really?
- What am I living for?
- Am I becoming my truest self—or avoiding it?
These are not questions medicine alone can answer. They are spiritual questions. And for Kierkegaard, facing them is where healing begins—not just emotional, but existential.
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Despair as a Call, Not a Curse
Here’s where Kierkegaard’s view becomes strangely hopeful. He doesn’t see despair as a dead end, but as a signal—a call from the soul that something is missing. That we are meant for more than surviving. That we are meant to live in truth, in freedom, and in relationship with the eternal.
“The greatest hazard of all—losing oneself—can occur very quietly in the world.”
To Kierkegaard, despair is not simply suffering. It is the beginning of awakening. A painful, necessary step towards reclaiming our true self.
Final Thoughts
In a world increasingly tuned to mental health awareness (a good thing), Kierkegaard invites us to go further. He doesn’t replace therapy—he deepens it. He reminds us that the human spirit can suffer in ways no checklist can capture, and that sometimes, the path to healing isn’t just through treatment—it’s through truth.
If you’re feeling lost or empty, know this: you are not broken. You are being called back to yourself. And in that calling, there may be not just recovery, but renewal.
Sometimes, suffering is not a sign of failure. Sometimes, it’s the soul’s way of asking to be found.