When a Teen Feels Lost: Identity, Meaning, and the Will to Live

Helping our beloved teens discover who they are, who they want to become, and where it is they want to go

By Shannen Yee, LMFT Associate — Therapy for Teens in Corpus Christi, TX

There’s a quiet kind of pain that comes with being a teenager in today’s world — one that adults often underestimate. Between the pressure to perform, the constant stream of comparison, and the fragile question of who am I, really?, many teens start to feel unmoored.

As a therapist in Corpus Christi, I often meet teens who don’t want to die as much as they want relief — from confusion, from pressure, from the feeling that nothing they do will ever be enough. Their despair isn’t always about death; it’s about not being able to imagine a meaningful life.

Identity formation — figuring out who we are and why we matter — is one of the central developmental tasks of adolescence. When that process is met with loneliness or disconnection, it can spiral into hopelessness. Teens might begin to wonder, If I’m not the person others expect me to be, do I still belong?

Logotherapy, the approach developed by Viktor Frankl, suggests that meaning is not something we discover once and for all, but something we create — even in suffering. When I work with teens who are struggling with thoughts of suicide, I don’t rush to fix or persuade them out of their pain. I invite them to look at it, name it, and begin to understand what their pain is trying to express.

Therapy becomes a place where they can question safely — where their fears and confusion are treated not as something to silence, but as signs of a deeper search for significance. Over time, that search can open small but vital doors: a sense of agency, a connection to others, a glimpse of purpose that makes life worth holding onto again.

For parents reading this: if your teen is expressing hopelessness, take it seriously, but don’t panic. Begin with curiosity. Ask what feels unbearable, and listen without trying to correct or minimize. Your calm presence is often more powerful than advice.

If your family is in Corpus Christi and your teen is struggling with identity, anxiety, or thoughts of self-harm, therapy can offer a confidential, stabilizing space to begin making sense of what feels impossible right now. It’s not about finding quick answers — it’s about helping them rediscover meaning in the midst of their suffering.

If your teen is feeling lost, overwhelmed, or disconnected, therapy can provide a safe space to explore their identity, emotions, and purpose. Contact me today to schedule a confidential session in Corpus Christi — in person or online — and help your teen begin the journey toward understanding, resilience, and meaning.

If your teen ever expresses active thoughts or plans of suicide, contact 988 (Suicide and Crisis Lifeline) or go to the nearest emergency department. Help is available 24/7.