ABSTRACT
A person who experiences life as depleted of meaning will most often have little energy, show little motivation for acting, lack libido and love, and have little interest in the outer world. Of interest to researchers is that this person can have what seems to be a perfectly normal health, both mentally and physically. The loss of meaning of life is a hidden killer; it is like a worm eating the apple from within. A total loss of meaning always signifies a major life crisis or even a life coming soon to its end, but most often meaning of life is only partially lost. This partial loss is really much more tricky than a total loss because people set up mental defenses that hinder them from noticing the loss. After a while, the lack of meaning of life will be materialized in poor quality of life, mental and somatic symptoms, including depression or pain, and reduced ability to function sexually, socially, and in work. When carefully examined in the holistic clinic, most patients evidence a problem with their meaning of life; so, in this area much work can be done, greatly benefiting the patients.
