The dilemma which we face in our conflicting 20s they're now calling it quarter-life crisis. This label could, perhaps, help individuals view the stage in perspective and be better equipped to deal with the issues that come along with it.

Career, abilities, relationships and one's existence — deconstructing these dynamics has never been simple — yet these issues must be dealt with before one can slide confidently into future roles.

"The problems we face in our 20s are issues we all took for granted. After studying this crisis in greater detail, it was given a name which helps people comprehend the phase they are going through and not be struck and clueless," says psychologist Dr Sanjay Chugh.

Understanding what a quarter-life crisis really is, along with its emotional aspects, brings the situation back in hand and down to earth, say experts.

Whether one feels not good enough in one's career, or suffers the nagging voice that says everybody else is doing better, or feels insecure and longs for college days, loneliness in such a period is isolating — and it is often difficult to discuss one's crisis with others.

Among the different phases of growth, this crisis differs in its sense of reality. "Once out of your teens, you take certain decisions in your career and personal relationships for which you need to take responsibility later. When the reality of that decision-making hits you, accepting it and perhaps wondering how you can undo the bad ones remains the question," says Chugh.

Disillusionment and disappointment form a considerable part of the initial phase of the quarter-life crisis, when one enters the "real" world. Statistically, there is no evidence to suggest that such a crisis takes its toll more on men than women, but experts indicate that, perhaps due to greater career concerns, men find it harder to come to terms with reality.

But how to deal with it? "How one sorts stress differs. But one needs to view each issue one by one. If you can't undo a decision you perhaps regret, find other options . There are so many variables around you," says Chugh.

If you are not able to remodel the way you live your life in a helpful way, counselling is an alternative. In the presence of objective peers or family members, fresh perspectives can work wonders.