How Do We Support People Who Struggle with Anxiety and Depression?

Mental health conditions like anxiety and depression have become a major issue in our culture. According to the National Institute of Mental Health, 56 million Americans, or approximately 25% of adults over the age of 18, suffer from anxiety or depression in a given year. (http://www.nimh.nih.gov)

So what are we doing to help people who are struggling with these issues? How are we supporting them to overcome their challenges so that they can live meaningful, fulfilling lives? Thankfully, our world is changing in this area, yet too often we still revert to our old belief systems about these mental health issues.

Old Methods

In the past, we handled people with anxiety and depression like this:

• We shamed them for not being able to pull themselves up by their bootstraps and handle life on their own.
• We used derogatory language when referring to them, like irrational, neurotic, dingy, wimpy, high-strung, worry-warts, gloomy, blue, hopeless, etc.
• We gave them medication to numb them out so that they would act more normal.
• When they became too difficult, we sent them to counseling, behind closed doors, but we shamed them for needing help.
• Sometimes we hid them away in institutions where they would be locked up for the rest of their lives.
• We hoped and prayed that they would not shame us publicly or embarrass the rest of our family.

More Recent Methods

Fortunately things have changed somewhat since the 1990s. Since then, we do recognize that anxiety and depression are issues that needs to be dealt with. We have come to realize that people who suffer from these mental health conditions do need compassion and support.

Our more recent ways of dealing with anxiety and depression include the following:

• We diagnose a person and diagnose the severity of his or her problem.
• We prescribe psychotropic medications to “make a person more comfortable.”
• We offer counseling to let a person talk about his (or her) problems and “get them off his chest.”
• We have many theories about what causes anxiety and depression.
• We offer many therapy techniques to enhance a person’s well-being while they are struggling with their issues and symptoms.
• We teach people coping skills to help them deal with their everyday issues so that they are able to work and function in the world.
• We recognize that growing up in dysfunctional families does play a part in having conditions of anxiety or depression.
• We write self-help books to give people help and guidance about things they can do personally to improve their lives.
• We suggest regular exercise and healthy foods to counteract the issue physically.
• We refer them to support groups so that they have encouragement from others who are going through similar issues.

Progress has certainly been made and yet there is definitely something still missing.

What is Missing?

Although there are many theories, methods and medications that are promoted to help and assist an anxious or depressed person, none of these methods offer a comprehensive program that allows a person to actually overcome his or her issues and symptoms.

In other words, still today no one is offering beautiful people like you a total and complete method that will guide you to overcome your anxiety or depression naturally and life a happy, healthy life.

The JoyIAm Process as an Integrated Therapeutic Approach

The JoyIAm Process offers an integrated method of overcoming anxiety or depression that has previously not been available. Through a simple, stream-lined system of Emotional Healing integrated with 6 healthy living skills from various other therapies, the JoyIAm Process provides a way out for those people who are committed to overcoming their anxiety and depression naturally.

To learn more, please read Why the JoyIAm Process Far Surpasses Medications.

Leave a Comment or a Question

I’d love to hear your comments and questions.

Have you experienced anything like this in your life?

What would you like to hear more about?

Sign Up Today to Receive Kari’s Future Blog Posts

If you have enjoyed this post, you can sign up today to receive Kari’s future posts in your email. Just fill in your name and e-mail address in the blue and white box on the upper right column above Kari’s picture and we’ll be very happy to notify you when the next post is ready!

More Information:

For more information, you may also want to read some of Kari’s other posts:

Conquer Anxiety through Personal Power

Overcome Depression Naturally

50 Long-Term Benefits of Emotional Healing

The Shocking Statistics on Anxiety and Depression

Antidepressants or Emotional Healing?

100 Best Psychology/Self-Help Books