By Younas Chaudhary
Growing up in a small village, people lived simple lives, looked out for one another, and were rarely depressed or anxious. Women would talk to their neighbors over small clay walls that barely separated homes, men would gather regularly for Hookah in the village center, and nobody ever looked for a therapist. The first time I heard the word therapist was after several years living in the West.
Forty years later, depression, anxiety and therapists are now the mainstream in the America daily lifestyle. This is a boom time for therapists, wearable devices, and online mental health coaches who claim that they can lift your moods. In fact, this self-created industry will soon overtake the self-help business, a truly original American creation!
The first time and last time I saw a therapist was around seven years ago after my wife was diagnosed with Parkinson’s Disease. I was moody, apparently depressed, and my children pushed me to make regular visits to one of the top psychologists in town. After two sessions, that therapist told me that he could not find any issue or problem with me. I do not need any therapy. In fact, he told me candidly that he had received some therapy from me while I spent two 90-minute sessions with him!
In our insular Western world with its social isolation and highly individualistic nature, we have created a boom time for therapists and entrepreneurs who are cashing in on people’s so-called anxiety. In a recent article in the Wall Street Journal aptly titled “The booming business of American anxiety,” the authors say that the “supply of available and qualified therapists hasn’t kept up with demand.”
While there is no proven way to fully cure our anxiety except for the temporary relief of therapists and antidepressants, most people are missing the root cause. I believe a highly individualized “me, me, me…” culture, a rat race to make money envious of a neighbor’s wealth has increased our anxiety.
We seldom enjoy the current moment and instead worry about what’s coming. I admit that one of the best ways to deal with anxiety is to predict the worst things that can happen to us. Pretend that you can tackle the most difficult things that come to your doorstep, and with each successful attempt, you can keep anxiety far away.
Killing excuses and doing consistent hard work without taking the short route to success can avoid anxiety. Yet, we get bitter and worry about the future. Anger is everywhere but we can find ways to be humane and well-behaved. I have found healthy living, mindfulness, yoga, nature, and a positive outlook to be better than visiting therapists and antidepressants. Perhaps the best therapy is to move out of isolation, spend time with friends and family, talk, and share what’s happening in your lives.
These days, the only time I get anxious is whenever I visit my doctor for a regular checkup, and he asks me if I am anxious or depressed so he can refer me to a therapist! Stay calm and blessed!
Disclaimer
The views, thoughts, and opinions expressed in this article are my own and do not represent the opinions of any entity with which I have been, am now, or will be affiliated. Further, I make no warranty regarding the accuracy or effectiveness of my recommendations, and readers are advised to consult other advisors as well as their own judgments in making business decisions.
YBC Foundation 