We live in an era of victimization and excuses. Many people refuse to be responsible for themselves and blame all their shortcomings on everyone but themselves. The moral fabric has taken a hit, work ethics are disappearing, and more people are taking rather than giving. The takers have self-esteem and self-respect issues, leading to depression and anxiety. Those folks still working hard to give back to society are feeling everyday pressures to produce more and realize that their efforts are not appreciated in the same way as in the past. These givers have become disillusioned and confused, which leads to anxiety and depression.
“Behavioral psychologists view anxiety as a learned response to frightening events in real life; the anxiety produced becomes attached to the surrounding circumstances associated with that event, so that those circumstances come to trigger anxiety in the person independently of any frightening event. Anxiety is both a mental and physical state of negative expectation. Mentally it is characterized by increased arousal and apprehension tortured into distressing worry, and physically by unpleasant activation of multiple body systems—all to facilitate response to an unknown danger, whether real or imagined.” (Staff, n.d.)
Many people are suffering symptoms of anxiety and refuse to acknowledge there is a problem. Even those that admit to an existing problem refuse to seek help. In an age of modern medicine, educational sites everywhere refuse to give in. There has always been a stigma attached to anything related to mental health. America must overcome this stigma and learn to help each other in trying times.
Philippians 4:6-7 tells us, “Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” This verse seems to get harder each year for people to follow. People worry about their jobs, envy others, fear for their health, stress over their appearance, and so on. It seems everyone feels that they are out of control and have no say in their well-being. Many problems could be solved if people slow down and pay attention to their relationships. Relational values with your family, spouse or romantic partner, close friends, and people you work with and associate with outside the home will play a huge role in your mental health. Negative thoughts and actions cause most all anxieties and depression. A problem occurs when a person’s psychosocial needs are not being met or overloaded. These psychosocial needs include self-care issues, loss of confidence, fear, grief, depression, neglect, abuse, and loneliness.
We have learned that most people require instant satisfaction and depend on others for all their needs. Matthews 6 suggests that we start trusting and relying upon ourselves, stating, “Therefore, I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food and the body more than clothing? Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them.” We must always depend on others to help us daily. But occasionally, we become obsessed with our wants and needs. This dependency sets us up for disappointment which leads to anxieties.
“When we allow our happiness to rely too much on another person, it can have some dangerous consequences for our peace of mind and well-being. Emotional dependence is a real challenge and a real difficulty to overcome. It takes a great deal of courage to tap into the strengths that help us get beyond our need for others, but it’s necessary in order for us to reach our true potential. Having a certain amount of emotional dependency in our partners is normal, but when our happiness comes to rely on them, it becomes an unbalanced and unhealthy. It’s vital for our partners to offer support when it’s needed, but anything outside of that can be crippling.” (Johnson, 2019)
A healthy person will be independent in many matters and dependent upon others in a limited capacity. Successful relationships are based on sharing, giving, and taking equally, with trust and respect. First Peter stands firm in our faith and resists the temptation of allowing others to rule our being. First Peter 5:8-9 states, “Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary, the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. Resist him, firm in your faith, knowing that the same kinds of suffering are being experienced by your brotherhood throughout the world.” Then we are told to be independent in Romans 13:8, which reads, “Owe no one anything, except to love each other, for the one who loves another has fulfilled the law.”
Johnson, E. B. (2019, 4 11). Medium.com. Retrieved from How to End Your Emotional Dependency: https://medium.com/practical-growth/ending-emotional-dependence-ab77cad83053
Staff, P. T. (n.d.).
Psychology Today. Retrieved from What Is Anxiety: https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/basics/anxiety#:~:text=Anxiety%20is%20both%20a%20mental,danger%2C%20whether%20real%20or%20imagined.