Anxiety and Depression: The Twin Maladies of Modern Life

Anxiety and depression are ubiquitous in the present day. It is as though everyone is afflicted by these maladies, either directly or indirectly. They are, in many ways, two faces of a single affliction. According to the World Health Organization, an estimated 4.0% (301 million people) have an anxiety disorder, and a further 3.8% (280 million people) of the population suffer from depression. This global mental health epidemic provides an opportunity to deepen our grasp of the human psyche, and the impact on it of the modern world’s spiritual crisis. This article aims to get a better handle on this far-reaching phenomenon with reference to humanity’s wisdom traditions and its sacred psychologies. In doing so, it is hoped that we may be able to enhance our clinical understanding of these devastating ailments, and to develop treatments that support an abiding well-being.