Giving as Healing: A tool for enhancing your mental health

After a talk by famed psychiatrist Karl Menninger, an audience member asked what to do about a patient who felt a nervous breakdown coming on. Everyone expected Menninger to recommend in-depth therapy or drugs. Instead, he suggested, "Leave your house, find someone in need, and do something to help that person.”

Indeed my clients and I have found that giving can be healing. That may be especially important today. The double-whammy of the COVID lockdown and racial roiling is making many people sadder and more anxious. For example, a Statista analysis of government statistics finds anxiety and depression spiking.

Of course, everyone chooses to give differently, but my Psychology Today article today offer some ideas to spur your thinking