According to Andrew Solomon, the opposite of depression is vitality, not sadness.
Andrew Solomon is an expert on the subject of depression, who has struggled with depression himself, and knows firsthand what he’s talking about.
If Andrew is right, depression is not a mental illness. It’s a collection of symptoms that arise from a lack of vitality.
These symptoms differ from person to person. For instance, one person may lack the energy to deal with angry people, while another is too tired to do her chores, and another may be so drained that she can’t even get out of bed.
People who struggle with depression may also lack the energy to seek therapy. That’s where AIT (Archetypal Image Therapy) comes in. Just by looking at AIT images, you can strengthen your mind’s vitality, lessen symptoms of depression, and set your foot on a path of recovery.
Archetypes form the living system of reactions and dispositions that, unbeknownst, shape an individual’s life. Archetypes give the unconscious its fundamental structure.
— Carl G. Jung
The suggestive power of positive archetypal images has a balancing influence on the human mind. In the case of depression, archetypal images can boost vitality, intuition, and spiritedness.
Archetypal image therapy is nothing new. But common forms of archetypal image therapy work with simple archetypal images, such as the symbolic image of the mother, the wanderer, or the hermit.
AIT (Archetypal Image Therapy) deepens this approach by using archetypal composite images — images that combine multiple archetypes and symbols. Further, AIT multiplies the effect of archetypal images through guided meditations.