Mentor Debates
Watch great minds clash on life's biggest questions. Cast your vote for who makes the better mentor.
6 debates found
I've struggled with anxiety my whole life. I've tried therapy, meditation apps, journaling, exercise, medication. Some things help temporarily, but the anxiety always comes back. Lately I've been reading about Stoicism and the idea that we can choose our responses to things. But my therapist says anxiety is a medical condition and I shouldn't blame myself for "failing to control" it. I'm confused. Am I supposed to accept my anxiety as part of who I am? Or am I supposed to fight it with willpower and mental discipline? When my heart races before a presentation, should I tell myself "this is not within my control" or "I can choose how I respond to this"? I want to feel better but I'm exhausted from trying to fix myself. — Anxious About Being Anxious in Atlanta
William James
"Act as if what you do makes a difference—because it does"
49 votes
Marcus Aurelius
"You have power over your mind, not outside events—realize this and find strength"
50 votes
99 votes total
I was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis two years ago. Most days I'm fine, but I have episodes of fatigue and weakness that are unpredictable. I never know when my body will betray me. Before the diagnosis, I was training for an Ironman. Now I can barely finish a 5K some days. I've had to scale back at work, cancel trips, disappoint people. Some people tell me to "listen to my body" and accept my limitations. Others say I should "fight through it" and not let the disease define me. My neurologist says both approaches have merit depending on the day. How do I stay ambitious and driven while also accepting that I have real limitations? Is it giving up to pace myself, or wisdom? — Warrior With a Broken Sword in Washington
Theodore Roosevelt
"The credit belongs to the one in the arena—overcome weakness through determined effort"
49 votes
Marie Curie
"Nothing in life is to be feared, only understood—including your own body"
36 votes
85 votes total
I've struggled with depression since college. I'm a successful attorney—partner at my firm, nice house, loving family. From the outside, I have everything. Some weeks I can barely get out of bed. I call in "sick" and lie in the dark. I've tried medication (helps somewhat), therapy (helps somewhat), exercise (helps somewhat). Nothing makes it go away completely. I've accepted that this is just part of who I am—my "black dog," as a friend calls it. But lately I've been wondering: am I managing this illness, or am I using it as an excuse? When I cancel plans or get someone else to appear in Court for me, is that depression or lack of discipline? My father's generation would say "snap out of it." My therapist says "be gentle with yourself." How do I fight my inner demons without hating myself for having them? — Black Dog in Baltimore
Winston Churchill
"If you're going through hell, keep going—never, never, never give in"
40 votes
Seneca
"We suffer more in imagination than in reality—but some suffering is real and must be endured"
36 votes
76 votes total
Six months ago I was diagnosed with a degenerative condition that will progressively limit my mobility. I'm 34. The doctors say I have maybe ten good years before I'll need a wheelchair, and the decline after that is uncertain. I've always been athletic—running, hiking, rock climbing. My identity is wrapped up in what my body can do. My friends are my adventure buddies. My career involves fieldwork. Some people tell me to fight—adapt equipment, find new sports, refuse to let this define me. "You can still live fully," they say. "Don't give up on anything until you absolutely have to." Others say I need to accept and adapt—grieve the life I expected, find new sources of meaning, stop measuring myself against my former abilities. "Fighting reality is exhausting," my therapist says. "Acceptance isn't giving up." But acceptance feels like surrender. And fighting feels like denial. How do I live fully in a body that's betraying me? Do I rage against the dying of the light, or do I find peace in the gathering dark? — The Diagnosis That Changed Everything in Denver
Helen Keller
"Life is either a daring adventure or nothing at all—obstacles are meant to be overcome"
32 votes
Marcus Aurelius
"You have power over your mind, not outside events—accept what you cannot change"
27 votes
59 votes total
I've struggled with anxiety my whole life. Recently it's gotten worse—panic attacks, insomnia, a constant sense of dread. I've tried medication, which helps with the symptoms but doesn't touch the underlying feeling. My psychiatrist says my anxiety is a brain chemistry issue, possibly rooted in childhood trauma. She wants me to continue medication and add intensive therapy to process early experiences. "Once we understand the origins, we can rewire the response," she says. But a philosophy professor friend says my anxiety might not be a disorder at all. "You're 40, successful by every measure, and you feel like something is missing. That's not pathology—that's your soul telling you that you're living inauthentically. The anxiety is a signal, not a symptom." When I consider this, something resonates. I have achieved everything I was supposed to achieve, and it feels hollow. But is that insight, or am I just romanticizing my mental illness? Is my anxiety a problem to be solved or a message to be heard? — The Anxiety Spiral in Seattle
Kierkegaard
"Anxiety is the dizziness of freedom—it appears whenever we confront the weight of our choices"
33 votes
Sigmund Freud
"Anxiety is a signal from the unconscious that something repressed is seeking expression"
26 votes
59 votes total
I’ve always been a bit of a worrier, but lately, my anxiety has escalated to the point where I am physically shaking before I have to leave the house. It’s mostly social situations; even going to the grocery store feels like everyone is watching me, and I get short of breath and sweaty. I really want to try therapy, but my insurance has a huge deductible and I can't afford $150 per session right now. I’ve looked into some of those online therapy apps, but the reviews are so mixed that I don't know if they are legitimate medical help or just chat services. Does anyone have recommendations for affordable resources or coping mechanisms for severe social anxiety that I can try at home while I save up for a real therapist?
William James
"Act as if what you do makes a difference—small habits reshape the mind"
41 votes
Marcus Aurelius
"You have power over your mind, not outside events—observe without judgment"
37 votes
78 votes total