Pain is an inevitable part of life, but we don't have to suffer needlessly. Suffering occurs when anxiety takes over our thoughts and actions. We become anxious about facing our fears, so we avoid them. We're anxious about letting others get close, so we isolate ourselves. Psychotherapy can be a way out of these defensive patterns. While we can't prevent difficulties and tragedies, we can learn to manage our emotional reactions to external events and relationships. Self-empowerment comes from finding the courage to confront our inner world, regardless of how complicated and messy it may be.