Why do so many patients fail to respond to psychiatric therapy? Because not all disorders are caused by the repression of emotions. The authors have shown convincingly that a specific syndrome develops when a person has been deprived of affirming love. Analytic or solely cognitive or behavioral therapies do not bring lasting healing, or are of no avail in these unaffirmed persons, since they have never repressed their feelings. Anti-depressants, shock therapy, or other therapeutic interventions often only worsen their suffering. What the unaffirmed person needs is affirmation therapy, which entails far more than simply giving "T.L.C." (Tender Loving Care). Rather, this therapy involves the healing of the whole person -- body, mind and spirit. Recognizing emotional deprivation disorder is the first step in correcting, through affirmation, many grave individual and global ills. Authentic affirmation brings about peace, self-confidence and joy.