The View from a Drawbridge

Tag: suffering

  • Pet Euthanasia: When Is the Right Time?

    Surrender can sometimes be the greatest gift.

  • The Ingredients of Happiness

    It always comes as quite a shock when someone famous commits suicide. Hearing on the radio that Anthony Bourdain chose to take his own life nearly caused me to swerve off the road. This is someone I’ve envied. He got to travel. He had crazy experiences and met fascinating people. He won countless awards. No…

  • Compassion

    Compassion, defined as the “sympathetic pity and concern for the sufferings and misfortunes of others,” is something you either have or you don’t. At this moment in history, perhaps more than any other, it is obvious that no fence-sitting on this issue is acceptable. Pick a side. Own it. One shouldn’t have to have experienced…

  • Migraine Awareness

    June is Migraine Awareness Month. As a lifelong sufferer myself, I know what it’s like to deal with people’s many misconceptions about this malady. The lack of understanding and the crazy ideas about migraines can be nearly as painful as the headache. The first, most frustrating fallacy about migraines is that “It’s all in your…

  • Pain

    I just scheduled outpatient surgery on my wrist, so pain is in the forefront of my mind at the moment. I really, really, really don’t like pain. No big surprise there. But as pain thresholds go, mine is rather high. I popped my dislocated thumb back into place by myself, which is what got me…

  • Dammit Robin WIlliams!

    Well, the news just broke that we have lost another amazing talent. And it’s quite obvious that the world was unaware of the depth of his suffering. That makes me sad. Robin Williams was successful, creative, extremely intelligent, talented, funny, and full of life. He was so loved. He had so much going for him.…

  • Contemplating Suicide? What I’d Say to a Jumper

    Recently someone I love very much told me that she had attempted suicide a couple of times in the past year. This broke my heart because I had no idea she was suffering in silence. Having struggled with depression my whole life, I know what it’s like to want to throw off that thick blanket…

  • When No One Wants to Take a Stand: A Story of Neglect

    I was 17 years old and a freshman in college, and I witnessed something that to this day I don’t fully understand. I’m sure there is much more to this story than I’ll be able to tell you, so I apologize in advance. Among my fellow freshmen was a girl whom I’ll call T. To…