My previous life was one of deep depression and suicidal thoughts that haunted me for decades. Modern science calls this phenomenon a “mental illness” because the condition alludes to a person living in “mentally unwell” condition. OK.

Someone suggesting I kill myself- that my life is an endless misery from which there is no hope of escape– may be a problem solvable by Big Pharma. But I doubt it.

We need to redefine what constitutes mentally “well” and mentally “unwell” as the distinctions may easily become Orwellian doublespeak. That confusion could land every half-delusional person hypnotized by social media into the psych hospital. That’s expensive.

Big Pharma will drown them all in drugs as a solution and profit exponentially off that plan. But, I suggest ideas that emerge in our consciousness be examined in the light of day even though it may require short-term suffering. Facing what is there in our dark moments- pains, sorrows, and failures- is the necessary pill for remedy. I tremble at the prospect.

Fyodor Dostoevsky mentions in Brothers Karamazov, I believe- that our remedy for suffering IS facing truth we try to hide, disguise, and escape. Otherwise, we remain prisoners of darkness whether we live in an actual prison cell, a deep depression, or walking about numb and uncertain about the future.

Owning my experience, facing my fears, being responsible for myself and what is happening around me I can be prepared for what is coming next. Staying asleep, silent, an agent-less consciousness is no solution. It’s accepting defeat which fuels despair.