OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERALast time I wrote a blog like this, I was called a “whiny, white woman,” but I’m not going to let that stop me from spouting off again.

Having just seen the movie, “Unbroken,” I really feel like I can’t complain. I don’t have some bastard tormenting every day for giggles in a POW camp. I don’t have to decide which is worse (from a life raft on which I’ve been existing for over a month): the planes above shooting at me or the sharks below my raft that want to eat me.

I live in a country where I don’t have to cover my face and walk behind my husband. I am confident that I will eat again in a few hours and the meal will include more than rice. I can trust that my kids are safe at school—that is, the few days the school is actually open–and the possibility of their classrooms getting bombed is rather low.

But I look around me, and there is so much suffering, even in the corners of the most fortunate.

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Therese Borchard
I am a writer and chaplain trying to live a simple life in Annapolis, Maryland.

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10 Responses
  1. Therese, This was a very insightful, balanced post which I enjoyed. I need to work harder on living well despite all the pain. Thanks. Carol

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  2. Shanti

    My daughters behavior has taught me many thing about my self that I had forgotten. Tiptoeing & walking on egg shells is behind me. As much as we love our child, all the voices in her head are hers still. We have two choice when we have Cancer. We treat it or let the Cancer spread.
    Having grown up in the third world. I gave up plenty & gained spiritual little. As parents we did every thing all American’s did. What we did not know, regardless what you do for your child, you are not responsible for your child getting Cancer or Mental illness. In the States parents are used as the scape goat.
    Depression & mental illness is real illness just like any illness. In a county of the plenty, what’s causing the rise in depression & mental illness?

  3. Charles Weiler

    Ms. Borchard: Hello from a ND alumni. May I recommend to you and your Beyond Blue community a friend’s daughter’s blog: The writer was a PhD Chemist and lost most of her capacity to function through a chemical exposure – her daughter was born with severe disabilities as well. Like you she has endeavored to find and document her limits, with and without meds or doctors, sometimes more successful then others. I will be an infrequent contributer. Keep breathing …

  4. Hi I am really desperate right now. I’ve been up and down seriously depressed for over a year. I’ve had depression since I was a teen, but I accomplished so much anyway. Now I just cry. I’ve been hospitalized three times in the last year. I hope there is a med or something that can help me, but I’ve tried so much. I MUST hang in there for my kids, but I don’t know if I can continue my full time job. It’s such a good job and has insurance and retirement and the people are so nice. But it’s so hard to get through and I’ve missed so much work already. I am trying hard to stay positive but like you said depression itself is a full time job. Add on another full time job of work, a full time job of mom, a full time job as spouse, a full time job of keeping my house up, it is all so much. I feel at the end of my rope but I have to hang on, I have to. I am still trying different meds and going to therapy. It is just so hard. I hope someone responds to this.

  5. rayola88

    Oh Alive, I’m so sorry you’re struggling this way. Like Stephen Hawking said: Where there is life, there is hope. You are so brave and doing so, so much already, so honor that life-giving spirit within yourself. IT’S HUGE! Do your best to accept and forgive yourself for how you feel right now. It’s all you and it’s all human, and whatever you feel is actually totally OK. You are doing the best you can at the moment and that’s wonderful. I truly get this and if you would like to reach out to me, I’m at laurazaltsman@gmail.com. xo Laura

  6. rayola88

    I just realized I wrote “Oh, Alive” instead of “Oh, Alice!” Not an accident! You are alive and that is wonderful, Alice 🙂

  7. ‘But I look around me, and there is so much suffering, even in the corners of the most fortunate.’ So true. Have you noticed how prevalent depression and/or bipolar is amongst friends our own age? (born between 1967 to 74)I only just realised this today! It’s epidemic! But we’re all still here and that is amazing. I watched this program on lead the other day. Scientists have discovered a direct correllation between high lead levels and violence (exploded during their 20’s). That’s our generation again. Ya know how petrol used to have lead innit? Yep it was eye-popping. I’ll send you the link. Alternatively we could all be mental due to the breakfast cereals we ate in front of Looney Tunes cartoons on the teev!