by benforred | Jan 14, 2025 | Caregivers, Death, Family, Grief, Mental Health, PTSD, Survival, Symptoms
Jenny, Mama, and DaddyThe conceptions we create of our parents over time as we grow from children to adults can be quite interesting to say the least. We come to learn new details about our parents that challenge those long held perspectives we’ve built, leading...
by benforred | Dec 8, 2023 | Crisis, Mental Health, PTSD, Sponsored, Stress, Survival
Most of us are aware of the popular saying that “what doesn’t kill you makes you stronger”, which was shortened from the original saying penned by philosopher Friedrich Nietzsche. Nietzsche, who is a fascinating philosopher to study, argued that...
by benforred | Sep 26, 2023 | Cancer, Health, history, Medical Procedures, Medical Providers, Mental Health, Ostomy, Pain, Short Bowel, Surgery, Survival, Symptoms
La Mémoire Noire or The Dark Memory is a letter series written to my first surgeon. The man who caused everything ultimately in my life to reach this point today. I was to have 2 surgeries beginning at the age of 9 and his surgical errors altered the course of...
by benforred | Mar 30, 2018 | Employment, Health, Survival
My pediatric GI doctor talked to me and my parents about my chances for Social Security Disability (SSD) Benefits to ease the financial burden associated with my chronic illness since I was a child. I grew up hearing about how I would be able to obtain SSD...
by benforred | Jul 31, 2017 | Relationships, Survival
Interpersonal relationships have the capability to hold great power over and for ourselves. We tend to find value within the opinions of others rather than within ourselves. We, understandably, grieve the loss of relationships with others but we far too often lose...
by benforred | May 13, 2017 | Crisis, Discrimination, Mental Health, Survival
Living with a chronic illness is an intense stress and burden upon one’s self and when it is coupled with resulting medical trauma, it is a recipe for mental health concerns regarding adjustment and coping. When you add a young age and bullying to the mix, it...
