David Rolands PhD in his book, The Power of Suffering: Growing through life crises 2020, through several life stories voices the philosophy that underpins the five domains of post-traumatic growth as developed by psychologists Richard Tedeschi, PhD, and Lawrence Calhoun, PhD, in the mid-1990s. It is suggested as the Phoenix rises from its ashes, people who have faced severe trauma suffering one or more crises may develop the resilience and...

This disease that disproves of my wellbeing is the worst possible thing that could have happened to my sense of independence. Cancer has left me feeling debilitated, ugly, useless, and hopeless. The present immunology has undermined my confidence to deal with people, especially medical staff, as I flounder to make sense of the discomfort, dizziness, and burgeoning psoriasis released as the anticancer drug binds to the proteins in my T Cells...

Beginning of August 2023, after problems with an ear infection, glands on the left side of my neck and face stayed swollen. This was regardless of  oral antibiotics and  cortisone-type eardrops prescribed earlier over several weeks. Getting access to my GP was problematic so, I decided to change clinics.  My new MD recognized it was my Parotid and Lymph Glands that were enlarged and sent me for an ultrasound Xray. The report...

I have found through experience and longevity that  life is a game that does not run on gratitude. A  game is anything with rules and a goal, so this includes everything from business to romantic encounters. Generally everything we do in life. Gratitude is not character building as presumed and is at its worst a manipulative platitude. It is too much like a fad,  an object or phenomenon that has short-lived but intense popularity. A definition...

Although I was never ever very sociable, I was livelier when I was younger. Then depression and post-traumatic stress disorder became complicated and hurt my later life. I am hypervigilant and self-isolating. I spend much time alone however I am not lonely, and I understand why others can be affected by loneliness because I understand the nuances of it.  When good friends grow apart can cause serious disturbance and loneliness in a person...

I have moved, or more to the point I have been moved. Not just through an accepted offer of a new unit from the Queensland Housing Commission that has created quantum ripples throughout my system, I am transitioning on many levels. Twenty twenty-two was a tough and transformative year, and its Christmas was a turkey of an event, although that is a taken for me as my mind is always on other things and that somehow other people seem to be...

Sometimes it is time to draw a line under something because a trend is over and from now on there will be a new rhythm and quality to life. It may be apparent that there is no more one can do to change an outcome. Life for many of us has morphed into a misty landscape where our steps are uncertain, our vision is unclear, and we are overwhelmed by world events. Finding something we can manage in our lives has become essential for our wellbeing....

We do live in interesting times. Unfortunately, these times are creating havoc with the human condition. They may be fatal. It is not just the pandemic, climate change, and political upheaval, and the barbaric attack on the Ukraine, there are giant elephants in the room. There is a destruction of personal sense of value. I live with a high degree of anxiety due to my autism. In writing about my anxiety also must include a discussion about...