Darkness has always been within arms reach for me. I was raised in a dysfunctional family. In high school I discovered alcohol (drinking age was 18 then) and weed and saw no reason to become a responsible adult. I left home and eventually started a family. Nothing seemed unusual or abnormal in my life until my parents died, then I had a nervous breakdown. I thought self medicating was helping me to cope, but it started to affect my behavior with my family and at my job. Coping skills and social interaction are part of a balanced life that leads to growth. I sought counseling because I thought I was becoming UN-hinged, years later I see how stunted I had become. Out of 5 siblings, only a couple of us have survived (more or less). I was the only one to get help and go on medication and it has given me decades of stability. My kids are in their mid 20's and I been married for 35 years. I wanted to be an over-achiever like those around me, but I'm thankful to be a survivor. Since the 50's we've enjoyed freedom and prosperity in this country. So much change has occurred since then and now the rate of change continues to accelerate. Much of what my grandparents taught me doesn't apply. In an ever-changing world your best approach is to stay healthy, stay positive, stay informed, then the world seems less dark.