Despair

During the final few weeks before Sylvia Plath's death, by all accounts, she was struggling to live and progressing towards despair. Her challenges were physical, psychological, social, and, as I would argue, "spiritual." It was a battle, a deep inner anguish about all that confronted her. Whether conscious or subconscious, the conflict of "to be or not to be" is a powerful one. Our body, mind and spirit fight to survive and, I believe, fight against death, especially death by our own hand. I've worked (and continue to do so) for 40+ years now with persons at risk for suicide and, although even I cannot fully know their anguish, I have become humbled and greatly challenged to understand, to help renew a life commitment and stop, perhaps eliminate a "suicidal movement."