Pain Knows No Status: Questioning the Gatekeepers of Grief

 


There is a widespread, implicit consensus that overwhelming pain, deep emotional suffering, and suicidal ideation belong exclusively to the downtrodden, those who have endured severe hardships, faced financial distress, or failed to measure up to societal standards. This mindset falsely suggests that the wealthy or privileged have no right to feel what "normal" people experience, begging the question of who appointed anyone as the gatekeeper of human suffering. 

This gatekeeping extends in both directions, often criticizing those who achieve success or relocate to preserve their safety, lifestyle, and sanity. Disbelief routinely surfaces in public discourse, whether in dismissive claims that millions of dollars negate the right to be upset or prejudiced assumptions that a candidate's background ruins the sanctity of the White House—highlighting how quickly society discredits the authentic experiences of those labeled as outsiders.

While it is often said that higher powers keep people divided and fighting against one another, this division may actually stem from our own tendency to claim exclusive rights to certain human emotions. When outsiders express struggles similar to our own, society frequently discredits them out of confusion over how someone with so much could still consider suicide, or dismisses their circumstances as pre-ordained destiny based on where they came from. Although background undeniably shapes a person's trajectory, it does not permanently pigeonhole anyone, as socio-economic status can shift dramatically in either direction. Ultimately, the universal struggle with mental health is severely compounded by the idea that certain thoughts and feelings belong only to specific groups; in reality, empirical evidence demonstrates that the stigma surrounding mental health impacts every group negatively, making it crucial for individuals to reflect on their own biases and stop holding human emotion hostage.

with Better Decisions comes Better Health 

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