Grok3 AI: X Thread: Posting “Lessons from the Edge”. Based on WordPress postings 2015 – Black Dog, suicide, anxiety, traumatic brain injury, cancer … the importance of altruism and sharing, and in this I include within a virtual world, my favorite is X.

Posted on June 18, 2025 by michelleclarke2015

1. X Thread: Posting “Lessons from the Edge”

Content: The 12-post thread from my earlier response, tailored to share your experiences and invite reflection. I’ve updated it slightly to emphasize altruism and include links for your book and WHO resources.

Thread Title: 🧵

Lessons from the Edge:

My Journey Through Depression, Cancer, and Hope #BreakTheCycleOfLoneliness
Trigger Warning: Discusses suicide and mental health. If you need support, call 988 (US) or 116 123 (UK).

1/12: “We are all in the gutter, but some of us are looking at the stars.” – Oscar Wilde. For 20+ years, I’ve shared my battle with depression, a brain injury, and cancer to help others. Altruism drives me. Here’s what I’ve learned. #MentalHealthAwareness

2/12: In 1823, Europe and Great Britain buried those who died by suicide with stakes through their bodies. Today, we know despair, not sin, drives suicide. History teaches empathy. #SuicidePrevention

3/12: Emile Durkheim said isolation fuels despair. COVID’s lockdowns proved this. Altruism means reaching out—save a life today. Who’s your lifeline? #BreakTheCycleOfLoneliness

4/12: Depression’s “black dog” led me to a bus, ready to end it. A train driver’s story of suicide’s impact sparked my empathy, saving me. What keeps you grounded? #MentalHealth

5/12: Bibliotherapy saved me. Viktor Frankl’s Man’s Search for Meaning gave purpose. “Flowers grow out of dark moments.” What quote lifts you? #MentalHealthAwareness

6/12: Cancer (2017) was easier than depression. Community healed me, unlike depression’s isolation. Altruism drives connection. How do you connect? #BreakTheCycleOfLoneliness

7/12: Case and Deaton’s “Deaths of Despair” shows rising suicides. Society’s pressures kill. Share a solution to help others. #SuicidePrevention

8/12: Camus: “Suicide is prepared within the silence of the heart.” Break silence with kindness. Who can you support today? #MentalHealth

9/12: Gabor Maté’s trauma talks showed me addiction masks despair. Altruism means understanding pain. What’s opened your eyes? [https://youtu.be/qRMWgZx42xg]

10/12: Sainsbury (1955) found close-knit communities lower suicide rates. Build your tribe with care. Who’s in yours? #BreakTheCycleOfLoneliness

11/12: My book Fortune Favours the Brave shares my survival for others. Your story matters. Post a lesson learned with #MentalHealthAwareness. [https://amazon.co.uk/dp/1912639610]

2. Blog Post: “From Despair to Hope: A 20-Year Journey of Altruism and Survival”

Purpose:

Expand the synopsis into a 1,000-word blog post for your WordPress blog (michelleclarke2015.wordpress.com) or grok.com, encouraging readers to learn from your experiences through reflection prompts.


Trigger Warning: This post discusses suicide and mental health. If you need support, call 988 (US), 116 123 (UK), or visit WHO resources.

“We are all in the gutter, but some of us are looking at the stars.” – Oscar Wilde

For over two decades, first on a citizen journalism site then on WordPress, I’ve shared my story on driven by altruism—the belief that my pain can help others. A horse-riding accident in Zimbabwe (1993) left me with a traumatic brain injury, bipolar anxiety, morphing into 6 years of chronic fatigue. Depression’s “black dog” led me to the edge of suicide multiple times over my life. In 2017, breast cancer brought new challenges, yet I found it “easier” than depression’s isolation. Through bibliotherapy, community, and a stubborn sense of purpose, I’ve survived to write Fortune Favours the Brave (2018) and advocate for mental health. Here’s what my journey teaches about hope, connection, and breaking stigma.

The History of Suicide: From Stigma to Understanding
In medieval Europe, those who died by suicide were buried with stakes through their bodies, as if vampires. A. Alvarez’s The Savage God (1971) reveals how suicide was criminalized until 1961 in England, with property confiscated and families shamed. Emile Durkheim’s 1897 sociology shifted the view, showing suicide stems from social factors like isolation (egoistic), group loyalty (altruistic), or societal upheaval (anomic). I once wrote to the BBC, believing Dr. David Kelly’s 2003 death was altruistic, exposing Iraq War falsehoods. History teaches us to replace judgment with empathy.

Reflection: How does society’s view of mental health shape your experiences? Share in the comments.

Surviving Depression’s Black Dog
In 2001, I wrote for Aware magazine about standing by a No. 10 bus in London, contemplating suicide. A 1980s train driver’s story—sharing the trauma of suicides on the tracks—sparked empathy, pulling me back. My 2003 post, “Will I Make It This Time?”, describes depression’s rollercoaster: self-loathing, isolation, and a cold that “pierces the soul.” Yet, hope emerged, like attending a Peace March or finding quotes like “Flowers grow out of dark moments.” Altruism drove me to share, hoping to light others’ paths.

Reflection: What keeps you going in dark moments? Write it down or share with a friend.

Cancer: A Paradox of Connection
Diagnosed with breast cancer in 2017, I found it less isolating than depression. Community—doctors, survivors, friends—eased the journey. Depression thrives in silence, but cancer fostered connection. My book, Fortune Favours the Brave, reflects this, written to help others. Altruism means surviving for those who need your story.

Reflection: How has community helped you? Reach out to someone today.

Society’s Role in “Deaths of Despair”
In 2020, I warned of COVID-19’s mental health toll, calling lockdowns a “public health disaster.” Anne Case and Angus Deaton’s Deaths of Despair echoes this, linking suicides and overdoses to economic stress and loneliness. My 2004 response to “Micheal” critiques societal pressures—materialism, stigma, exclusion—that drive despair, especially among men. Peter Sainsbury’s 1955 study shows close-knit communities lower suicide rates. Altruism calls us to build inclusive spaces.

Reflection: What societal change could reduce despair? Share an idea on X with #BreakTheCycleOfLoneliness.

Bibliotherapy: Words as Lifelines
Books and quotes anchor me. Viktor Frankl’s Man’s Search for Meaning taught purpose in pain. Gabor Maté’s talks on trauma revealed addiction’s roots in despair. Camus wrote, “Suicide is prepared within the silence of the heart.” My 2015 post urges collecting quotes to combat fear. Bibliotherapy is altruistic—it shares wisdom across generations.

Reflection: What book or quote has lifted you? Post it with #MentalHealthAwareness.

Altruism: The Heart of Survival
Altruism is my why. Whether comforting the lonely on Christmas Eve 2015 or supporting “Micheal” in 2004, I believe sharing pain fosters hope. Sensitive souls—poets, artists, survivors—carry society’s wounds, as Noam Chomsky notes on inequality. My survival is for others, a testament to connection and resilience.


Reflection: How can you help someone today? Take one small step.

Call to Action
Your story matters. Share a lesson or quote that helped you on X with #BreakTheCycleOfLoneliness. Connect with others, read a book, or call a friend. Altruism turns despair into hope. If you’re struggling, reach out:

Posting Instructions:

  • Log into your WordPress blog (michelleclarke2015.wordpress.com). canisgallicus.com
  • Create a new post, copy-paste the above text, and format with headings and links.
  • Add tags: “suicide prevention,” “mental health,” “altruism,” “bibliotherapy.”
  • Publish and share the link on X to drive traffic.

Grok 3’s Role: Crafted a narrative blending your synopsis with reflection prompts, optimized for engagement and SEO.

3. Downloadable PDF: “Lessons from the Edge”

Purpose: A 2-page PDF guide for mental health groups, summarizing your journey and offering discussion questions for learning.

Content Outline:

  • Cover: Title: “Lessons from the Edge: A Survivor’s Guide to Hope”; Author: Michelle Clarke; Image: Starry sky (symbolizing Wilde’s quote, with your approval for visual use).
  • Page 1: Synopsis (from above, condensed to 200 words), focusing on depression, cancer, altruism, and bibliotherapy.
  • Page 2: Discussion Questions (e.g., “How can community reduce isolation?”), Resources (helplines, book link), and a Quote: “Flowers grow out of dark moments.”
  • Footer: Contact info (your WordPress blog), #BreakTheCycleOfLoneliness.

Sample PDF Text (Page 1):

Foregoing has been taken from the link below

SUICIDE: LIFE SENTENCE TO THOSE LEFT BEHIND

Posted on December 21, 2015 by michelleclarke2015

Source: SUICIDE: LIFE SENTENCE TO THOSE LEFT BEHIND

Unknown's avatar

About michelleclarke2015

Life event that changes all: Horse riding accident in Zimbabwe in 1993, a fractured skull et al including bipolar anxiety, chronic fatigue …. co-morbidities (Nietzche 'He who has the reason why can deal with any how' details my health history from 1993 to date). 17th 2017 August operation for breast cancer (no indications just an appointment came from BreastCheck through the Post). Trinity College Dublin Business Economics and Social Studies (but no degree) 1997-2003; UCD 1997/1998 night classes) essays, projects, writings. Trinity Horizon Programme 1997/98 (Centre for Women Studies Trinity College Dublin/St. Patrick's Foundation (Professor McKeon) EU Horizon funded: research study of 15 women (I was one of this group and it became the cornerstone of my journey to now 2017) over 9 mth period diagnosed with depression and their reintegration into society, with special emphasis on work, arts, further education; Notes from time at Trinity Horizon Project 1997/98; Articles written for Irishhealth.com 2003/2004; St Patricks Foundation monthly lecture notes for a specific period in time; Selection of Poetry including poems written by people I know; Quotations 1998-2017; other writings mainly with theme of social justice under the heading Citizen Journalism Ireland. Letters written to friends about life in Zimbabwe; Family history including Michael Comyn KC, my grandfather, my grandmother's family, the O'Donnellan ffrench Blake-Forsters; Moral wrong: An acrimonious divorce but the real injustice was the Catholic Church granting an annulment – you can read it and make your own judgment, I have mine. Topics I have written about include annual Brain Awareness week, Mashonaland Irish Associataion in Zimbabwe, Suicide (a life sentence to those left behind); Nostalgia: Tara Hill, Co. Meath.
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