Am I Too Embarrassed to Save My Life? My essay in the NY Times
by eatonhamilton
Am I Too Embarrassed to Save My Life?
NY Times
I’m told it had over a hundred thousand hits. I hope to have a few things to say here that answer some people’s questions. If you would like to leave additional questions or remarks here, I will try to include them.
Eaton Hamilton 
So great that NYT published your piece. Painfully needed.
Loved the essay. I get it entirely. Thank you.
I was moved by your essay in the New York Times. I identified with your situation. I have been living with mood disorder for most of my 63 years and only last year was diagnosed with inflammatory arthritis. I now have a visible sign of disease; I have become obese. I received a telephone call from one of my siblings for the first time in a long time, a couple of days ago. He asked about my travel plans and I explained that I have an appointment to see a new psychiatrist in a far off state, since my current doctor is not covered by my insurance. He was saying that he had also been diagnosed with a mood disorder but he is not receptive to care. I was trying to explain my limited understanding of our shared condition as being a dysfunction of our most vital organ. He offered his thought that I “was doing this to myself”. I have heard various forms of the malingering charge many times and I simply do not argue with the accuser. But, of course, I am left feeling more alone. Now, with my visible sign of mental ill health (my girth), if have even less credibility as a person deserving of sympathy. You are a writer. I wish that I were, also.