In an age where the reliance on antidepressants is not just increasing but extending over longer periods, it prompts a crucial re-examination of suffering's function in our lives. The complex, often paradoxical, relationship between suffering and fulfilment presents us with the possibility that our efforts to eliminate all suffering could unintentionally erode the depth and vibrancy of the human experience, writes Brock Bastian.

About suffering they were never wrong,
The old Masters: how well they understood
Its human position: how it takes place
While someone else is eating or opening a window or just walking dully along

W. H. Auden, Musée des Beaux Arts

Suffering has undeniably earned a negative reputation. This isn't just acknowledging its intrinsic anti-hedonic nature, but also perceiving it as a force that diminishes our overall quality of life. Such a viewpoint fosters the belief that eliminating all suffering would significantly improve both our world and personal lives. But what would that world look like, and would our lives really be improved if we eradicated our capacity to suffer?