There’s a book called Man’s Search for Meaning by Viktor Frankl. You should read it. It puts things in perspective. One thing I took away from the book is that suffering is a necessary part of being fulfilled. A result of never having to suffer while maintaining your decency is nihilism. Nihilism is the disease of the West and specifically the Baby Boomers.
I read that book in 12th grade 40 years ago and it has somewhat sustained me (along with religion and immediate family) for all these years. However, my prescriptions are EXACTLY THE SAME as the man in the article and some other aspects of the situation have been similar. Fortunately, a prayer was answered and my credit card debt (due to not being able to work) was reduced substantially. Without that last bit of grace things would be real gloomy and maybe even untenable about now. Why I was chosen for that I don't know. Maybe there was meaning in the suffering?