Stories of survival and recovery from a wide spectrum of contributors teach you ways to taking care of your body and mind when the government and corporate healthcare systems are doing their best to make you sick, broke, and crazy. Thirty-seven personal essays directed at helping the reader learn and cope with their own issues, cover topics from abortion to ablation, depression to drinking and drug use, abusive relationships to veganism, coming out as gay to body image and eating disorders, marathon running to recovering from a sprained ankle. Alive With Vigor! has a special focus on queer, youth, and transgendered people and recognizing different medical, cultural, and emotional needs.