Steel yourself…

Thank God for photo journalists, many of whom risk their lives to bring us these images.

Take a few minutes to read the stories beneath each photograph.

So much suffering in our world, and so many stories of humanity trying so desperately to help and to live.

The Atlantic: How The First Months Unfolded

The Atlantic: The Middle Months

The Atlantic: Wrapping Up The Year

Before you pop another xanax, check out The Atlantic’s Hopeful Pics of the Year.

Any “Best of” photographs summary would not be complete without those of the National Geographic.

We couldn’t end the year without Gizmodo’s Funniest Animal Pics of the Year.

And Google always knows how to capture the emotion of the search: Year In Search: 2017