Spiky Bugger
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Oh, no....
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Terri
Well-Known Member
Very sad. It says he has been battling depression. Depression is a horrible disease and sometimes very hard to overcome.
Very sad...I feel for his family.
Elizabeth N.
Herder of cats
:-(
I remember reading and listening to interviews where he talked about his ongoing terrible battles with bipolar disorder. His great gifts came with a high price.
I remember reading and listening to interviews where he talked about his ongoing terrible battles with bipolar disorder. His great gifts came with a high price.
I have found it especially touching - and concerning - to see the responses of my young adult children, as well as that of their friends (all around late 20s - early 30s), to his death and the circumstances surrounding it. They grew up with him in all of his incarnations, both comedy and drama, and they seem to be stunned and deeply affected, in particular by the fact of it being a suicide. I have also noticed a lot of posts that include links to suicide hotlines.
I must confess that I am having flashbacks to my own little bout with depression in late 2009-early 2010, which I believe was the result of taking Reglan post reconstructive surgery - the slightest thing, like seeing someone in a wheelchair, would start a drain-circling cascade of thoughts "Someday I'm going to be decrepit, and unable to care for myself, and then bedridden and abused - I might as well kill myself now while I still can." Followed by a panic attack. It was miserable. And I can only imagine that his pain must have been not only so much worse, but years of it piled up.
But the fact of my own intense reaction makes me wonder if/worry that his death is going to trigger a rash of depressive crises in people who see his inability to deal with his illness any longer, even with all the resources he had at his disposal, and think that there's no point in them fighting any longer.
I'm sure that's not what he would have wanted. But in looking at his choice, it seems to me that there can be two irreconcilable ways to view it:
I am watching carefully how the mainstream media spins this today - so far, they seem to be trying to find that median ground, and I think that's a good and responsible thing.
But I am keeping an eye on my kids. My son, who is still very emotionally immature for his age, posted this - I plan to talk to him about his feelings about this the next time I see him:
"You will forever hold a special place in my childhood.... Be at peace good sir! RIP Robin Williams."
I must confess that I am having flashbacks to my own little bout with depression in late 2009-early 2010, which I believe was the result of taking Reglan post reconstructive surgery - the slightest thing, like seeing someone in a wheelchair, would start a drain-circling cascade of thoughts "Someday I'm going to be decrepit, and unable to care for myself, and then bedridden and abused - I might as well kill myself now while I still can." Followed by a panic attack. It was miserable. And I can only imagine that his pain must have been not only so much worse, but years of it piled up.
But the fact of my own intense reaction makes me wonder if/worry that his death is going to trigger a rash of depressive crises in people who see his inability to deal with his illness any longer, even with all the resources he had at his disposal, and think that there's no point in them fighting any longer.
I'm sure that's not what he would have wanted. But in looking at his choice, it seems to me that there can be two irreconcilable ways to view it:
- It was a reasonable response to end his constant suffering - and thus an endorsement of this option
- His choice was a chicken-**** and selfish response to a momentary crisis, and the pain he is causing SO many people (family, people who knew him, and his fans) is a terrible thing that he has inflicted.
I am watching carefully how the mainstream media spins this today - so far, they seem to be trying to find that median ground, and I think that's a good and responsible thing.
But I am keeping an eye on my kids. My son, who is still very emotionally immature for his age, posted this - I plan to talk to him about his feelings about this the next time I see him:
"You will forever hold a special place in my childhood.... Be at peace good sir! RIP Robin Williams."
it's horribly shocking without being a surprise, IMO. he really was a genius and so likable - unusual combination.
what a tragedy.
what a tragedy.
EN - this made me think, wait, was he diagnosed? so far I am not finding it.
clearly he was bipolar, I mean DUH, but apparently he did not believe/know/admit that?
this is from psychcentral
Editorial note: We acknowledge Williams himself has never stated, to our knowledge, that he had been formally diagnosed with bipolar disorder or depression. Yet given his behaviors and symptoms, it seems far more likely he suffered from bipolar disorder — of which depression is a very significant component. News accounts saying he suffered from depression don’t appear to be substantiated by Williams’ own statements on the issue.
maybe not being able or willing to accept a mental illness, at least not publicly, maybe that was part of the pressure that eventually lead to his suicide.
I'm not sure but it seems possible to me. it's like alcoholism and drug addiction is something we talk about but mental illness is STILL taboo. too horrible.
it seems crystal clear to me he was bipolar and drinking/drugs was secondary to that.
Munchkin
Full of Fairy Dust
It's a tragedy and I feel bad for his family. He will be missed.
I don't know why but my first thought was that he had been diagnosed with some terrible terminal disease and that's why he chose to commit suicide.
I don't know why but my first thought was that he had been diagnosed with some terrible terminal disease and that's why he chose to commit suicide.
Terri
Well-Known Member
That was my initial thought as well.
Spiky Bugger
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I read that - lots of tales of his kindness from comics, others.
on Fresh Air the interview with Terry Gross was interesting. he flat out denies he had clinical depression. wonder how much energy it took to constantly pretend to be OK?
on Fresh Air the interview with Terry Gross was interesting. he flat out denies he had clinical depression. wonder how much energy it took to constantly pretend to be OK?
Elizabeth N.
Herder of cats
I could swear I read/heard interview material with him--"Inside the Actors' Studio" comes to mind--where he talked about being bipolar.
this is what I was thinking - it's clear he was bipolar, but he sure never "came out" with it and may not have even been diagnosed with it - this HAD to have made his life harder, I think, do be in denial so thoroughly.
about Robin Williams' mental health
Dr. John Grohol, the psychologist who founded PsychCentral, put it in an editorial note in his piece on Williams, “We acknowledge Williams himself has never stated to our knowledge that he was formally diagnosed with bipolar disorder or depression. Yet given his behaviors and symptoms, it seems far more likely that he suffered bipolar disorder
about Robin Williams' mental health
Dr. John Grohol, the psychologist who founded PsychCentral, put it in an editorial note in his piece on Williams, “We acknowledge Williams himself has never stated to our knowledge that he was formally diagnosed with bipolar disorder or depression. Yet given his behaviors and symptoms, it seems far more likely that he suffered bipolar disorder
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