Depression Claims Another Great Personality of Our Time

Tonight I am saddened.  Saddened that the burden of inner demons was too much for another.  Why do the most creative of people struggle with the most debilitating and least publicly understood of illnesses?  Depression is the 10th leading cause of death in the United States.  A sad and startling statistic.  It is time for us to face and deal with the stigma of mental illness.  Depression doesn’t always translate to dysfunctional; but, left untreated or ignored by others when we cannot recognize it ourselves, it can make one that way…to the point of no return.

I only venture to go here, because I live with depression and understand it.  I thank The Lord I recognized the need to deal with it in my twenties and before it was able to overwhelm me.  I admit I never fell to the depths that some do, but I have felt that life sucking weight pressing down on me that made it a struggle to get up and face the day or be the responsible parent I needed to be – every day!  I understand the thoughts that go through a depressed person’s mind.  Thoughts, that left unchecked, lead them down the path of thinking the world is better off without them.  I can also see how not dealing with it cause some to actually act upon making those thoughts reality…even those who seemingly enjoy life and crave its very existence, like Robin Williams.

For many, depression causes them to seek something to offset it, so they self medicate and turn to drugs and alcohol; both only mask the symptoms and actually make them worse by intensifying the depression (alcohol being a depressant) and/or making them so high the crash after is unbearable.  So, they enter a cycle of highs and lows.  Not to be confused with bi-polar disorder, but it sure can look that way, or be a symptom of other things…like heart disease.  The mind is difficult to understand and even harder when someone effected is genius at many things, especially hiding pain behind a facade of laughter.

I, personally, don’t believe you can cure depression unless it is a symptom of something else.  It is a chemical imbalance that may have its roots in something else, but most of the time it just IS.  However, I do believe in treating the symptoms to lessen their impact and allow one the ability to develop the tools they need to help themselves.  I also recognize that people cannot always do it on their own.  Depression is a sneaky bastard.  It hides and trips you when you least expect it.  Life is going well and then BAM!  You never know what hit you or why it chose that moment to do so.  You don’t always know what the trigger is. 

Genie, you're free. pic.twitter.com/WjA9QuuldD

— The Academy (@TheAcademy) August 12, 2014

I loved listening to and watching Robin Williams.  I think I knew there was conflict at his core, which I saw in nuances of his comedy and the depths of his acting abilities. I think it is telling that the great Johnny Carson chose Robin Williams (along with Bette Midler) to be one of his last guests.  He was, by all accounts, a truly nice, genuine, and giving person to anyone and everyone he met.  I know the night I saw him outside the theatre in New York where he was signing autographs after his performance that he did not have the air that some Broadway performers do after meeting fans night after night.  He still looked in awe of the attention and posed with strangers to make their night.  The New York Times republished an article Robin Williams wrote to honor his friend and hero, Jonathan Winters, in April of last year: An Appraisal: A Madman, But Angelic.  In many ways, it could have been his own eulogy.  He was truly a great comedian and actor who suffered from something that strikes people from all walks of life and it, unfortunately, won.  Rest in Peace, Mr. Williams. 

If you struggle with depression, please seek help.
In the U.S., call 1-800-273-8255  http://www.suicidepreventionlifeline.org/