Robin Williams died today. Not via some physically degenerating disease, or by someone else's hand, his demise was to succumb to suicide after a long, difficult battle with depression. The ripple effect created by anyone's suicide is enormous and debilitating for those left behind in its wake. No tidal wave or tsunami on this planet can wreak the level of havoc that is felt emotionally by those affected, especially the ones closest to the suicide victim.
Yes, victim. I use the word victim because even though the person may have taken their life by their own hand, the weeks, the days, the moments leading up to such a final decision are as excruciating and painful as any physical disease could possibly be. We've all seen that commercial with the phrase "depression hurts", but unless you've been in the depths of despair that true, deep depression creates, you have no idea of how it affects one's mind, one's outlook, one's self-perception. While we, as an audience, adored, appreciated, and admired Robin Williams for many years as an actor and comedian, and we, as an audience, feel deep sorrowful loss over his death, he may have never realized how far reaching our true appreciation of him and his craft continued to be. Depression is a disease that plays horrible tricks on your psyche, and, left untreated or not properly and effectively treated, can ultimately kill you just as easily as any brain tumor. It can cripple a person of its own accord, or in conjunction with a variety of other emotional or mental issues such as bi-polar disorders, obsessive compulsive disorders, eating disorders ..... the list is endless.
I can only imagine the intense pain, grief, and moments of "what if" that his family and closest friends are experiencing right now. I myself have been on both sides of that kind of grief and pain. From losing close friends to suicide at a young age and dealing with the "what if" guilt, to being in the depths of depression so severe that I contemplated, and at one point actually planned, the same suicidal demise for myself. Both sides are horrible places to be, but for those left behind, the horror is infinitely longer lasting and can affect your countenance, your emotions, and your decision processes with regards to relationships for the rest of your life.
My heart goes out to his family and friends, and I sincerely hope that they ultimately receive the counselling so integral to not allowing his death to take over the remainder of their lives. For anyone who is contemplating the same fate, don't. No matter how dark and filled with a black void the future seems, it truly is not. Get help. And if you know someone who seems to be going down that dark path of severe depression, reach out. If I hadn't had a friend reach out to me many years ago under those same circumstances, I wouldn't be here today writing this blog you're reading! Above all, never forget that no matter how bleak or desperate life seems at the moment, or has seemed over however long a period of time, there is always good, there are always those who care whether you realize it or not, and there is always HOPE ... no matter how far-fetched it may seem at the current moment.
Robin Williams may have died, but don't allow his death to be a blotch on the psyche of society, allow it to raise awareness for the severity and consequences that mental illness and depression can create. He brought joy to so many through the last few decades. Maybe his death can raise awareness to the point that others who may not have sought help before, learn to find joy within themselves.
~ The Girl In The Little Black Dress
Help For and Information About Depression:
- http://www.healthline.com/health/depression/help-for-depression#TreatmentFacts1
- http://www.helpguide.org/mental/depression_tips.htm
- http://www.helpguide.org/mental/depression_signs_types_diagnosis_treatment.htm
- http://psychcentral.com/blog/archives/2012/01/18/9-ways-to-take-care-of-yourself-when-you-have-depression/
Suicide Assistance:
- http://www.helpguide.org/mental/suicide_help.htm
- http://www.helpguide.org/mental/suicide_prevention.htm
- http://www.metanoia.org/suicide/whattodo.htm
- http://www.suicidepreventionlifeline.org/
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