Robin Williams

sfleinen said:
I know. That stance you quoted is typical of the same type of folks who say, "I disapprove of [...insert controversial lifestyle here...], because I 'choose' not to be that way." Yeah, right.

I lost a brother at two years old (I was eight years old at the time), and I watched him die -- hit by a car, right in front of my eyes. I was depressed for many years, blaming myself, etc. It took OUTSIDE INFLUENCES to help pick me up by the bootstraps, and help me start to regain my inner self. I look back on those people with the utmost endearment. I indeed owe my path in life to those wonderful people.

-Sean
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My heart goes out to you Sean and I empathize with the battle that you dealt with at the loss of your brother. I went through the same thing when my best friend in life killed himself at the age of 24. He was just like Robin in that he was always happy and fully alive around others. But I knew of family abuse that he went through from his step-father and the darker corners of his life that no one else ever realized existed. I also blamed myself for years after his death and even went into a long period of not just depression, but I hid in a lifestyle of drugs, alcohol and being really reckless because it was just more than my emotions could handle at that time. It wasn't just the loss, but In some way I felt that I wasn't there for him at the point when I should have been... that I should have seen it coming.
I can't imagine going through that same type of feeling guilty and having to deal with the visual of it as well at such a young age as you were. I'm betting that you went through the same "should have been me... not him" type of stuff that I did. More often than not it takes the help of others to find yourself again after such a tragic loss.

I've known friends since who were bi-polar and when prescribed the proper medications were fine and happy (most of the time). But when they are off of their meds you are always afraid for them and their safety and it's like you don't even know who they are. I've also known people who would "self medicate" with alcohol and drugs instead... such as Robin Williams... always fighting to be alive... but never really finding true happiness no matter how well life worked out for them.

I really have a hard time remembering the loss of a celebrity that has hit me as hard as that of Robin Williams.

Enough said by me on this subject... RIP Sir Robin
 
If I remember right, I think I read somewhere that a large percentage of the population suffers from depression at one time or another. Some get help/treatment but many people choose to struggle through on their own, with no help or even letting others know of their problem. Would explain a lot of stuff that happens, tragically.
 
parvus1202 said:
Sometimes I really don't understand about this "Depression" as a sickness. I think if you are depressed it is your own fault. A person is depressed but keep on drinking and taking drugs and then kill himself? I love RW since I was a kid, but being depressed when you hold a high status and millions of $$$ and numerous friends? I think people living in slum areas of India, Manila, Africa and other 3rd world countries with no food should be more depressed. If only RW traveled to these areas and lived with them and see their smile even in he most difficult times he will understand more about preserving life.
I am very sadden that RW end comes to this. The most versatile actor in Hollywood.
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parvus1202 said:
That is not offensive. I suffer from depression when my mom died, but I remember I should not as she had lived a nice and healthy life. That is what I am talking about. If you feel depressed then un-depressed yourself by doing something or traveling or think if you really should be depressed. Depressed by what? A lot of people always say move on, but some don't want to, they want to feel depressed so what can we do? It's their own fault.
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you know what, normally I would say you are lucky to be ignorant of the fact. many of us here suffer from this, and not because our mom died or dog got hit by a car, its a chemical imbalance in the brain, it's called google, look it up and make an intelligent comment. that's like telling a paraplegic to stop going around a wheelchair and get your ass up. your comments are ignorant to the point of embarrassment.
 
And I was going to skip this thread.To close to home.Good posts and analogy's.I see I am not alone.RIP Robin Williams.
 
Robin will become old News as soon as a larger story happens, the mainstream press, and tabloids are in some sort of feeding frenzy, as long as there is something new to report, or something news worthy to report.

How many Joe nobody take their own lives everyday, and get no ink. Sad thing is many are Veterans of 4 or 5 tours in the sand suffering with PTSD, and the Media need to bring this to publics attention.

So the VA, and other Mental Health resource have resources to help there little people, Robin IMHO had the resources to get help, he was a screen actor guild member, SAG has great insurance, he choose the easy way out of his problems.

IMHO.
 
CocoboloCowboy said:
Robin will become old News as soon as a larger story happens, the mainstream press, and tabloids are in some sort of feeding frenzy, as long as there is something new to report, or something news worthy to report.

How many Joe nobody take their own lives everyday, and get no ink. Sad thing is many are Veterans of 4 or 5 tours in the sand suffering with PTSD, and the Media need to bring this to publics attention.

So the VA, and other Mental Health resource have resources to help there little people, Robin IMHO had the resources to get help, he was a screen actor guild member, SAG has great insurance, he choose the easy way out of his problems.

IMHO.
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I think you and parvus1202 should hang out together.

You're absolutely right that "Joe Nobodies" take their lives every day and it should get more attention than it does. Robin Williams can make us laugh and cry, but it's the "Joe Nobodies" that make our lives better on a day-to-day basis.

That being said, to say that anyone "chooses" suicide as "the easy way out" shows a remarkable lack of understanding and empathy. People who take their own life see it as the only option left to them. I can't begin to imagine how low a person has to be to feel that way.
 
krupa said:
I think you and parvus1202 should hang out together.

You're absolutely right that "Joe Nobodies" take their lives every day and it should get more attention than it does. Robin Williams can make us laugh and cry, but it's the "Joe Nobodies" that make our lives better on a day-to-day basis.

That being said, to say that anyone "chooses" suicide as "the easy way out" shows a remarkable lack of understanding and empathy. People who take their own life see it as the only option left to them. I can't begin to imagine how low a person has to be to feel that way.
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SPOT ON COMMENT!! For CoCo and parvus1202 you two should remember it is far better to let people think your a moron than open your mouth and prove it!
 
CocoboloCowboy said:
Robin will become old News as soon as a larger story happens, the mainstream press, and tabloids are in some sort of feeding frenzy, as long as there is something new to report, or something news worthy to report.

How many Joe nobody take their own lives everyday, and get no ink. Sad thing is many are Veterans of 4 or 5 tours in the sand suffering with PTSD, and the Media need to bring this to publics attention.

So the VA, and other Mental Health resource have resources to help there little people, Robin IMHO had the resources to get help, he was a screen actor guild member, SAG has great insurance, he choose the easy way out of his problems.

IMHO.
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depression + Parkinson's? I think one could argue this was not the easy way out, but the humane way. IMHO.
 
krupa said:
I think you and parvus1202 should hang out together.

You're absolutely right that "Joe Nobodies" take their lives every day and it should get more attention than it does. Robin Williams can make us laugh and cry, but it's the "Joe Nobodies" that make our lives better on a day-to-day basis.

That being said, to say that anyone "chooses" suicide as "the easy way out" shows a remarkable lack of understanding and empathy. People who take their own life see it as the only option left to them. I can't begin to imagine how low a person has to be to feel that way.
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Spot on. People who think that way -- of being "cowardly" or "taking the easy way out" are conveniently glossing over the following:

* Yes, it's a choice, but sometimes the choice is made based on the information you have. Those that choose suicide do so on the information they have. That information may be accurate, or it may not be.

* Or, the person making the decision him/herself may be compromised, i.e. depression. Depression has the unfortunate restriction/handicapping where it makes it look to the person that suicide is the only way out, and all cognizance of how their decision affects *other people* is completely short-circuited.

So for those hoity-toity types to claim that it's a cowardly decision, I say you are clueless. Yes, it's a choice. Some may argue that it's never the correct decision, but even that is a closed bias that speaks of never having truly been in that dark place.

-Sean <-- lovin' life, and all those out there that help others in a less fortunate situation to do so as well
 
Diogenes said:
My heart goes out to you Sean and I empathize with the battle that you dealt with at the loss of your brother. I went through the same thing when my best friend in life killed himself at the age of 24. He was just like Robin in that he was always happy and fully alive around others. But I knew of family abuse that he went through from his step-father and the darker corners of his life that no one else ever realized existed. I also blamed myself for years after his death and even went into a long period of not just depression, but I hid in a lifestyle of drugs, alcohol and being really reckless because it was just more than my emotions could handle at that time. It wasn't just the loss, but In some way I felt that I wasn't there for him at the point when I should have been... that I should have seen it coming.
I can't imagine going through that same type of feeling guilty and having to deal with the visual of it as well at such a young age as you were. I'm betting that you went through the same "should have been me... not him" type of stuff that I did. More often than not it takes the help of others to find yourself again after such a tragic loss.

I've known friends since who were bi-polar and when prescribed the proper medications were fine and happy (most of the time). But when they are off of their meds you are always afraid for them and their safety and it's like you don't even know who they are. I've also known people who would "self medicate" with alcohol and drugs instead... such as Robin Williams... always fighting to be alive... but never really finding true happiness no matter how well life worked out for them.

I really have a hard time remembering the loss of a celebrity that has hit me as hard as that of Robin Williams.

Enough said by me on this subject... RIP Sir Robin
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Thank you, Diogenes. And my heart goes out to you, too! To be honest, at that young age, I never had the thoughts of suicide, but more of a hopelessly lost and shameful feeling. Like, "why did this have to happen to him?" And "why not me instead?" And many others too numerous to mention here. But the most important one -- "what do I do now?"

I was lucky to be surrounded by family friends (as well as elementary school teachers) who took it upon themselves to look after me, and remind me that although a tragic event to happen to a family, I am my own person, and have my own destiny in life independent of what happens to everyone else.

But yes, I was haunted for many years -- with nightmares, in fact -- of the visuals of watching what happened to my brother. Panic attacks and everything. It was a ghastly visage for a child of that age to see and experience.

The wife and I shed a tear when we got the news about RW. He was truly special to us. Another comedian/personality whose passing had a similar effect on us was George Carlin's. But somehow, George's had less questions. He walked into and checked himself into a hospital complaining of chest pains, and that's where he died. His passing was explainable with the heart conditions he experienced previously. But Robin chose to leave us, and that has a different kind of hurt.

-Sean
 
Sadly, beyond all his other adversities, Robin was also struggling with the early stages of Parkinson’s, according to his wife:

http://tinyurl.com/qaezxqc

I think two of the most perceptive and empathetic comments I’ve heard in recent days regarding Robin’s death and the devastating nature of depression are these:

-- “Imagine if you can, what a person suffering continual depression is dealing with -- the unending daily realization that “I am not in control of my brain.”

-- “He didn’t want to die . . . he wanted to end the pain.”

Only pitiable ignoramuses glibly imply that clinical depression is a lifestyle “choice”.

Arnaldo
 
arnaldo said:
[...]
Only pitiable ignoramuses glibly imply that clinical depression is a lifestyle “choice”.

Arnaldo
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I think there's a difference between people saying that "clinical depression is a lifestyle choice" and those saying that suicide is a choice. There's a distinct difference between the two.

But I agree with you -- only clueless people say that clinical depression is a lifestyle choice.

-Sean
 
Can I explain my side much further if it's alright? When I said that depression is not a sickness it is because it only triggers when an awful event happens to you or is constantly happening. There is always a cause on why you feel depressed. The more that cause is not cured, depression will not go away. I saw a lot of people, even few celebrities who battle incurable cancer who set up foundations, give speeches, educate people on how to survive and beat cancer at early stages. You see them smiling in pictures with fellow cancer patients. Depression might still be lurking in there but I know it doesn't bother them like it used to.

Also a good read..

"Why am I depressed?
http://www.health.com/health/gallery/0,,20515167,00.html
by Caroline Murray

There are many well-known depression triggers: Trauma, grief, financial troubles, and unemployment are just a few.

But if you are depressed and none of these apply to you, it can be hard to pinpoint a specific cause.

In truth, there may not be a concrete reason for your depression. But here are some little-known causes to consider.... Summer weather, Smoking, Thyroid desease, "
 
parvus1202 said:
Can I explain my side much further if it's alright? When I said that depression is not a sickness it is because it only triggers when an awful event happens to you or is constantly happening. There is always a cause on why you feel depressed. The more that cause is not cured, depression will not go away. I saw a lot of people, even few celebrities who battle incurable cancer who set up foundations, give speeches, educate people on how to survive and beat cancer at early stages. You see them smiling in pictures with fellow cancer patients. Depression might still be lurking in there but I know it doesn't bother them like it used to.

Also a good read..

"Why am I depressed?
http://www.health.com/health/gallery/0,,20515167,00.html
by Caroline Murray

There are many well-known depression triggers: Trauma, grief, financial troubles, and unemployment are just a few.

But if you are depressed and none of these apply to you, it can be hard to pinpoint a specific cause.

In truth, there may not be a concrete reason for your depression. But here are some little-known causes to consider.... Summer weather, Smoking, Thyroid desease, "
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You really don't know what you're talking about and citing a list-based magazine article written by someone who is NOT a doctor, is not strong supporting evidence.

Here's a better source for you to read up on the topic. http://www.webmd.com/depression/guide/major-depression
 
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