Tags
actors, comedy, depression, grief, Robin Williams, suicide, Susan Schneider, talent
Although we’ve lost some magnificent talent recently, Philip Seymour Hoffman, to name just one, the death of inveterate funny man, Robin Williams, struck the collective gut the world over.
Image: bloviatingzeppelin.net
William’s premature demise is heartbreaking not simply because the world is smaller and sadder without his meteoric talents as actor and comedian, it is heartbreaking because it is evidence of the intense and unbearable pain this man suffered while he made the rest of the world laugh, sigh, and gasp with pleasure and awe.
And his pain was not his pain alone. You can bet that his family and close friends endured and continue to endure the horrendous suffering of helplessly watching the man they love and admire, as his demons spun out of control over and over again, reaching from below to snag him out of the limelight and drag him down into the cesspool of depression.
Oh how our hearts hurt for you Robin. If only we could reach out and support you Susan Schneider and family. Peace be with you. Keep breathing.
Rangewriter 
The world lost a good man and a fine talent.
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Yes, I know we could look at it as making room for the talent to come…but that just doesn’t work, not in this case, for sure.
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Eloquently said, Linda, as so many of us mourn this lovable and brilliant man.
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Thanks, Bob. There aren’t enough words to fill the hole left in our collective hearts.
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Such a brilliant man. So sad that he could make our lives a little less sad and make us laugh at ourselves and the foibles of the world while he was suffering from such depression.
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Exactly, Glenda. And for some reason, it seems the most talented people in the world are most bedeviled by demons…throughout the ages. What a price.
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That effin’ “Black dog” … it has taken so many good folk from us.
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Yes, it creeps on silent feet, lurking waiting for us to turn our backs, and then it attacks. We turn to see what happened and ask, how could it be?
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I liked him very much. He was a great actor. It’s really sad, he’s gone. I’m sure he is now on a better place where he can be lighthearted.
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We can only hope!
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The world is a little darker without Robin Williams in it.
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Yes, and as I reflect on that idea, it makes me very aware of the darkness in his heart that he battled for probably 50 years or more.
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Linda, he was so talented and tortured. He will be missed by many. And, it shows how mental illness can impact even the most gifted. Dead Poets Society is my favorite movie of his, as it seems to provide a glimpse at him with his guard down. Oh Captain, my captain – you will be missed. BTG
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My hope is that his death will help move the conversation about depression forward. It is not something a person can just deal with. It can’t be ignored, stuffed in a dark closet and forgotten. Like high blood pressure, diabetes, or cancer, it is a killer. With proper treatment and vigilance, it can be overcome, but never cured.
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Linda, a behavioral psychologist friend and former colleague cites that 1 in 5 people will have some bout with depression in their lifetime, whether it is small or large. She notes in her work with setting up health management programs with employers, 10% of the Rx claims are for depression medication. Her biggest concern is when a MD prescribes depression medication rather than having a therapist involved. Learning to live with your mental illness is important. Good post and comments. BTG
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This is so true. Because depression is so intangible, it is very hard to recognize. When people feel better, the tendency is to stop the medication. “I’m cured. I feel great! I don’t need (can’t afford, don’t like side effects) it. Then the damned demon creeps back in again and before you know it, a once stable person is again tottering on the brink. Education is key. And so is good, reliable talk therapy.
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I appreciate you writing about this event in our lives, Linda, and still am in shock.So many of us, whether fans or colleagues or family share this grief to some extent or another of this huge loss.I cried while I was driving after hearing the news, even went into denial, thinking “Robin Williams…hmmm, Robin Williams… is that who I think it is?I keep wanting to hear more news of Robin Williams just because that is part of grief. I liked how certain shows that announced his death also added notices to contact help resources if you were feeling overwhelmed or suicidal.. I was surprised how many movies I have seen of his and my heart does go out to his family and friends. In our city, the police made a statement that there were suicides in five divisions in one night, the night after Robin commit suicide.I truly feel sad over the loss of this man who was a kind and generous human being, a great comic and a great actor.Please, people if you are sad, talk with friends, a doctor a minister, whatever, about it and likewise, take the time to listen to one another.And don’t just take antidepressants but have your doctor monitor them very carefully and seek counselling as well. There are many organizations that give counselling on a sliding scale or even for free. It is a long road to recovery but it worth it
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You are absolutely right, Jane. No one needs to suffer alone, but too many do. They think they are inferior for not being able to control things better. But no one feels inferior when a tumor invades. They just go to the doctor and find out what they need to do. They may be really sad about having to deal with it, but they get treatment. Depression needs treatment also, and a many-pronged approach, spearheaded by a very good counselor is the best.
Robin’s death made me feel almost complicit. While he made us laugh, he was crying inside and none of us knew this. Not that we could have helped, but still, it seems like we used up his talent and tossed aside the shell that housed it. I know that isn’t logical either, but it is just very disturbing to be so distracted by the humor to not see the misery. Hopefully more of us will be alert and more people who are suffering will seek and receive the help they need.
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I am sure people reached out to him but it is one thing that we are so powerless over.Robin had some really high highs, it makes sense that he had some really low lows.We got to stay close to our support systems, whether it be counsellors, family, 12 step groups, whatever works.May he rest in peace.
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Robin Williams will never be forgotten but will always be loved
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