Robin Williams was a big part of all of our lives — his movies are classics that we all relate to and remember which is why many of us are feeling this loss deeply. What I have learned over the years is depression threads its way into every atom of your being and can lay dormant for many years. Life goes on, great things happen to you and then something will trigger it and a downward spiral starts. There are chances to catch it before it drags you too far down. But sometimes, it can come on suddenly, without warning and it’s powerful. So powerful that you can’t grab hold and pull yourself back up.
A few years ago, I read Rick Springfield’s autobiography Late, Late at Night. It is an honest account of his own battle with depression – referring to it as “Mr. D”. He still battles it as it creeps back into his life when he least expects it and has crippled him and brought him to the brink of wanting to die many times over the course of his life. If you get a chance to read it, do. It’s an eye opener about what lies underneath some of the public celebrities we all know and admire.
My heart is heavy today as I think about how Mr. Williams must have felt yesterday as his Mr. D took charge – and took his life. Depression is not something to be hide. It is not a sign of weakness. It is a very real state that can lead its sufferers feeling powerless.
Get Help. Talk to someone. Be Open to the different treatments. Be a friend. Be Kind and offer a shoulder to lean on.
- Five Common Myths About Depression
- 9 Ways to Help a Friend or Family Member With Depression
- Fitness May Help Ward Off Depression in Girls
- Don’t Let Darkness Grow
