I feel like I've lost a brother.
The tragic loss of Robin Williams has hit us all quite hard. When my roommate broke the news to me, I shouted out my disbelief with a loud, "No!" Classic case of denial, as if my disbelief would make it not so.
It might seem incomprehensible to most people that such an amazing talent would resort to such a desperate act, but I would beg you all to take a biblical approach when tempted to judge the man and his final act.
Judge not, lest ye be judged.
(Continued below)
No one knows the depths of pain that another person deals with. No one. The life experiences and battles fought, do damage that cannot be seen by others.
For too long we have looked at disorders of the mind as something to be hidden, denied and locked away with the family skeletons in the closet. With this devastating loss of humanity, one of our greatest talents and brightest stars, this issue cannot be denied any longer.
Depression is real. It's debilitating and as we now see, it's a potential killer of mankind, mere mortals as well as famous stars.
I struggle with it myself, and what's more disturbing to me is that I was struggling with the very feelings that Williams had at the very same time. He chose his way out, yet I chose to stay and fight. I can't blame him. I won't blame him. Honestly, if I'd had the means, I might have taken the same trip.
If you're one of the many who believe that Depression is just an excuse for being lazy or spoiled, or if you think that Mr. Williams was selfish for taking his own life, I would ask you to research the effects of long term depression, a disorder that is sneaky and that robs a person of their self worth and will to live.
If the disorder is not genuine, if it's just a made up illness, if it's all in the mind, as some would have us believe, then why did it take down a man so beloved by all? Why couldn't Williams, who so clearly had millions of fans and thousands of friends, reach out for help? I'll tell you why.
There is physical pain that goes along with depression. A gut wrenching ache that permeates your soul and darkens your vision. It's said that comedy is borne of pain and tragedy. If so, we can only measure how hopeless Mr. Williams might have felt by the brilliance of his work. It's clear to me, that his was a tortured mind.
The point of all of this is a simple one. No one can know what it's like to walk in your shoes, to swim in your pool of emotions and feelings. If you feel hopeless, worthless, unloved, unwanted or that the world would be better off without you, I would ask that you say that to someone. I would ask that you relay the pain you're feeling, that you believe just the smallest bit in life and allow someone into your world to help.