" There is no great genius without a mixture of madness." -Aristotle
The passing of Robin Williams, one of the great comedic actors of our time, leaves a hole in our hearts. My sympathy goes out to his family and loved ones. Please know this: Suicide is one of the most selfish acts man can commit against another. Know also that when one is in that place of darkness, rational thought does not exist. His thought was only on trying to stop the crushing, air-sucking pain of trying to live with major depression. It doesn't mean that love for others didn't exist, only that he'd lost sight of anything but pain.
Unfortunately, suicide does lie amongst my many areas of expertise, as does alcoholism and the addictive personality. Having been in the uncomfortable position of trying to explain to a distraught mother that her troubled son, would, not might, but would, turn to self-medication with drugs and alcohol should she not seek help for him now, at the age of ten, and then being proved right five years later is not an experience I would wish on anyone.
Mental health care in our country is a sad joke. Too little access available to the few that can afford its exorbitant costs -the same old story. It is no wonder that so many try to alleviate their pain with drugs and alcohol, not realizing that those temporary solutions only exacerbate their pain. Once sucked into the downward spiral of addiction, few are able to climb their way out, even if they want to. Many find the struggle too difficult; destined for a slow and painful death.
For alcoholics and addicts that have found a solution -be ever vigilant. The late Phillip Seymour
Hoffman, with years of sobriety under his belt would always answer, when asked to define or describe himself, would answer simply: " I am a heroin addict." Despite a number of years in remission, he did succumb to the disease of addiction in the end.
I so regret and mourn the passing of Mr. Williams. Probably one of the fortunate few who could afford access to quality mental health care, his spiral down continued, no doubt in spite of supportive loved ones and access to experts in the field of addiction and depression. Unfortunately, it seems that many caught in the throes of despair are able to make it look tolerable on the surface, and in fact, seem compelled to do so, as mental illness in this country still carries a stigma that keeps so many from getting the help needed before it's too late.
I truly mourn the passing of Mr. Williams, and hope that his spirit has found a place of eternal light and perpetual peace. My heart goes out to his loved ones. I understand your pain. To lose one capable of bringing joy to so many, knowing that he was unable to find that that joy for himself seems almost unbearable. But bear it you must. Speak for him, as he can no longer speak for
himself. Be that beacon that sheds light on a disease too long stigmatized and kept in the shadows.
