The Silent Killer

As I write and compose this post, the world has just learned the news concerning the death of one of our comic genius's, Robin Williams. Robin struggled with depression for many years and in addition, dealt with physical ailments and substance addictions. While he was publicly open regarding his battle with depression, none of us, his closest family included, knew how bad it was until he saw no other way out. Robin chose to take his own life as a way of escaping what seemed like insurmountable problems. Sadly, it wasn't his heart or the drugs that ended his life, it was the depression that killed him.

I have had my own struggles with depression and addiction. In mental health practice, we call it a co-occurring disorder. Those who struggle with mental illness often self medicate for any number of reasons. For some, it may be just to take the edge off of reality and the struggles just living our daily existence presents. For others, their addiction may be what they believe to be the gateway to a deeper revelation or enlightment. For many, addiction to any number of substances serves to numb the pain that we feel internally, not realizing that our addiction is doing even more damage. We reach a point where we can't function without our addictions.

Mental illness now has a face. All too often, when people think of the mentally ill, they think of those who are chronically homeless, the maniacal criminal elements of society such as Charles Manson, or those whose addictions have only served to magnify their illness, such as those people in recent news reports strung out on bath salts. As we now know, mental illness affects those too whose lives bring others joy. It affects those who would seemingly have immeasurable resources at their disposal to help keep their demons in check. Mental illness knows no bounds. It can affect our friends, our neighbors, our family. It affects rich and poor alike; it does not discriminate. It can affect you. It has affected me. And now it has affected millions through the death of an entertainment legend.

As time goes on, and the memorials poor in, Robin Williams will be remembered for any number of roles he has played in life. "Mork & Mindy", "Good Will Hunting", "Mrs. Doubtfire", "Good Morning Vietnam" and so many others. I hope though that we can remember him as one who struggled daily with mental illness. I hope we remember that even though he lost his battle, no one else has to. There is help. There is no shame in saying, "I have a mental illness, and I need help". It could be those very words that save someone's life. It could be those very words that save your life. 1-800-273-8255

http://www.suicidepreventionlifeline.org/