Saw this rainbow immediately after I heard about Robin Williams. Not sure it means anything but it brought an ounce of comfort in a sea of sadness.
But I don’t mind
‘Cause all comedians suffer
On the outside
Try so hard to look tougher
But there’s a cost
When you radiate sunshine
And dreams get lost
Like keys get left on the counter
“All Comedians Suffer” by Neil Finn
This song rattled in my head when I heard the news about Robin Williams. I thought to myself, how could someone who radiated so much sunshine succumb to the grip of gloom? How could his dreams have gotten lost? How could he have killed himself?
I guess the pain was just too much.
In hindsight, I guess the signs were there that he suffered from depression. He battled addiction (self-medication). And I can list several hyper-creative people who have battled mental illness. Fertile soil grows great weeds as well as great crops. But last night still came as a shock. A shock that really left me, well, depressed myself.
I guess it’s easy to ask, “With all the bad news in the world why we should care?” Well, it’s BECAUSE of all the bad news. The world is a frightening place. ISIS, Ebola, war in the Mideast, the turmoil in Missouri, the economy — you name it. How could the world lose someone who has provided so much joy? Particularly now? We need MORE people who bring light and joy into this dark world, not less.
I just wish someone could have helped Robin Williams find joy at that moment of his darkest hour.
Depression is a sneaky thief that lies you as it pulls a shroud over your eyes. I know. It lied to me, too. The year after I was diagnosed with cancer was the most miserable time of my life. Anxiety, fear and gloom joined together to cripple me. I was terrorized to a standstill. It’s hard to describe it, really, because it was reality for me. My world was in chaos yet it seemed so normal. So painful. So overwhelming. This lie was reality to me. Thankfully, the storm passed because I got help. I made changes that made incremental improvements. Joy returned to my life. If you see me out running a million miles, you now know why.
But the bottom line is this: Mental illness shouldn’t be stigmatized; it should be treated. Williams wasn’t crazy. He was ill. If he had had cancer, high blood pressure, lung disease, rickets or any other disease, we wouldn’t think twice about him seeking help. Mental illness isn’t just in someone’s head. It’s not selfishness. It’s your brain lying to you. There are treatments. There are ways of getting people help. I know many good people who won’t seek that help because they think it will cost them their jobs or that people will think they’re “nuts.” Some insurance plans won’t even cover therapy. This has to end.
If you know someone with depression, reach out to them. Love them. Get them the help they need.
Me? I’m going to celebrate the force of nature that was Robin Williams. I’m going to watch Good Morning Vietnam, Dead Poet’s Society, Mrs. Doubtfire and Good Will Hunting. I’m going to appreciate an amazing life. One that has been snuffed out way too soon.
Thank you, Marshall, for expressing in words what many are feeling.
Thank you Marshall. You have said a lot that I would like to say as well. The loss of Robin Williams, in extension a Mississippian (great-great grandson of a governor), hit me hard because I too suffer from depression. Help is there if needed, even if you don’t have money for it (contact the Regional Mental Health Service in your area. I hope you can put together another outstanding cartoon about this. Thanks.
Thank you, Marshall, for your moving and heartfelt words.
Spot on Marshall! As usual my dear.
Beautifully written, I am dealing with mild depression but got help. My circumstances have not changed but the way I handle the situation has changed. It really was hard to write this post. Thank you for the friendship that allows me to feel comfortable to admit this on a public forum.
Mental Illness is killing this wonderful nation, Please, if you know someone who need help, displays signs of depression reach out to them, Let them know it is okay to seek help.
I just read a letter from Dr. Daniel Amen, a leader in brain images and studies, and I think he’s on to something here. I offer this as encouragement to anyone who might read Marshall’s post to go help change the culture and/or seek out additional help if you need it. http://www.amenclinics.com/
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Our imaging work has taught us that depression is not a single or simple disorder, but rather like a chest pain with many different causes, each requiring their own treatments. Our scans have taught us that some depressions are manifested by over-activity in the brain, while others show underactivity. Some depressions are caused by physical or emotional trauma, while others can be caused by Lyme disease or brain infections. Still other depressions can be caused by the long term effects of drugs or other toxic substances, such as the chronic exposure to paint fumes. Without looking at the brain, psychiatrists are flying blind, and therefore hurting people by not giving them the most effective treatment as quickly as possible.
Now is the time to change the psychiatric paradigm and to bring it into the future by looking at the brains of our patients before we blindly lead them into the very scary world of psychiatric treatment.
From someone who is likely looking at suicide – very, very soon, I too just read this, and appreciate, Marshall, your sharing with us, your own depression. I’ve struggled with it for many years, but in the last few, I’ve had a “perfect storm” of insurmountable problems, fired at me like a .45, from every direction. I’ve had a hard time finding help to solve these problems, one series of (related) problems so terrible, that I was diagnosed with serious PTSD, on top of the raging, disabling depression, so I figure my time’s up. I feel worse, everyday, and everybody has given up on me, long ago. Better luck to all of you, who are lucky enough to have close, helpful family and friends. And more strength to those who, like me, don’t.
God Bless You…