Medical lessons from Robin Williams

cp418

http://www.kevinmd.com/blog/2014/08/medical-lessons-robin-williams.html

 

wallycat

I was never a fan of his, but I am deeply sorry he struggled so much, never mind the anguish he put his family through.

They can send a man to the moon, you would think a cure for cancer and mental illness should not be that far behind.

Meow13

Kind of what I was thinking they know even less about mental illness than they know about cancer

When I was diagnosed with BC I was so afriad of the treatment and I just couldn't stand the idea of being in agony in a hospital slowly dying over a period of months.

lightandwind

Thanks for posting cp418. We'll miss him. Some news shows are calling him a "coward" and "selfish". Breaks my heart to hear people judge him at a time like this. But it is easy to judge someone when you don't walk in their shoes. Robin Williams had shoes that most people would  never have the courage to wear. Though he was emotionally tormented throughout his life, he embraced life with passion, and this was shown most notably by his passion for humanity. Over and over he showed his compassion- for the human spirit. He gave so much to us through his expression of himself, and who really does that? to the extent that he has? Not many. We don't know how much someone is suffering, and when enough is enough. He was suffering physically as well as he had scleroderma. His choice might not have been "selfish,". Ending suffering sometimes is an act of compassion. Many of us know that by now. Not condoning suicide but just adding some perspective, and some compassion for the pain that he must have been feeling.

To return to the topic of research. Depression needs compassion and honesty. Let's have some clinical trials on this practice, and start edging out the use of  these anti-depressants that have side effects of suicidal ideation. Itis troubling to me that we live in a society that has taught us that there has to be a pill for everything.  

Meow13

Some how people don't think depression and addiction is real. Society needs to change it isn't that people afflicted are some how weak or selfish. It isn't that if they weren't strong enough to overcome, or selfish not thinking of their families.

Also mental illness is treated like the plague, so many people are suffering and need real medical treatment. I wish we understood more on how to help.

auroaya200882

I agree that mental illness is real, but it CAN be treated, I suffer from bipolar depression and been taking meds for that since 2009 a few months before dx for bc. When I was an adolescent I had a run in with suicide attempt. In my opinion and experience, there IS a component of selfishness in suicide. It is an ACT of CHOICE. At least it was in my case. Now, in my case some people might attribute it to immaturity, all I know is that I would NEVER try it again, and not only because I'm in medication but because I could never put my family through that again.Having said that I love Robin! and will always remember him for his humor and sensitiveness. I can only imagine the torture he must have being going through to make that choice. If I didn't have the kind of support I have (family, psyquiatrist, group therapy, medication) I can easily imagine I could reach that point specially with having a "death sentence" hanging over me all the time like I do with Stage IV bc. But thankfully such support does exist. Perhaps Williams did not have all the support he needed. He asked for help just a few months ago so he must have been missing something. We will never know. May he rest in peace, no more nightmares, no more anxiety and pain.