R.I.P. Robin Williams

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I’ve spent much of this week thinking about a true 90’s icon in Robin Williams, who spent most of his life making us laugh and now, the end of his life making us cry and as I think, I can’t help but feel like I miss him, even though I never met him. And by the way, sorry to any of my former English teachers who may be reading this – that was a true run on sentence! Haha.

Seriously though… from the time I was a kid, I remember watching Robin Williams films – from “Mrs. Doubtfire” to “One Hour Photo,” “Good Will Hunting” to “The Birdcage.” He was truly a pioneer in film and comedy and will obviously be missed – he had a way of making you feel like you were his friend without even meeting him.

One thing I want to say about this whole tragedy is something that I try to be cognizant and remind others of from time to time – that depression is very much REAL and very much a DISEASE. As a guy who has occasionally struggled with it but persevered, I feel I can talk about this topic.

Simply put, depression can make you feel motionless, as if you have a ton of bricks on you. You can suffer and feel inadequate and as if nothing will ever get better. I think most everyone can relate to that but obviously, some more than others, and its important to recognize the difference between feeling the blues and feeling down, which EVERYONE has happen, and truly having the disease of depression.

When its a disease, many times the sufferer doesn’t exactly know why he or she is upset, distraught or uneasy. Those who have the chemical imbalance to start with are more prone to have dark episodes when non-ideal life situations become present. They “can’t think clearly.” That’s one thing to remember – just because you’ve been depressed before about an event, doesn’t mean you suffer from DEPRESSION.

One thing that makes me REALLY UPSET is when people say someone who is depressed is “selfish.”

Is having cancer selfish? No.

Is having arthritis selfish? No.

Depression is just like those two things – a disease. I hope the death of Robin Williams is able to bring this topic to the forefront once more, and maybe save a few lives, as we begin to recognize what a tragedy this illness is and hopefully, begin to treat it better.

One other thing on the topic of diseases – it was reported today that Williams’ wife Susan Schneider says that Williams was in the early stages of Parkinson’s Disease. That, coupled with lifelong depression and other issues, make this ending that much more tragic.

I wish Robin’s friends and family peace – especially his daughter Zelda, who had to quit social media from unthinkably bad and uncalled for tweets from “fans.”

May Williams’ family feel the strength of the majority of the world as they suffer and may Robin’s death not go in vain.

Until next time, take care, and keep livin’ the 90’s dream.

-Dave O

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