I suffer many trials and tribulations like everyone
else. My physical disability is an apparent battle that I struggle with.
However, other battles aren't quite as obvious. Recently, the well-known actor
Robin Williams took his own life because he battled depression. This is a
disease, which I battle as well. The stigma of depression is overwhelming
sometimes. If one finds out you suffer from depression, they look at you
negatively. There are more negative consequences of depression in my estimation
than with being obese or having afflictions.
With
Robin Williams's death, I was set back. It shocked me that someone with such a
promise and an appreciation for humor like myself, could not fight his demons
anymore. It got me thinking, and to be honest, it got me questioning myself. I
often wonder if I am strong enough to battle this internal struggle that I deal
with every day. Hopefully, with Mr. Williams's death, people begin to realize
that depression isn't something we can take lightly anymore. Mental health, in
general, in this country, is not given the attention it deserves. Hopefully,
with this tragedy, more attention will be paid to depression, immensely, and
mental health in general. If something does not change soon
with the way society views mental health, tragedy will continue to occur.
Those close
to me know that I suffer from depression, but only those who also suffer from
depression can understand what it is like every day. Some days, the pain is so
great it is like nothing you have ever felt before. There are other days that
you are happier than you have ever been to. It is a delicate balance between
the two; what works for me does not necessarily for everyone. The tricky part
of depression is that it is unique to every individual. Its cure is not found
in a medical book. Its symptoms are not obvious, and it is not often talked
about. Some of you who read this may wonder why I am disclosing that I suffer
from this disease. The answer is quite simple. The stigma of depression needs
to be broken. More people need to talk about what is going on inside their
heads rather than just pretending like it's not there. If we do not change our
view of depression, what happened to Mr. Williams will happen again. Mr. Robin
Williams, you will forever be missed, and you were one of my favorite people.
