Goodbye to the Funny Man

 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.



 

Comments

  1. The Voiceless MinorityAugust 15, 2014 at 8:19 AM

    Thank you, Jay, for bringing about an awareness to an often "dismissed" illness. Although you may not feel brave, your testimonial can help remove the social anxieties of having an honest and open dialogue about depression, and that is brave. All too often, suffers of depression attach themselves to what they feel is a "social stigma; " and hence, making their illness seem transparent and even more difficult to approach. Robin Williams' death; while tragic, will prayerfully bring about an awareness to a very real problem and open a very honest dialogue.

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