Today, the entertainment world and audiences worldwide mourn the tragic death of veteran comedian and actor Robin Williams who reportedly ended his own life after battling a history of drug abuse and depression. As many across the web reminisce of their favorite flick or performance by the Mrs. Doubtfire, Patch Adams, Good Morning, Vietnam!, Mork & Mindy and Goodwill Hunting actor, I thought I’d repost some words of encouragement and outreach for those out there who may be suffering with depression ,currently.
If there is one thing that can be learned from other recent suicides of Disney star Lee Thompson last summer, designer L’Wren Scott this March and blogger Karyn Washington a month later, it is that depression and mental illness have no one look. Those suffering may wear a mask or normalsy or a smile , while suffering silently. Depression can be concealed, and can be happening to those near and dear to us, right under our noses.
You never know what demon or issues people are dealing with, so check in on your friends, family and neighbors once in a while.
Look for Warning Signs. Help Someone
So it’s a good time to remind ourselves to reach out to those personally around us if we notice mood and behavior changes, letting their appearance go, dropping out of school or hobbies, avoiding friends, not sleeping well, or a big change in mood, reach out. Let them know someone cares and you are there for them.
This is true especially, as in the case with Karyn, if there has been a life altering episode, or another situation that leads to extreme emotional stress. Heed to warning signs that someone may be suffering with depression.
If you have had suicidal thoughts, Please Stay.
If you are reading this, and you have had suicidal thoughts, and are dealing with so much sadness, loneliness or other anxiety that you feel you cannot cope any longer with the pain, please remember that “this too shall pass.”
“When one door closes, another opens; but we often look so long and so regretfully upon the closed door that we do not see the one which has opened for us,” Alexander Graham Bell famously said.
An unknown author quipped, “Nobody trips over mountains. It is the small pebble that causes you to stumble. Pass all the pebbles in your path and you will find you have crossed the mountain.”
It may be really hard to come to grip with the grande scheme of life and your perspective may be skewed right now because of how you are feeling, but trust me when I say, there is a light and hope and happiness waiting for you on earth.
Find someone to talk to and if you don’t feel you can open up with some there is always the National suicide prevention hotline for US residents (Internationally for others) where you can get help and guidance, and perhaps a referral to some place where you can get personal, confidential counseling at no cost too.
There is good and beauty everywhere.
Try to concentrate on the positive things about yourself and your life. Make plans this weekend to get away and have some fun. Splurge on a manicure or facial. Enjoy the weather and if it’s raining, check out some movies you’ve never seen. There are so many out there you haven’t watched.
You cannot end it all now. (smile)
Live for another day. Survive this.
(((((hugs)))))
