Abbie Stillman
The Paw Print
Robin Williams, a comedic icon as well as inspirational actor. He was born in Chicago Illinois on July 21, 1951 and was sadly found dead in his California home August 11, 2014. From his voice in Aladdin as the Genie to Good Will Hunting and Dead Poets Society; Williams was a beloved and inspirational actor, and fathered three children, Cody, Zelda and Zachary who shared their deepest affections towards their father in various articles on the web, magazines, and newspapers.
According to Zelda Williams, her father was, “always warm, even in his darkest moments.” Williams struggled with cocaine and alcohol problems as well as severe depression, which can take its toll on anyone. Obviously this wasn’t public information as the Williams family was fairly private about such issues. Williams proved how caring and loving he was by entertaining US troops while overseas.
Depression, unfortunately, got the best of Mr. Williams. “I was shameful, did stuff that caused disgust- that’s hard to recover from.” Drugs and alcoholism was only temporarily relieving his depression. While there are articles suggesting Williams could’ve been saved by electroconvulsive therapy, people must realize depression and addiction problems are not to be taken lightly. Nor is it something to make fun of or bully someone for. Many may say that suicide is a choice, they did it to themselves. Yes, suicide is a choice, for some it seems to be the only way out. Depression is still a dangerous illness, an illness that has taken thousands upon thousands of lives that also could have been saved.
Williams was also the early stages of Parkinson’s disease, a disorder in the brain that leads to shaking, difficulties walking, and difficulties with movement as well as coordination, which I can only imagine made the depression far worse. Not only was his mind working against him, but his body was beginning to fall apart as well. That is not an easy thing to deal with. Depression alone can take over your life and lead you down a path of drugs and alcohol, which Williams was already fighting problems with. Add uncontrollable shaking and suicide may look like your only option.
Many think depression is nothing but an excuse to give up; those who suffer from depression go through long periods of time of feeling useless, pathetic, no energy, what’s the point in living any longer, and Self-loathing kicks in which they wonder why anyone would like them or love them or want to be around them at all. They may binge eat or stop eating anything. Maybe they bury their depression in drugs and alcohol just to die. They end up sleeping all day, stop exercising, stop caring about anything but the fact that they’re depressed and there’s nothing they can do about that.
If anything, people should be in awe that Robin Williams chose to live as long as he did. For years he provided smiles, laughter, and joy to countless families across the country and world with his humor and kindness. Robin Williams, you will forever be loved and missed.
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