Robin Williams RIP: Coping Mechanism?

mamagui · Aug 13, 2014

I have been so incredibly touched at the outpouring of love toward him since yesterday. So heartbreaking. He have us all a precious gift in his performances, and in his unscripted moments as well. I watched an adorable video of him with CoCo (not the late night tv host :) ) and I couldn't help but smile at the warmth that it put in my heart.
I hope he has found peace, and I hope his family and loved ones are able to heal from the tragedy of losing him. If there is anything to gain from this (not that I could ever wish to gain something from the loss of life), it is that there is no immunity to mental illness. It touches all races, all income levels, and even those in the spotlight can slip through the cracks and be lost forever.
It feels like something like this should be preventable..... But then sometimes people don't want to be saved, and go at length to ensure they aren't. It's just so sad.

Well said.

wishiknew · Aug 13, 2014

I am not even in the same area code as Robin Williams, as I am a nurse. But I CAN tell you that I suffer from chronic severe major depression, and not much makes me feel better than making someone laugh!

NurseNed · Aug 13, 2014

For what it is worth - I found this in a blog written by a comic strip artist/comedy writer.

I share it for your consideration.

For me, it explained things I have seen, felt and heard in a more clear light than I have understood previously.

I think, while with a bit of intense language, given the writer's personal thoughts, feelings and experience, it is a very good explanation and gives telling insights on what may not be a well understood aspect of certain personality developments.

Given the intensities of Robin Williams' performances, of which I have been fascinated and awed by many, I think this is an exceptional behind-the-scenes look.

Robin Williams and Why Funny People Kill Themselves | Cracked.com

One of his Directors commented that the only thing faster than his mouth was his mind.

RIP Robin, and thank you for your portrayal of Adrian Cronauer, with whom I served in RVN during his time there and safely laughed my head off while flying my L19D as Shotgun15 in my Sector in the Mekong Delta.

thnx,

NN

BeOne77 · Aug 13, 2014

Just posting my personal opinion based on my experience with this as well as looking in a somewhat objective sense....I believe that mr. Williams went to a treatment center in the beginning of July for his addiction to alcohol and depression and while there was given medication such as an antidepressant or an anti-anxiety pill which unbeknownst to many on this board do not understand the implications of switching meds or withdrawing from them which can induce suicidality...you may be aware that the antidepressants themselves have these warnings as well but when put into an extreme position of a CT withdraw if indeed this happened at this facility (no one knows for sure) the resulting effect is downright mental torture, with intrusive thoughts, anxiety and terror, panic, breathing and cardiac palpitations, a suffering like no other, so before you judge this man on just plain , bipolar, alcoholic, drug addicted maybe using humor to combat it all, I really don't believe anyone can comment to to this except for those who have experience themselves with taking and withdrawing from psychotropics...it not only changes your neurochemistry, jolts the CNS but brings thoughts and images worse than your favorite horror flick...........And to think this is drug induced....It was his choice to do this... just as anyone can deny chemo, surgery, or any other medical procedure..

..and if you care to comment or post challenging views pm me and i'll bring you to a world of sufferers who are trying their damndest to get off these drugs reregulate their brain chemistry, return to homeostasis and survive after being given these drugs...And perhaps you might be more wary before encouraging the "mentally ill" to take their meds. It is no fun, a serious issue and a lifetime of rehabilitation after taking these drugs which not only mess with brainchemistry but result in kidney, metabolic, liver, heart and TD,NMS, antichlinergic effects, stomach issues, severe nerve and muscle pain among over 3000 side effects for some drugs such as Abilify and Seroquel, when in all reality before a dx is made in a casual 20min visit, there are no blood tests, x-rays, biochemical markers, brain scans only on medicated subjects or gene tests to determine this when in fact new studies have come out that psychotropics only 50% metabolize in the system, ......

...the research out there has been flawed in regards to clinical trials, safety and the truth of FDA approval in which drugs are given the green light in 6-8 weeks on small test subjects and do not include those who dropped out..And no one discusses the significance of discontinuation syndrome, serotonin syndrome and no one acknowledges the severity of withdrawal syndrome which should be in all reality a college course for nursing and medical students alike in which needless suffering can be avoided if there was places to go for withdrawal and educated individuals assisting with the process and not just brushing it under the rug calling it depression, schizo, bipolar, ocd, gad, etc.. ...and then adding more drugs for this symptom, the next symptom..and yes the antidepressants can cause Mania as well as anti-anxiety drugs can cause depression and worse symptoms...

.We do not know enough about the brain to be haphazardly throwing meds at people as a once size fits all solution when their minds are the most precious piece of hardware....Their must be other solutions, Not everyone is on these drugs, they must have some idea.?? And for those of us who have been through the med merry go round and withdraw...please don't judge people who have gone through this, have a dx and for me will continue to speak out at the dangers of these medications...Been on both sides of the fence as a patient and healthcare provider...for too long.

LadyFree28, BSN, LPN, RN · Aug 13, 2014

For what it is worth - I found this in a blog written by a comic strip artist/comedy writer.
I share it for your consideration.
For me, it explained things I have seen, felt and heard in a more clear light than I have understood previously.
I think, while with a bit of intense language, given the writer's personal thoughts, feelings and experience, it is a very good explanation and gives telling insights on what may not be a well understood aspect of certain personality developments.
Given the intensities of Robin Williams' performances, of which I have been fascinated and awed by many, I think this is an exceptional behind-the-scenes look.
Robin Williams and Why Funny People Kill Themselves | Cracked.com
One of his Directors commented that the only thing faster than his mouth was his mind.
RIP Robin, and thank you for your portrayal of Adrian Cronauer, with whom I served in RVN during his time there and safely laughed my head off while flying my L19D as Shotgun15 in my Sector in the Mekong Delta.
thnx,
NN

Great article. :yes:

Most of us can relate to living behind a mask or a wall; there are plenty of us who struggle and play roles to cope; no matter what income, notoriety, culture or race; we can ALLL remember being THERE at some point in our lives; some are still living in those moments; that would be our pts, and sometimes ourselves.

ixchel · Aug 13, 2014

BeOne77, I feel the emotion behind your post and offer you hugs, first and foremost.

A standard nursing education will include psychiatric nursing, including these medications - taking them and stopping them, and the dangers of both.

You seem to be frustrated by assumptions and thoughts shared here, while you, too, share assumptions as well. This entire thread has been filled with sympathy and support, in addition to discussion relating to a question we're all wondering - what happened?

None of us can possibly know. Only he knows what happened, and he took that knowledge with him.

catmom1, BSN, RN · Aug 13, 2014

Thank you BeOne77 for breaking your post into paragraphs. :up:

I agree with your point that pharmaceuticals are not a panacea. In my case, my lifelong depression stopped when I got good therapy and stopped the anti-depressant merry-go-round. Everyone is different but the medical system is way too drug and profit oriented, IMO.

We will never know for sure what was going on with Mr. Williams but my heart goes out to him and his family and friends.

Rest in peace, dear one, in the arms of the angels.

Catmom :paw:

jtmarcy12, BSN, RN · Aug 13, 2014

Aurora77 how can you tell from his comedy that you thought he may have been bi-polar?

jtmarcy12, BSN, RN · Aug 13, 2014

ixchel: you are so correct, this disease like any other illness can affect anyone no matter if rich or poor, and any race, or country. This female minister taught a womens bible study class and one day she said she had read ALL of the literature on mental illness and there is no such thing!! She felt eveyone should just not take anti-depressants, and then I asked her would she tell a person to stop their insulin injection and she said, no. It was useless to argue with someone like that. Needless to say I no longer attend that church. She was not the pastor just one of the ministers.

Mental illness still has a stigma attached to it. Many people who need to seek help will not. At least the world knew aboutMr. Williams struggles, he did not try to hide his troubles, and from his death I pray that those who are suffering will get help, they need not suffer alone. God Bless.

Ethicsrn4life · Aug 13, 2014

I think this was a great post about Robin Williams and how people that seem to make us laugh might use this as a coping mechanism,

I am a psych nurse and counseling intern and disorders like depression are so complex that people will use humor, overdoing for others as away of giving because they feel very guilty about not being able to be happy. They have this distorted view of not contributing and being a burden to others because of not being able to just buck up.

This is such an important discussion about the need to destigmatize psychiatric and emotional conditions. A lot of these conditions are chronic like diabetes.or heart disease and long term support and treatment will be needed,. Going to rehab or taking meds are just a couple of tools and they are not meant to fix just help. There are many tools as well as professionals needing to be ok about going outside of the box. Because people are different and their needs should be individualiized. Depression can look very different on each person,just like eye colors. And people suffering need real teaching about having sick days just as a person with diabetes has to use different management.techniques on sick days,so does a person suffering with any chronic illness like some psych disorders.

Support systems need to undertand that some psych conditions will be chronic and how to assist on sick days. We don't have to be afraid of psychiatric illnesses if we understand what is going on and how to assist in the management of these disorders or conditions. People do not have to take their own lives if they know tht they have the support and that a psychiatric illness is not a judgement or indictment of their self worth or personhood.

I am truly saddened about Robin Williams and others SUFFERING in silence, feeling isolated and ashamed that they have sick days.

I know from working with so many adults and kids dealing with depression and other psych disorders the internal fight that they have. So many believe that suicide is a way to relieve the burden that they feel they are placing on loved ones.

It is a judgement to say that suicide is a selfish act because the truth is the previous statement as well as just trying to relieve their pain. And as their support systems we don't understand why they can't be happy or what we can do to help. We minimize the power of presence and move to trying to fix or move away because of the feelings of helplessness. We don't have to feel helpless in having a loved one who suffers from a psych illness and they don't have to feel alone.

We need growth on both sides about understanding and that there are things we can do and it does not involve fixing anyone.

I send out prayers and many blessings to those dealing with any psych,emotional, or adjustment issues. You are not alone and suicide is not the only way out of your pain.

God Bless us all as we grieve these losses. Namaste

KelRN215, BSN, RN · Aug 13, 2014

ixchel: you are so correct, this disease like any other illness can affect anyone no matter if rich or poor, and any race, or country. This female minister taught a womens bible study class and one day she said she had read ALL of the literature on mental illness and there is no such thing!! She felt eveyone should just not take anti-depressants, and then I asked her would she tell a person to stop their insulin injection and she said, no. It was useless to argue with someone like that. Needless to say I no longer attend that church. She was not the pastor just one of the ministers.
Mental illness still has a stigma attached to it. Many people who need to seek help will not. At least the world knew aboutMr. Williams struggles, he did not try to hide his troubles, and from his death I pray that those who are suffering will get help, they need not suffer alone. God Bless.

I was discussing this with my colleagues at lunch today. The stigma is part of what prevents people from seeking help. If your colleague is diagnosed with cancer and has to take a medical LOA to go through treatment, everyone rallies around her. People offer to help in anyway they can. They bring meals, they take care of children, they help with transportation to appointments. On the other hand, if your colleague needs to go into the hospital because of depression, bipolar, schizophrenia, does ANYONE react that way? Or do they huddle in the corner and whisper about how Suzy went off the deep end?

If you have a colleague who has diabetes, more than likely you know it. That person likely has no qualms with checking her blood glucose at work or self-administering insulin. The person who sits on your right, however, may have mental illness and never discuss it with you. We don't talk about it. If you were a hiring manager and someone came to you with a resume that included a 6 month lapse in employment, explained that she'd been ill with cancer and took time off to pursue treatment, more likely than not, you'd understand. If that same person explained the lapse by saying that she needed to take time off to get her schizophrenia under control, would you be just as understanding?

Ethicsrn4life · Aug 13, 2014

Very nice post to Robin thank you. It just made me smile thinking of those lines from his movies. I don't believe there has been any comedian still here or passed on who has set the platinum standard for improv like Robin Williams. I hesitate to use the word genius because of its overuse and misuse, but Robin Williams was in a class of his own. I truly regret not having been an audience member of one of his tours....i can only imagine. Sleep well sweet prince, sleep well.