Just about everyone has seen a television show or a movie starring Robin Williams. The actor won several awards for his work in various films, but he was more than just a great performer. Robin Williams was also giving and kind. He was always eager to make people laugh and provide the entertainment they were seeking. So much so, in fact, it eventually led to his death.
The Death of a Star
According to various news reports, including this one on the NBC News website, Robin Williams was found dead in his California home on August 11, 2014. While a full investigation will take time to complete, authorities are calling his death an “apparent suicide.” He was only 63 years old, and a collection of awards, fame and fortune did absolutely nothing to stop him from taking his own life.
The Downward Spiral
Robin may have been standing at the ready to make an audience laugh, but he has told the media on several occasions that it was all a cover for his pain. To hide from it, he frequently turned to drugs as a way to cope. He claimed that his cocaine addiction was something he used to slow him down, although that drug typically has the opposite effect on most people. He also turned to alcohol to drown his sorrows and to attempt to chase away the demons that seemed to be haunting him. He got sober in 1986, and he remained that way for twenty years.
Robin entered rehabilitation many times, most recently in July of this year. He hadn’t relapsed, but he claimed he wanted to make sure he was on the right track to avoid a potential relapse in the future. Even so, he was plagued by depression. The fame he had achieved did not lift his spirits, and before long he decided to end the battle himself.
We have much to learn from the life of Robin Williams. Although you might not be an aspiring Hollywood actor or actress with designs on getting rich and famous, perhaps you can relate to him a bit. Maybe there are issues in your life that are easy to run away from, as long as you have drugs, alcohol, sex, gambling, food, etc. to run to. Many people struggle with depression on a daily basis, but they don’t feel able to cope with their feelings, or they don’t have a support system in place that can help them.
It’s a lonely feeling, and if it’s not treated properly, substance abuse, process addictions and mental illness can lead to death.
If you are struggling with these issues, it’s important to get help right away. While the death of Robin Williams is a tragedy, we need to be sure his death wasn’t in vain. It is my hope that you will learn from it, and use it to drive you to get the help that you so desperately need. Help is available. A way out is there and Toronto Addiction Counselling can help you find it.
For more information, or to schedule an appointment please contact us today.
