Depression is a nasty ailment. It often targets those intelligent enough to see past the conventional facade, especially those who can translate this understanding into humour in order to enlighten the rest of us. Beating depression is a constant battle. It hurts all of us when we lose another valuable, insightful intellect. For the rest of us struggling with similar problems, I hope his life gives us the courage to keep going and to make a difference.
I don't think we can grasp the depths of severe, chronic depression of the sort Williams has struggled with for so long. The sheer anguish of living eclipses the idea of dying.
Thanks for your comments, Al and Mound. I have fought my own battles with depression over the years, but I can only imagine the depths of Robin Williams' despair that drove him to his final act.
It is sad, Lorne. I agree with you folks about the depression. It is indeed horrible and the least understood ailment. Physical ailment one can see but depression is not that obvious and only the victim knows severity of it. All the medication in the market don't help. Recent studies have shown that sometimes these meds make it worse as body stops producing serotonin.
The remedies promoted by the pharmaceutical industry are not a panacea, LD. I have read research that attests to the fact that the basic causes of depression are not really known, and whether low serotonin levels are the cause or simply an effect of depression is still very much an open question.
Lorne, I agree that it is still not well understood ailment. I understand serotonin does help the brain but these meds which claim to send more serotonin to the brain are witchcraft so far.
Depression is a stigma because some people blame the victim as being week. That does not help. Lot more research is needed to understand the ailment, its causes and treatment.
Depression is a nasty ailment. It often targets those intelligent enough to see past the conventional facade, especially those who can translate this understanding into humour in order to enlighten the rest of us. Beating depression is a constant battle. It hurts all of us when we lose another valuable, insightful intellect. For the rest of us struggling with similar problems, I hope his life gives us the courage to keep going and to make a difference.
ReplyDeleteI don't think we can grasp the depths of severe, chronic depression of the sort Williams has struggled with for so long. The sheer anguish of living eclipses the idea of dying.
ReplyDeleteThanks for your comments, Al and Mound. I have fought my own battles with depression over the years, but I can only imagine the depths of Robin Williams' despair that drove him to his final act.
ReplyDeleteIt is sad, Lorne. I agree with you folks about the depression. It is indeed horrible and the least understood ailment. Physical ailment one can see but depression is not that obvious and only the victim knows severity of it. All the medication in the market don't help. Recent studies have shown that sometimes these meds make it worse as body stops producing serotonin.
DeleteThe remedies promoted by the pharmaceutical industry are not a panacea, LD. I have read research that attests to the fact that the basic causes of depression are not really known, and whether low serotonin levels are the cause or simply an effect of depression is still very much an open question.
DeleteLorne, I agree that it is still not well understood ailment. I understand serotonin does help the brain but these meds which claim to send more serotonin to the brain are witchcraft so far.
DeleteDepression is a stigma because some people blame the victim as being week. That does not help. Lot more research is needed to understand the ailment, its causes and treatment.
Agreed, LD.
Delete