Robin Williams has passed away...

[Kitty 34]

How sad.

 

[MaryAnnDVC]

Ed Asner is on the phone on Jane Valez Mitchell and sounds so unbearably crushed.

 

[ChrisFL]

I am saddened, but not entirely surprised about his depression. He was highly talented and sometimes that also means that there's just a unique mind that can't always cope with things the way the rest of us do.



I always loved his role in "What Dreams May Come" which is about the afterlife

 

[pigletgirl]

He struggled with alcohol and cocaine, but had been sober for about 20 years - until he checked himself back into rehab last month (reportedly due to alcohol).

In any case, a very tragic loss of a great actor.

I didn't know that about him. I knew about the bipolar because he did a documentary about mental illness with PBS and shared his struggles with the illness.

 

[Chernabog#1fan]

Williams was bipolar. Unfortunately, many people with this disease begin feeling better and quit taking their medications. They will then he get manic or depressed. It gets harder to treat. Plus he was an alcoholic which adds fuel to an already very hot fire.
I am not saying he got off of his meds but many who do end up committing suicide.

This is what happened to my children's birth parents and it scares the heck out of me that it will happen to my son when I can no longer make him take his medicine. They did not commit suicide, but self medicate with the alcohol and drugs.

If anything good can come out of this, I hope it is that we can really make changes to the mental health system in America and make it okay for people to talk about their mental health issues without being shunned.

 

[TLSnell1981]

So sad.

 

[Jennasis]

I'm gobsmacked and so heartbroken!

 

[lynxstch]

I just read this on the DIS, hadn't heard about it. Very sad. He was a comic genius in so many ways. The Genie in Aladdin was my favorite role of his, along with Mrs Doubtfire. He will be missed..RIP Robin

 

[Jafar30]

So unbelievably sad

 

[Patch'sD]

RIP, You very funny man. Thank You for all the laughs, You were one of the Great Ones. Nano, Nano.

 

[DisneyJamieCA]

I didn't know that about him. I knew about the bipolar because he did a documentary about mental illness with PBS and shared his struggles with the illness.

According this article he didn't actually fall off the wagon when he checked in last month, so I stand corrected on that part, but he was very open about his early battle with both cocaine & alcohol.

http://www.people.com/article/robin-williams-back-rehab-sobriety

 

[Jennasis]

Depression is a scary thing. How someone can be that depressed while being beloved by millions...so sad.

 

[java]

May you struggles now be over. May you rest in peace. Thank you for the laughs.
A reminder that just because someone is smiling doesn't mean they are happy.

 

[Tuffcookie]

R.I.P., Robin. Your talent will be sorely missed.

TC

 

[anniemae]

RIP Robin

What a tragic loss. He has been making people laugh for decades. I loved his performance in Dead Poets Society. I also enjoyed his recent show The Crazy Ones. So many amazing performances.

 

[anniemae]

I forgot to add that it is so ironic that someone who was so funny and made so many people laugh and was so loved could be so troubled. What an awful loss.

 

[Disney1fan2002]

I don't know if I have ever been this affected by the death of a celebrity. I have a stomach ache right now, I am really shook up. I just can't believe it.

Maybe when I heard the news about Princess Diana I had this kind of reaction. I know I was tremendously sad over her death also.

 

[Jennasis]

Smile, though your heart is breaking...

 

[plutosbuddie]

May you struggles now be over. May you rest in peace. Thank you for the laughs.

What kind words.. Matches my heavy heart.

 

[Disneychick75]

This is what happened to my children's birth parents and it scares the heck out of me that it will happen to my son when I can no longer make him take his medicine. They did not commit suicide, but self medicate with the alcohol and drugs.

If anything good can come out of this, I hope it is that we can really make changes to the mental health system in America and make it okay for people to talk about their mental health issues without being shunned.

You're right. Mental illness is attributed to chemical imbalances. Really, whenever a person is sick in any way, there is some type of imbalance in their systems. Why should mental illness be looked at any differently?

I forgot to add that it is so ironic that someone who was so funny and made so many people laugh and was so loved could be so troubled. What an awful loss.

I've heard several comedians say they become comedians because either their home lives were bad or because comedy is funny and is the opposite of how they feel.