DawgTalkers.net Forums DawgTalk Everything Else... RIP Robin Williams

j/c

I've sort of refrained from posting in this thread. I certainly enjoyed Robin Williams and the first time I ever remember seeing him was on a show called Fernwood Tonight.

After following the thread for a while, I've seen something I feel has a very profound impact that I hope will come out of this tragedy. People actually discussing and offering a supportive hand to those who have major depression issues.

A death of a celebrity often gets a lot of attention in the press and then simply fades from the headlines. But if such a death can bring more awareness and help to those who suffer from the same ailments, something positive can come from the rubble of such an awful event.

I've seen a bit of that in this thread. People discussing their issues and support pouring out from fellow Dawgtalkers. It does a heart good to see this. This is a much larger issue than the death of Robin Williams. If it can be seen and used as such, the better off we'll all be.

Any Dawgtalker is more than welcome to PM me any time. I'm no expert by any means but I did lose a brother to suicide in a somewhat similar fashion. Sometimes just an ear to listen and a word of encouragement helps, and those things I can do.

Sad situation. The guy was a manic depressive....today I think it is called bipolar.

The guy was a live wire. The substance abuse is what gave the guy his edge. He could handle that in his youth. As he aged, he had to make changes, but those changes took his edge.

That was his Catch 22. He couldn't live without his meds, and he couldn't live with them.

I never really cared for his humor all that much, though I appreciated his obvious talent. As a dramatic actor, the guy was under rated. One of my favorite scenes ever..the day those boy's turned in to MEN.

JC

RIP Williams. A bit shocked when I heard the news. Extremely sad.

It makes you wonder if he'll have a funeral like in the movie Toys. A line of bumper cars going to the burial, a laugh bag in the coffin, and a elephant grave marker that blew bubbles. I personally believe comedians should go out with a laugh.

Maybe he will be cremated, put in a lamp that has, "itty, bitty living space" engraved on the side, and it will blow bubbles when rubbed.

I think it took a lot of courage to share that w/us. My offer is the same to you as it was to blue. Please pm me if you ever wanna just talk. I probably can't help much, but I will listen and that is often helpful.

Excellent post, bro. Very well said.

The Fox Network reporter that called him a Coward for killing himself sure had a serious change of heart in less than 24 hours..,LOL

RIP Robin.

I don't post often, if at all. Mainly read what you guys post... but his death hit home hard especially with the suicide talk. One of my favorite movies of his that I saw as Jr in high school is "What Dreams May Come". His wife commits suicide. After him and his kids die in an accident.

But the reason it hit me so hard is that I never thought I could be hat low. Used to think to myself how could you not want to live. Now I know.. I lost my wife in March to suicide. She was 26 yrs old 2 weeks away from graduating nursing school. And it's been the lowest 5 months of my life. Struggle everyday to fake a smile to friends and family.

So when I saw that robin williams could do that the "funby" guy which is how my family sees me. Its scary.

Sorry to hear that man.

I originally came to the Browns board to talk some football. Still love doing that.

But another reason I stay is because of posts like this.

Real people are on my computer screen... and almost all of them are good folks- the kind most people would want in their lives.

Pit's 'open-inbox' policy is shared by me:
Anyone, anytime.

I'll listen. I'll be honest. I won't judge. I'll do the best I can.

_______________________________


Already, something good is coming from Mr. Williams' death: we are openly offering to help each other in times of trouble. That's the very definition of 'community.' Without community, all of us are alone.

As sad as I am for his family and friends... as sad as I am for all his fans...

...I can't help but to smile just a little, as I read this thread.


I'm in good company here.

I've always thought that when someone dies, if you don't have anything kind to say, don't say anything.

Pretty simple.

Man, I am so sorry to hear about your wife. I can only imagine what going through that must have been like.

If you need anything, remember that you have friends just over the border,

I have a friend who went through a bunch of stuff. He has been my best friend since High School, but like many long time friends, we lost touch for a while. He was always an active, physical guy, who what also the best artist I knew. His art was his passion, and his occupation. Then he had a stroke. Thank God his wife was there, saw him drop, and knew to give him aspirin right away. She saved his life. However, the stroke left him unable to use his hands like he used to. He worked as an artist for his whole life, and had that taken away from him in an instant.

He never recovered the find motor control necessary to go back to drawing and paining like he used to. After he recovered from the stroke, he tried to find work, because his disability claim was denied. He went to work for a local Wal-Mart, and seemed to be OK with his new lot in life, until one day he showed up for a midnight shift, and took out a box cutter in the middle of the store, and started carving up his wrists. He jokes about it today, but sometimes I still cannot tell if he is happy that someone saved him, or not. I know that he loves his wife beyond anyone he ever has, and she has stuck by him no matter what, and his son helped him to get back from some of the worst while he recovered, but he still has that deep and abiding sadness that was never a part of him in all the time I have known him. This thread reminds me that I really need to pray for him as well. I have kind of forgotten to do so lately, as other concerns fill my mind.

This situation, and my own issue with a bad reaction to a prescription a while back, have really changed my opinion about depression and mental illness. I know that there are things that can happen to the human mind, body, and spirit that can really push you off the ladder in the matter of a second. I am so thankful that when I was slipping, that I had someone to call who could help me, and that I still had the presence of mind to do so.

Really depression is something never, ever to be overlooked. Get help if you or someone you know suffer from it. As hopefully this will shed light over an overlooked disease.

Know the feeling as I myself suffer from it and need medication and seeking psychologist help.

RIP Robin, Gone Way Too Soon!

Peen - I'm in the same boat as you. Didn't really get too much into his comedic roles, though I liked his improv stuff.

I'm a little unusual in that my favorite film of his, by far, is Dead Poet's Society. That scene you posted is one of the reasons why. Great film, IMHO.

Thank you guys, sorry to kind of ramble not make sense on that post. Was just having one of them nights, and was reading the thread. It's rough that is for sure.

Frankly I take very little on this board very seriously, after all it's just a message board for Christ sake... this hits home, not because of Robin williams, he is just a face on my 36 inch screen at home and is more character than person, but rather for those faceless screen names here, that I have deveoped somewhat of a kinship with..... here you have a brother in kind.

almost exactly 32 years ago, I sat with the potential instrument of my death in my hands and debated whether the time and circumstance was such that I too, should end it all. The walls closed in and the demon stood behind me telling it was easy and quick, and would end the pain.

For whatever reason , lack of courage, or having more courage, I stopped.

Over the next two years I spent a life of total debauchery, you name it, I did it... probably,in retrospect with an eye to complete the task I was unable to bring to fruition that day.

Then in the spring of 1984, after spending $726 on a weekend shooting coke, ( now Ilived with a drug dealer , so that was may costs, it was closer to $1500 to you), I came to the realization that the demon still stood behind me and made the determined, concious decision to stop and other than too much alcohol a few times and a good doobie now and then i have stayed the course.

Met a lovely lady who has granted me too great kids and a life. Everyday i conside rmyslef the luckiest man in the world. I have had on every computer monitor I have ever had a small sign D-726, which brackets my bout of severe depression Death - to - $726.

On a weekly basis, ( and this is no lie) I see that demon and still he calls me, [perhaps he waits until my timely death and wil take me to my Hell or allow me to Heaven, I do not know. This morning, perhaps spurred by this story I saw him standing along side the country road at 4:30 and the same shiver ran down my spine that i had 32 years ago. But he holds no power now, perhaps he never really did.

So Blue, JPPT, Vers, Pit... anyone who needs to vent, to talk, a shoulder, a back, I am availabbe, I am but a simple person, who fought his demon and was able to come through the tunnell, scarred but alive, happy and sad, retospective and unyielding.

If you have faced demons, you know .... you just know.

One of my favorite scenes/movies ever ... loved Williams in Dead Poets Society. Thanks Peen

One of my favorites was the 'spud sucking pogue' scene in Death to Smoochie.

that is freakin great!

A couple of days ago I began a post in this thread and deleted it. I felt compelled to share like so many of you on here, but that's not really who I am. I'm more of a private guy to faceless names. That is meant with no offense to anyone on here. I happen to believe that most people are good inherently. We are all different, but I believe at our core we are all good too. I have no doubt that if I were to meet many of you face to face we would likely become friends. Even Vers, PDR, Jules, and Toad ...

This thread wasn't as long two days ago as it is now, but after so much sharing, I finally feel like submitting this post. I've struggled with anxiety for about the last 8 years. I'm not quite sure why they link depression and anxiety, but if you have anxiety they want to put you on anti-depression medicine. I've never felt like taking my own life, but I have this terrible fear of getting sick and dying. I have had numerous panic attacks which are scary as hell, and the anxiety manifests itself into all kinds of physical symptoms. I've had so many tests and scans for so many things. I can have a really good 4-5 month stretch where I'm fine, then have a three month stretch where I feel like I need a Xanax on daily basis just to get through the day. Before this all happened to me, I would have probably been very dismissive of others who have anxiety ... probably would have thought they were weak. But the mind is a powerful thing, and once you get in that cycle, it's tough to reverse it. I don't know if anyone else struggles from anything like this on here, but at least you know that I do.

And as long as we are sharing, I had the blessing of my life happen last year. My wife and I welcomed our first children into the world, twin girls. They are the best thing that has ever happened to me, but it was quite a journey. We suffered through numerous miscarriages prior and an extremely difficult pregnancy. Half way through the pregnancy we got some really disappointing news. One of our daughters had a birth defect ... her intestines did not form completely ... and she would require surgery right after birth to put it back together. On the surface, it was a routine surgery with no expected long-term impacts ... kind of a one and done. But whenever there are birth defects, that could mean other issues. This particular birth defect has a high correlation with Down syndrome ... about 1 in 3. It was disappointing news, but we elected not to test for it because it wouldn't have made a difference anyway. If she was born different, we would love her no matter what.

My wife's pregnancy was a very difficult one and our girls ended up being born premature by 5.5 weeks. They only weighed 3.5 lbs each. Our one daughter was a rock star. She needed no assistance at all ... no help breathing or anything ... which is normally needed when born that early. Our other daughter needed help, and when I saw her facial features I knew right away that she had Down syndrome. It's a crazy feeling to feel so lucky and blessed and so hurt at the same time. It actually makes you feel guilty. How can I possibly be upset at such a precious gift from God.

So the journey doesn't end there, but I will try and wrap up. My wife nearly died the night after giving birth and both of my daughters were in intensive care. My daughter with Down syndrome was whisked away to another hospital for a heart surgery ... a defect that went undetected until the day she was born. It was a crazy several weeks.

On September 10, 2014 my girls, my little princesses, will be one year old. For the first time in my life, I actually feel what it is like to love someone more than you love yourself. That saying the words "I'd give my life for you" are not empty words. I fear for my daughter with Down syndrome ... I fear for her future, but we will give her all the love and support and every opportunity to be everything she wants to be. They say there is a grieving period for parents when they find out their child is not normal, but because of the whirlwind of everything that happened, I didn't really get a chance to go through that period. Sometimes I think 'why us'. Why does everyone we know have normal kids and we had one that wasn't? But then that makes me feel guilty as hell. And no matter what I would never trade her for anything. My wife and I are truly blessed.

So now you all know a little bit more about Rishuz ... not that you wanted to ... and I'll probably regret posting this in about 5 minutes.

I hope you don't regret posting that personal information and it is fantastic testimony. I'll keep you and your family in my thoughts/prayers.