Robin Williams. Can't help but think....

[Anonymous]

Geez. Google it. Parkinson's itself can exacerbate depression. Plus, the meds he was prescribed for Parkinson's can exacerbate depression...and have some bad effects when mixed with the other antidepressants he was likely on for his bipolar disorder.

[Anonymous]

Maybe OP is manic, and thinks she's being coherent and thinking straight. OP, with no stigma attached or intended, and with care, may I suggest you talk to your pdoc about your state of mind. Meds may need tweaking.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Not well reported in the press, the PP is correct. Parkinsons comeswith severe depression - it's all about the dopamine and the meds. He was suicidal due to that....not the other - he had already battled those for years. Most people do not understand Parkinsons. They think it is tremors, its for old people...

He literally died from complications of Parkinsons...not mental health and stigma issues.

You don't know why he killed himself. Your hubris is repulsive.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Not well reported in the press, the PP is correct. Parkinsons comeswith severe depression - it's all about the dopamine and the meds. He was suicidal due to that....not the other - he had already battled those for years. Most people do not understand Parkinsons. They think it is tremors, its for old people...

He literally died from complications of Parkinsons...not mental health and stigma issues.

You are taking a leap saying this so definitively.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Maybe OP is manic, and thinks she's being coherent and thinking straight. OP, with no stigma attached or intended, and with care, may I suggest you talk to your pdoc about your state of mind. Meds may need tweaking.

OP here: I am bipolar and I am not manic. You might want to take a look at why you can't understand a simple concept. Here is an analogy. Where would we be today if we did not educate ourselves about AIDS? We would still treat people with AIDS as lepers. That's how mentally ill people are treated. BTW: I think it is shameful to not educate yourself about mental illness.
What don't you understand?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Maybe OP is manic, and thinks she's being coherent and thinking straight. OP, with no stigma attached or intended, and with care, may I suggest you talk to your pdoc about your state of mind. Meds may need tweaking.

OP here: I am bipolar and I am not manic. You might want to take a look at why you can't understand a simple concept. Here is an analogy. Where would we be today if we did not educate ourselves about AIDS? We would still treat people with AIDS as lepers. That's how mentally ill people are treated. BTW: I think it is shameful to not educate yourself about mental illness.
What don't you understand?

Your analogy is flawed, OP. Bill Frist, a medical doctor no less and former Senate Majority leader incorrectly stated that HIV/AIDS could be transmitted by human tears in 2004:

http://www.actupny.org/reports/frist_ethics.html

Patient zero appeared in the US in the early 80s. Ignorance lives on my friend no matter what.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Maybe OP is manic, and thinks she's being coherent and thinking straight. OP, with no stigma attached or intended, and with care, may I suggest you talk to your pdoc about your state of mind. Meds may need tweaking.

OP here: I am bipolar and I am not manic. You might want to take a look at why you can't understand a simple concept. Here is an analogy. Where would we be today if we did not educate ourselves about AIDS? We would still treat people with AIDS as lepers. That's how mentally ill people are treated. BTW: I think it is shameful to not educate yourself about mental illness.
What don't you understand?

I don't get you, OP. Maybe you are worried about the stigma of bipolar, but he wasn't. He received treatment for years. He discussed his depression, he even admitted in interviews to suicidal thoughts. And on top of that he had Parkinsons, which is not a bright future for anyone.

So the last thing that killed him was stigma. Maybe you feel the stigma, but he got past it. He took his meds. Do you know when he didn't? When he was performing, because he said it dulled his comedy. Maybe that killed him. But lack of understanding from the world at large did not.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It was the mix of meds he was on (primarily the new one for his Parkinson's) that exacerbated his depression.

Hmm. I thought he was pretty torn up about the fact of the Parkinson's diagnosis itself. I guess it's hard to say what exactly tipped the balance with such a hurting individual.

I have read that in the early stages of Parkinson's, your dopamine receptors are severely affected. It may have been a "false low" exacerbated by the Parkinson's messing with his brain. For someone prone to depression I imagine that could have been incredibly difficult to discern from a typical depressed period. He may not have realized it was the Parkinson's or that it could be treated.

Would there be a problem if he died of mental illness? Is it easier to tell yourself he died of side effects of Parkinson's? He was mentally ill long before his Parkinson's diagnosis. He was a wonderful talented man who suffered from mental illness for a long time. I stand by my belief that we need to educate ourselves about mental illness. The world could have supported Robin Williams instead of suffering in silence. At one point cancer held a stigma. I hope we get over the stigma of mental illness.

No, it would not be a problem and believe me, you're preaching to the choir in terms of believing we need more infrastructure to help those suffering mental illness. But my point was, I don't think it's as easy as saying "he battles depression for years but lost this time." There were mitigating factors at play, i.e. Being in the early stages of Parkinson's and the accompanying side effects that brings. It's a bit more nuanced than "he was depressed." He had battled the depression before. I believe it's possible he could have again had it not been for what Parkinson's was doing to his brain.

[Anonymous]

It is a fact that mental illness carries a huge stigma.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It is a fact that mental illness carries a huge stigma.

Nevertheless, stigma did not seem to affect Robin Williams personally. Otherwise he would not have been talking to the press about his mental health issues.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Maybe OP is manic, and thinks she's being coherent and thinking straight. OP, with no stigma attached or intended, and with care, may I suggest you talk to your pdoc about your state of mind. Meds may need tweaking.

OP here: I am bipolar and I am not manic. You might want to take a look at why you can't understand a simple concept. Here is an analogy. Where would we be today if we did not educate ourselves about AIDS? We would still treat people with AIDS as lepers. That's how mentally ill people are treated. BTW: I think it is shameful to not educate yourself about mental illness.
What don't you understand?

OP, you responded to my post, and I do understand, because my spouse of many years is bipolar. I also know it's pointless to argue with a manic person, so peace to you, and consider getting your meds adjusted.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It was the mix of meds he was on (primarily the new one for his Parkinson's) that exacerbated his depression.

Hmm. I thought he was pretty torn up about the fact of the Parkinson's diagnosis itself. I guess it's hard to say what exactly tipped the balance with such a hurting individual.

I have read that in the early stages of Parkinson's, your dopamine receptors are severely affected. It may have been a "false low" exacerbated by the Parkinson's messing with his brain. For someone prone to depression I imagine that could have been incredibly difficult to discern from a typical depressed period. He may not have realized it was the Parkinson's or that it could be treated.

Would there be a problem if he died of mental illness? Is it easier to tell yourself he died of side effects of Parkinson's? He was mentally ill long before his Parkinson's diagnosis. He was a wonderful talented man who suffered from mental illness for a long time. I stand by my belief that we need to educate ourselves about mental illness. The world could have supported Robin Williams instead of suffering in silence. At one point cancer held a stigma. I hope we get over the stigma of mental illness.

He didn't suffer in silence and was pretty open about his mental illness and the substance abuse that accompanied it.
The world may not have been receptive to what he had to say but it's not because he wasn't talking about it.

[Anonymous]

I get the sense that RW was a jerk. He cheated on his wife with the baby sitter. He spent a lot of time trying to get everyone to like him. Too nuts for my taste.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Substance abuse
Somewhat sexual promiscuity
Experienced the highest highs (manic)
Experienced the lowest lows ( depressed)
Can you imagine a world where mental illness did not have the stigma that it does?

He had been receiving treatment for years.

Exactly. He had just gone in for a tune up a few months back.

Mental illness killed him, not a stigma, not a belt, not alcohol/drugs, and not primarily the recent Parkinson's diagnosis (though I understand why his wife wants to believe that).

[Anonymous]

You don't know why he killed himself. Your hubris is repulsive.
[Report Post]

?? Do you even know what you are talking about?Are you on the wrong post? Weirdest comment ever.

Yes..he had Parkinsons. Yes,depression is the first stage..yes..it is often depression that can lead to suicide. Yes, the treatment for Parkinsons is a med that deals with dopamine levels. Yes...he died from a Parkinson's complication.

Do you understand what hubris means...because no one understands your comment.

For what ever reason...everyone on this thread seems to be focusing on lots of reasons as to why he decided to kill himself such as bipolar, etc. Clearly- after the fact, his wife reported on the early Parkinsons diagnosis. Those of us who understand Parkinsons - also realized what happened. If you have not been there, or are not familiar with this stage, as many people are not,you will not understand. Nope- it's not hubris,it is just a fact.