R.I.P. Robin Williams

I am not an overly emotional person. If I saw someone famous I would not swoon or faint or shriek. Yet today I am deeply saddened by the death of a man who I did not know, but touched my life all the same.

Who in my generation did not grow up watching Robin Williams? Who has not been cheered up by his comedy?

Yet it was reading about his struggle with bipolar disorder that helped me in many ways. As a parent you want the best for your child. When S got diagnosed with Bipolar I wondered if she would ever have a future. I wondered if she would even make it to adulthood.

When I read about Robin Williams struggles, and about his success, I had hope.

When S was younger I would often tell people that her condition was chronic. This was when I was actively trying to keep her from 'flying' off of buildings. When we could not have even plastic knifes in our house. When we could not go out in public because her rages were so sever. In those days it was impossible to not think about how this disorder could claim her life.

Yesterday it did claim the life of an amazing man. Suicide is never the answer. Yet for families living with mental health issues it is constantly hanging over their heads.

The day before Robin Williams' death L had an episode where she told her sister, and then myself, that she was planning on killing herself. We were trying to decrease her anxiety medication and days before I noticed that her behavior was worsening. She was already receiving the higher dosses, I just needed them to get back to full effect.

It is hard not to picture my little girls succumbing to this disorder when I heard the news of Robin Williams death.

I will never be able to express to Mr. Williams the gratitude that I had when he shared the struggle with Bipolar. There is so much stigma attached to it. Yet it finally was talked about.
Even now, with his death, the reality of bipolar disorder is being spread throughout the internet.

PsychCentral
Communities Digital News
Huntington Post
USA Today
NBC

I truly believe that Robin Williams has now found peace. His life made millions of people better. He is a role model to everyone, and especially those living with bipolar disorder. It is sad that in the end bipolar disorder claimed his life.