Sometimes Love Just Isn't Enough
By dorianna
@dorianna (509)
United States
November 24, 2015 8:26pm CST
I posted the image below on twitter this evening. My reason for posting the image was to emphasize the importance of varied word usage, to not be lazy in our writing (my twitter followers are writers/poets). I prefaced the image with something about a well chosen word.
That was hours ago and still my twitter stream is filling up with likes and retweets of the image, one after another. Now I realize, it is not the message of word choice that is attracting so much response. It is Robin Williams.
Robin Williams was a well loved man. He was mega talented as an actor and a comedian. But he was loved because of his character as a man as well. He made us all laugh and there was something in his nature that drew us to him like a magnet.
That got me to thinking about depression. Depression defies all reason and logic. It comes from within, not outside forces. Some need within us that has not been gratified that rears an ugly head and an accusatory tongue. And the evil hides, it convinces the depressed person that they are shameful, that there is something wrong with them so often the person does not seek help. They just go on day after day in denial until the demon strikes and finally destroys.
One would wonder how a man so loved did not feel the love. Sometimes the empty inside becomes so large a whole that it swallows the person completely. Sometimes, even love is not enough to save a depressed soul.
What do you think? Was there some way we could have saved Robin? Do you agree there are times love just isn't enough to save the depressed?
12 people like this
11 responses
@poehere (15126)
• French Polynesia
25 Nov 15
I personally feel this fantastic actor was in the spot light way too much. I love his film he did on Good Morning Vietnam I think this one was my all time favorites of his. He was an excellent actor and a great person.
I often wonder if a person in the spot light has too much on him and they can't live or find the love they need in their life. They are always too busy to try and fill another roll and play another part. Real life and screen life seem to blend too much together for guys like him.
2 people like this
@dorianna (509)
• United States
25 Nov 15
That is a well thought out probability. There was an older comedian, I cannot remember his name who would get so involved in his characters that he would go into a mental hospital after some roles because the character and his real self got so entwined.
Perhaps with all the roles Robin played, and he did get into each one so completely, he just lost touch with himself and couldn't find his way back. Like you said, as a result, the empty couldn't be filled.
@poehere (15126)
• French Polynesia
25 Nov 15
@dorianna I think out there in this world there are others like him and Robin. I feel that these star chasers are a big problem and part of this reason. Stocking these poor people and sitting in front of their home should not be allowed. They scream freedom of the press but what rights do these people have. They follow them everywhere stocking them and dying to get one photo that will make them millions. I think there should be some laws against all of this and these people should be entitled to a life like you and I.
1 person likes this
@Teep11 (7674)
• United States
25 Nov 15
Depression is hard to deal with. I can't imagine how depression feels but I do know what sadness feels like and they're different. A sad person will be that way from time to time or because of a situation but a depressed person will feel pain continuously and without medication or prayer. They'll continue to suffer.
2 people like this
@SIMPLYD (90722)
• Philippines
27 Nov 15
Sometimes those who seemed to appear the happiest were actually the loneliest . But i guess , talking to a person who seemed the happiest by actually the loneliest , would more or less reveal the lonely person inside of them .
In my opinion , they just need somebody who is willing to listen to what they feel until they have poured them all out .
1 person likes this
@dorianna (509)
• United States
27 Nov 15
Sadness, yes. loneliness, love may heal. Depression is much more deep rooted does not necessarily respond to love or comfort. Sometimes it is even a chemical unbalance in which case no comfort can aid. But it is always good to talk consolingly to the depressed in hopes that just maybe a miracle may occur and it will have a positive affect. It certainly cannot hurt to try.
1 person likes this
@Cristi_Ichim (3663)
• Bucharest, Romania
26 Nov 15
How was his personal life? Was he married? Children? If he did not get attention from his close ones then the attention of the rest of the world is useless.
1 person likes this
@Cristi_Ichim (3663)
• Bucharest, Romania
26 Nov 15
@dorianna I pretty much doubt that a loved person will not feel the love that other people offer.
1 person likes this
@dorianna (509)
• United States
26 Nov 15
This is true. From the little we know of his personal life he has a family that loved him. Love from family may not be felt by the depressed so. The empty inside the person may be so great that he feels alone regardless of the love all around him.
1 person likes this
@Drosophila (16573)
• Ireland
26 Nov 15
A close relative of mine suffers from depression, it's pretty scary, when it hits he couldn't even get out of bed. Is it curable? I don't know. I think it depends on the person. It's difficult to know what truly goes on inside someone's head.
1 person likes this
@Drosophila (16573)
• Ireland
26 Nov 15
@dorianna That is good to hear! clinical depression is very scary, I've been told it's like fallen into a bottomless pit, you can see people try to help you out.. but you just can't quite make it out. ever.
So good to hear you were able to overcome it. It is a true beast indeed!
1 person likes this
@Hatley (163781)
• Garden Grove, California
25 Nov 15
all I can add is s ometimes too depression is a chemical imbalance of ho rmones and the person needs a physician to help him or her with
medication. I have no way of knowing if that was the case with Robin Williams he was so talented and so beloved and its a shame depression ended his life like that.
1 person likes this
@dorianna (509)
• United States
25 Nov 15
It is true that there are times a chemical imbalance exists. In that case medication can sometimes help to lift one out of depression. Although, in his profession, to be medicated might have limited some of his ability. It is sad that depression took him to soon.
@IreneVincent (15962)
• United States
25 Nov 15
I have some experience with knowing a few depressed persons. Depression is complicated and I've tried to understand it, but I can't because I'm not depressed. Oh, that we could find a way to help a depressed person. If only we could.
I worry about the medications prescribed because they are so volatile and the dosage can be wrong. Too much or too little of a medication can tip the person over the edge. And there are so many variables, with what the person eats or drinks and what other medications that are being prescribed for other conditions.
My heart goes out to the ones that I know, and to all of those, who are suffering from depression. I can only hope that they will be able to find peace in their lives.
1 person likes this
@dorianna (509)
• United States
25 Nov 15
Very well expressed. It is true even with medication it is a challenge. Like you mention medication can magnify the problem if wrongfully administered. We don't know Robin's situation, more than likely he had been on medication at some time as he suffered from depression for an extended time.
@vickyrose (2235)
• Cooma, Australia
30 Nov 15
Love maybe a big factor but we can't control the emotional and physical or mental well being of others. It's unfortunate and sad.
1 person likes this
@dorianna (509)
• United States
30 Nov 15
well put @vickyrose..we can only do so much and hope it is effective.
