It's been a month since Robin Williams suicide happened, pointing to depression and addiction as main causes. But the topic cannot be outdated. In fact, it pushes those in the know to work harder on studying the silent killers of depression and addiction. These two diseases or conditions are great equalizers, afflicting all classes of people, be they popular celebrities or ordinary human beings.
"When I was drinking, there was only one time, where even for a moment, I thought: 'F--k life.. . But then even my conscience brain went, did you really just say f--k life? You know you have a pretty good life as it is right now. Have you noticed the two houses? Yes. Have you noticed the girlfriend? Yes. Have you noticed that things are pretty good, even though you may not be working right now? Yes."
What's the problem then?
An article in HNGN somehow chronicled William's recurring struggle on depression and addiction. From his interview with Marc Maron in 2003 during the WTF podcast, confession with host Dianne Sawyer in 2006, and an interview with Guardian Newspaper in 2010, his take on the diseases was more of undefined search on what would make him settle with himself.
His first attempt to stop cocaine use and alcohol was in 1982 after the birth of his son, Zac, with his first wife. Apparently, the drug use was for pleasure, of which he jokingly put as "Cocaine is God's way of telling you you are making too much money."
The solace and contentment in the company of his family could explain his 20 years of sobriety. But fearfulness and anxiety gripped him again in that he experienced relapse in 2003. "It's the same voice thought that...you're standing at a precipice and you look down, there's a voice and it's a little quiet voice that goes, 'Jump,'" Williams said. That he yielded to the voice saying 'Just one' caused him another visit to the rehabilitation center.
As to cocaine use, Williams said "It's [addiction] - not caused by anything, it's just there. It lays in wait for the time when you think, 'Its fine now, I'm OK.' Then, the next thing you know, it's not OK. Then you realize, 'Where am I? I didn't realize I was in Cleveland.'"
Before he died, Williams admitted to another bout of severe depression coupled with cocaine and alcohol addiction. For this, 'the actor recently checked into a treatment center to maintain his sobriety.' This visit to the center, said William's representative, was "simply taking the opportunity to fine-tune and focus on his continued commitment, of which he remains extremely proud."
