Watched MSNBC tonight regarding Robin Williams. They were all talking about his depression. I

[jwirr]

kept thinking about my brother who is bi-polar. When he is up he is really flying but when he is down he is in deep depression. His mood swings are usually toward the depressed side but each person has their own type of mood swings. I wonder if Robin may have suffered in this way? He was brilliant and I loved him but like many I did not see his pain until now. The world has lost a great talent.

[lovemydog]

1. That's quite possible, jwirr.

It's such an awful monster and it can transmogrify in horrendously painful ways. Words cannot do justice to how many radically different forms it can take, and how suddenly it can take them.

Blessings to you and to your brother. Yes indeed, the world has lost a great talent. His wife wants him to be remembered for the laughter he brought. I'd suggest that we all take some time and consider those who bring laughter and joy to our lives. They are often suffering enormously at various times.

Whenever someone commits suicide, it's remarkable how many people who knew her or him remark what a kind and loving soul that person was, indeed.

[jwirr]

3. Thank you.

[WillyT]

2. (((((((jwirr)))))))

[jwirr]

6. Thank you Willy.

[Archae]

4. I'm a mild manic-depressive.

My downs turn into anger.

Not rage, but I can get angry at the piddlyist things.

[jwirr]

5. I understand what you are saying. My brother is very severe and has a hard time functioning but

other family members have much milder forms and at least one has the anger issue. He has learned to control it so that it does not turn really violent but it is there. We can trace this back for generations and unfortunately we can also see it in all too many members of our family. It is indeed a terrible disease. Painful. Take care.

[MFM008]

9. yes

im lite on the mania, heavy on the depressive. Both are unbearable. Life is medication adjustment.

[jwirr]

11. I am familiar with that as well. Our family kind of all live in one area and at one time one of the

local psychiatrists had all of us using him as our doctor. It was interesting.

[BainsBane]

7. I recall seeing him on the Tonight show in what appeared to be a manic stage.

[gvstn]

8. Yes, I don't want to be an armchair diagnostician, BUT

I really think anyone familiar with Bipolar disease would say he was bipolar. I just don't think it was all stage persona/acting. Heavy on the manic so possibly terrible lows as well.

He really was too amped up in public for it to be considered normal. I know they are saying he had cocaine/alcohol issues when he was younger but that really doesn't explain his constant, what I would call, hyper activity. Again, my personal view is that he was bipolar and probably didn't want to give up the manic states. I can sympathize.

The only other actor/comedian that I can say I felt the same way about was Andy Kaufman. Maybe his act was just an act but I felt the same way about him but he wasn't quite as manic and perhaps more depressed.

I never felt quite comfortable watching either of their acts but Robin Williams did show in a few films that he could tone it down so I could be way off base here.

[jwirr]

10. I don't know for sure either. My brothers wife once told me that a LOT of persons with bi-polar are

also extremely talented in various ways. My brother is not - his depression does not give him time to create.

Whichever way I am glad that Robin was able to share his talent with us.

[magical thyme]

12. I saw his pain every time I looked at him.

It was etched in his face; it was in his aura.

I think a lot of comedians suffer from depression. Their comedy is a desperate attempt to tune out the pain. If you can keep laughing, it keeps the pain at bay. Unfortunately, you can't laugh 24x7x365. And once the pain seeps in, it floods and overwhelms.

[jwirr]

13. I have thought of his comedy as his way of controlling his depression. It was a good response.

[area51]

14. You might be interested in this article

which was posted on another thread.

http://www.cracked.com/quick-fixes/robin-williams-why-funny-people-kill-themselves/

[magical thyme]

15. thank you. dead on. nt