The death of Robin Williams sent a shockwave around the globe. Finding out that the funniest man alive has committed suicide is a hard pill to swallow. As we mourn the loss of a great actor, his death sparked a worldwide discussion about addiction and depression. These conditions are usually swept under the rug or treated like the elephant in the room. Everyone knows it exists but no one wants to talk about it.
Robin Williams’ Comedy Career
Robin Williams began his career has a stand-up comedian. He became well-known in his role of Mork, the loveable alien, in the hit series “Mork and Mindy”.
Since the beginning of his career he has appeared in 83 movies and 27 television series. Some of his most notable roles have been in films such as Patch Adams, Good Morning Vietnam, and Mrs. Doubtfire.
Upon learning of his tragic suicide, fans had a difficult time believing the actor behind these inspiring and heartwarming characters could commit suicide.
An Attempt To Save Robin Williams’ Sobriety
Robin Williams has always been honest about his past addiction to cocaine and alcohol. After the birth of his son, he vowed to become sober. He stuck to his word for twenty years until 2003 when he was working in Alaska. Being away from his family, he began feeling alone and once again returned to alcohol as a comfort.
After three years of drinking, his family staged an intervention and he admitted himself into a rehab facility. While he was there, he worked to fine-tune the aspects of his sobriety. He then attended weekly AA meetings to continue his journey of sober living.
Robin Williams’ Struggle With Depression
Studies have shown that depression and addiction tend to go together. Many people who suffer from depressive episodes will rely on alcohol or drugs to try to manage the symptoms of their depression. Of course some substances can work to exasperate the depressive condition causing the individual to become more depressed.
Robin Williams is a classic example of this. While he completed an alcoholism recovery program, he was still left suffering from depression. The mental illness was left untreated which eventually led to his untimely death.
Mental Illness And Addiction Treatment
Here at Avalon Malibu, we specialize in mental illness co-occurring with addiction. You will be in good hands while receiving treatment and participating in our personalized treatment programs. We ensure that the focus is on your specific addiction and recovery needs.
