Robin Williams, Depression and Grief
So many of us have been struck by the death of Robin Williams and I’d like to share my thoughts about his passing. I was feeling very very sad on Monday and Tuesday after hearing the news not so much because he had died, but because of the tremendous amount of pain he must have been in to take the measures he did to ensure his suicide would be complete.That level of depression broke my heart to know he was in that much pain.
For those of you who have read my books, you know I’ve been labeled manic depressive/bi polar because of the very serious bouts of depression I’ve experienced throughout my life. I’ve read some of nasty comments on Facebook that people are making about his death and I’m shocked by people’s insensitivity. Obviously people’s cruelty is coming from lack of understanding and compassion and that too makes me very sad. I forget that people can be so self centered and judgemental. I pray that the family be protected from the negativity and yet feel all the prayers and positive energy being sent to them.
I checked in on his soul and contrary to popular belief, he is not “free” like so many people are saying. Once again religion has done us a dis-service by not telling us that depression is in the soul, not just the physical body and this is something people have got to understand. When we commit suicide to end our misery, our misery goes with us. IT IS IN THE SOUL. I can’t count the number of souls I’ve checked in on after suicide to see how they are doing only to see how shocked they are that they are still depressed. Deep depression, versus garden variety depression, takes a lot of work to heal. We need to keep at it until our soul is no longer suffering from it. Anti-depressants can help the physical body, but for someone who’s soul came into this lifetime to heal their depression, there’s always a lingering sadness even on medication.
What causes that deep depression in the soul? Regrets, unfinished business, guilt, shame, grief from past lives that never healed. We are under the mis-guided idea that if we end a life with pain, death will erase that pain, but it doesn’t. Life is an on going opportunity for us to heal our pain and for most of us, it can take lifetimes. Who knows what was causing Mr. Williams’ deep pain. It’s none of our business.
The good news is that there are tons of wonderful caregivers, therapists, doctors, on the other side who can help his soul to heal. If he couldn’t find it here, there’s a great chance he can find what he needs on the other side. When I saw him on the other side, he was in a room with three Elders, helping him cope with his death.They were protecting him from crowds of people that wanted to welcome him home.
Remorse is a bitter pill that all suicide people have to deal with. As we come to and realize our death was accomplished, then it hits us that we’ve caused alot of pain for those still living and that remorse just adds to the situation.
There is something we can do for him on this side. Send him lots of love. Visualize him wrapped in a blanket of white light. He’s fragile right now and will be for awhile. There’s no pressure on the other side to “get over it.” The care givers on the other side understand depression and don’t treat it lightly like we do here. They talk about it openly and don’t treat it like a mental illness.
Before I end, I’d like to add a piece here about severely depressed people. If you are a friend or family member of someone who is labeled bi-polar or manic depressive, please don’t say things like “get over it” or “be grateful for all that you’ve got.” People that are severely depressed feel NO HOPE. NONE. ZERO. ZIP.NADA. No matter how much you try to make them laugh or guilt them for being sad, the best thing you can do for them is to encourage them to get help. Anti-depressants are fine, they can be very helpful, but the person still needs to address that deep sadness and heal it. Suicide seems like a great solution to all that pain, but in the end, it’s not. If you are the person who is depressed, fight for yourself. Find the help you need. Don’t just rely on anti-depressants. Take them if they help the physical body, but keep on the journey of getting the help that you need.
Robin Williams has done us a great service. He brought us great comedy while he was alive and brought a profound awareness to the forefront of depression, addictions and suicide in his death. God Bless you Robin Williams.
Very well said and written, Echo. I fully understand everything you said. D has been a part of my life for as long as I can remember. Hope to cyz on Saturday. . Blessing Dear One. . .
What I don’t understand is why didn’t the Elders on the other side help him when he was there? Why come here to try to heal?
Thanks Echo. Hugs and Love xoxo -Jeana
Thank you.
You’ve given me a lot to mull over, Echo. I was under the misguided impression if you ended your own life, then too, the pain will leave you. I suppose it is time to look for yet another therapist to help slay the demons in my wicked soul. Being Bipolar really sucks!
Hi Echo,
After my husband died in 2006, I was deeply depressed and for a whole year and a half heartily considered suicide as a way to be with him again. I happened upon a shaman/medium who helped me see what my soul looked like and I was asked by my husband to make a promise that I wouldn’t take my own life. I sadly agreed. It was the most difficult road I’ve ever had to go down and it took me a good 5 years to heal his leaving me that Sunday morning.
My life is so different now and I’m happy to say that I am not depressed anymore and no longer think of suicide as an option.
I’m not sure what my family did to support me but just knowing they have always been there for me was key. Thank you Echo for being so honest and giving all of us an update on Robin.
Echo, thank you for this . I understand now , I wish him going into
the light knowing that it was his soul contract. My healing thoughts go to him with love and light.
David
Your comments are well received by all who understand. My sadness was caught by the void he was in while he was perceived by the outside world to be giving all the joy he had to those who accepted it; I think his not being able to give that while he dealt with his physical inequities was his final demise. He, in this life’s reality, did not escape that pain bu transferred that forward and for that I thank you for your shared reality. I pray that his next life will comfort him for what he gave in this life. I truly believe this and there is no recognition for this belief. God is indeed good. Thank you.
Thank you for sharing about what happens to someone after they commit suicide. I always believed they went to hell. Which always disturbed me because my grandpa, his twin sister, my first cousin and his daughter all commited suicide. This was my dad side of the family so much sadness there. I know when I was younger I saw my grandparents both sides and my sister surrounding me and looking at me wishing they could meet me. That was the first time I knew I had a sister who got killed. Anyways I always thought my grandpa Jon was in heaven and not hell but I was told no he’s in hell. So thank you for shedding light on suicide and letting us know misery follows you where ever you go in life. Jennifer
Thanks for sharing your insights on this with us. Bipolar runs in my family and my sister committed suicide a few years ago. She stayed around this plane for a year trying to heal the hurt that she had left behind. Even though I was hurting, I was able to give her the forgiveness and understanding that she needed and she used me to contact some of the many people she had loved while she was here. I totally agree that people who are not bipolar cannot understand that when you are in that state, you do not have any hope. I’ve been there myself.
This is awesome information Echo am blessed to have you in my life. I have more judgement on this than interracial comments!
This is the best thing I’ve read about Robin Williams’ death/depression/suicide. I resonate with the description of how depression feels as I suffer with it. I’m glad, also, to know that taking medication helps but doesn’t take care of the underlying problem. I’ve been on meds for years and have taken some grief for it but it HAS helped me deal with the crap underneath. I’ve, also, been the recipient of unhelpful comments as I’ve grieved over my adult son’s death. It is so reassuring to hear things from the other side. My son is doing great on the other side and is growing and evolving; it helps me go on without him.
Dear Echo–thank you thank you. I too was so sad when I heard that Robin had taken his life. I know he was in tremendous unrelenting crushing pain because I am a fellow traveler on that road. I wish him love love and peace. He lived with pain a long time . Every picture I see of him smiling , his eyes are sadness.
I wish him and all of us who live with depression and chemical imbalance a crowd of people and professionals around us who love us by continuing the hunt for help and hope.
Victoria
Thank you Echo I have been labeled Bi polar and have struggled for a lot of years with the highs and low. Society is so cruel and people don’t care how they treat you or what they say about you. Very judge mental and ignorant. I have faith in my angels and God that they will keep me and protect me from evil. I know who I am and what I am about not society. Hopefully Robin Williams will continue to be wrapped in love and support. God Bless Echo.
Echo, thank you for putting things into perspective. It makes so much more sense. I so appreciate your insights and gift that you share.
Love this article Echo. I also looked for RW on the Other Side when I heard of his passing. I found him trying to sleep. I said his name and told him to wake up that he could find help on the Other Side and that he had a job to do to help others. I heard his voice (almost childlike) say “Awww I don’t wanna”. I told him there were people there to help him and he needed to work on his Soul Growth first. He did wake up and in a more adult voice said he’d try.
You are a wise woman. Bless you.
Echo, you explained this so well! I feel his Soul is maybe sadder than when he left..he is greatly missed!
Let me share what I understand has taken place. Echo you connected with the old energy pattern of his soul. The soul is the physical energy that gives each of us a connection to the experience of the old universe. He is very much in a new place, because he has left the old energy pattern behind, but that does not mean it has dissipated and no longer exists, so you were able to connect with it. It is like shedding an out layer like a snake and moving on, leaving it behind. Within the transformational process now taking place in the larger energetic universe, there are two dominant energy’s that co-exist still. One holds the old energy pattern’s and the other holds the new energy pattern of the awakening Energy of Self. Human’s on this planet can feel and sense the new energy emerging and growing but have not yet really been able to engage it, Most can only feel and sense the old, because the doors to the new, have not yet opened to this physical human realm.
Further more, Depression and Bi-polar is just energy. Deal with the energy that is the source for the depression and the bi-polar and the the symptoms of both will begin to disappear. Most do not realize, depression and bi-polar are caused by the guides and other unseen entities existing around our body’s and in our energy telling many, that guides are important to us. It is the energy’s of the unseen realm that are effecting you. Asking your guides to leave, that is the first step. Some may refuse to leave, even when you request they leave you alone.
So much to learn, and so few understand energy and it’s effects in all the multitude of ways it controls and influences thoughts in the mind and physical energy on this planet.
I have been working in this area of energy for the last 15+ years. I understand it well. I transition it daily. I actually had 5 short sessions over about a day working to help Robin Williams move on and shed the old energy patterns of his life. When we finished, I saw him dancing like a butterfly. Yes, I see those in the New Energy of Self, the transformation is nothing short of amazingly breathtaking for them when they actual shed the old energy skin and it’s control over and through their energy.
I am not suggesting by this comment that anyone should believe me. But I share it anyways, because I have no reason to mislead anyone!
I encourage all to believe this one simple premise:
“What we all experience does not necessarily represent where another is, but rather, where we our Self are, in each present moment of now.”
I AM!! So are You!!
So many times RW’s name has been mentioned that I’m certain it must have made him dizzy! Hopefully the Elders have put a screen around him so he will not be bothered. The NA believe if you use the name of the deceased you draw them to you. It would wear them ot if many did this.
I have been depressed much of my life, I don’t know why. I am on antidepressants and am working on healing. I was so stunned when I read the headline and then very sad on hearing how it happened. I almost feel he was a tortured soul, he brought so much laughter, but also took roles that many would not, opened thinking. I feel very sad for him feeling this was the only way to not be in pain, and for his children. Thank you for the reminder to send loving thoughts. It seems in everything in his life here, he taught lessons, even in his passing. I don’t understand all the anger and cruel comments, it doesn’t make sense to me. I know what it is like to be depressed and not let it show, I just feel sad, he brought so much joy.
People love to send cruel comments, especially online…because it’s what I call “computer courage.” The Internet is, sadly, a double-edged sword…and as usual, us humans know how to abuse it! We don’t respect it for what it should be for. I highly doubt 90% of those same people would say that to our faces, or his face.
To have that kind of hatred and nastiness in one’s soul–who is the selfish one then? Is it better to waltz around the planet boasting you decided to stay alive and not commit suicide, all while trashing others and being nasty…or be like Robin Williams, who was kind, giving, and obviously funny as hell…but just happened to suffer from illnesses that got the best of him? I’d rather be like him, versus the nasty jerks trashing him.
Moreover, most of the people–if not all–who proclaim and boast not to commit suicide are probably slowly killing themselves in other ways, anyway! Overeating (look at how fat our country is!), drinking alcohol, drugs, etc. Only difference is it’s a slow death. There are many forms of “death” in my eyes–just some are slow and some are instant, like Robin’s. I have no doubt those slow deaths still affect the family and other loved ones just as much.
I think the moral of the story is “clean up your own backyard before you run your mouth about others’ backyards.” But that would require a personal inventory and accountability…and gee, we don’t want THAT, now do we?…
Thanks so much for posting this, Echo. It was very helpful in understanding that depression is something that goes to the soul level.
Good for you, Echo, for standing up for this soul. Sadly, we live in a world where–even in 2014–we are still ignorant, and worse, apathetic to mental disorders. If someone had a broken leg or cancer, we think nothing of showing compassion to a person, because we can see it–it’s tangible. But when someone suffers from depression, we scoff, downplay or outright ignore it. Depression is truly one of the loneliest illnesses around. It is directly congruent to ignorance, which is why it makes it so lonely. I suffered from depression on and off (i.e., in waves) for decades.
The respect needs to be given to others who suffer from this, and especially if you’ve never had to contend with it. BUT, even if you have, no two are the same. There are varying levels of depression, as well as varying levels of tolerance from the person. It is the person’s private journey of his soul, and none of our business to assume–let alone judge–how that person feels, and in turn, responds to the feelings.
Robin Williams was a wonderful soul, but just tormented by things beyond what we know of via media. Always assume there is more to the story; don’t rely on media and be a sucker for its pull. Our journey is ongoing, and so to trash him as selfish for ending his life and not thinking of others…as Echo stresses–depression creates a mindset of “there IS no hope.” No bargaining, guilt, etc., will contort that. You can’t use logic in an illogical situation! When you’re at the point of despair, the walls have closed in, and have for some time. It’s beyond bargaining and bartering. Humans try to use humanized tools like guilt, shame, judgement, etc., to shift the person. This is something spiritual with a person, and is a personal, soul-journey decision beyond humanized efforts.
Can people pull out of committing suicide? For some, yes. But depression will still be there. It’s a lifelong management. Only people who have suffered from this illness understand everything I’ve written here. For those who do not, chew on it. Be open-minded enough to understand this goes beyond your mortal and limited thinking. Robin is where he needs to be.
Thank you so much for your insights about depression and mental illness– so much misunderstanding still about these confounding human conditions.
Thank you so much for writing and sharing this, Echo!! This is the first thing I’ve read about deep depression and suicide that makes sense to me. Thank you for giving me something helpful I can do as well!! Sending love and light. The blanket visual is perfect, and actually healed me years ago.
I don’t know what Robin Williams state of mind was when he died,but it couldn’t have been good. I don’t know if there was any light or if it was all pure darkness.I have had several bouts of depression and it can be just harrowing,the kind of darkness that descends on you,seemingly out of nowwhere and for no discernible reason.It is not logical,you can’t reason your way out of it.It’s like I was just plunged into deep darkness with a more and more oppressive and nightmarish state of mind.Those were the moments I wanted to kill myself but I also felt like if I did it during those moments was when it would be most horrific.
So I can understand what you mean when you take it with you.For all of the wonderful moments he had, depression was something he had to live with also.So I guess the message is, he has to deal with it here,or over there.It would have been nicer if he had stuck it out and just kept along his life’s journey but no one can understand the reasons for everything—–
Surely all the wonderful qualities he had will balance everything out and he can feel how many millions of people’s lives he touched and how much he was beloved by just about everyone.He was truly an old soul—-
Very well said, Echo! Unfortunately a lot of people don’t yet understand that what ever needs to be healed in this life, if left unfinished, still needs to be healed once we die. We have certain lessons that our soul needs to learn, and we come to each life with a certain selection of those, depending on what we want to learn in this life, as well as what we are here to teach others about their lives as well. The mental, ‘physical’ and emotional pain still continues when a person has taken their own life, however I pray and trust that he will love himself enough, and allow himself to be loved enough to heal. The prayers and love will continue on. xx
ty echo That was very nice of you to write that. Sometimes you feel all alone with depression but its good to hear that your not alone. Robin is a great comedian and I am sure his sense of humor will not die.
Awesome explanation. Thank you.
I am so glad to know Mr. Williams is being well cared for. His sweet face is everywhere – the news, magazines in check-out lines – and my heart hurts for him everytime I see him smiling at the world from those magazines. I read your book, Echoes of the Soul, years ago and have since bought and given countless copies of it to friends dealing with deaths of loved ones. Having dealt with the suicide and attempted suicide of friends, my heart sincerely goes out to Mr. Williams’ family, friends. and Mr. Williams himself. I do wish him a blanket of warm white light holding him close and infusing him with peace, strength and love. I pray he will triumph over this horrible depression. Thank you so much Echo, for keeping us posted on his wellbeing. You are truly an amazing woman. Love and light to you.
Well said Echo. Thank you. Sending Robin lots of love. xo
This is probably the most important thing I have read since Robin’s death. Sending loving energy his way.