re: Henry Rollins on Robin Williams suicide

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Everyone's close-minded but you.

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EXACTLY. THat's EXACTLY what I mean.

You start by not bastardizing things you don't understand. Then you tear down the wall that keeps (mostly) men from seeking the help of a mental health professional. Let's start there. Stop trying to act all tough (not you specifically) and say how you would NEVER do that. You/we hopefully don't know how you would react because you haven't dealt with severe depression for years on years.

We just try to make the world a little less critical and maybe our sons/daughters will seek the help they need the INSTANT they notice these issues in themselves. Maybe none of the therapy will even help them, but it's a helluva lot better practice than just "manning up."

Im sure all the people that feel RW didnt act cowardly and selfish by ending his own life believe alcoholics are infected with a disease called alcoholism.

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The fighter in my says Robin Williams and most (not all) suicides are straight up cowards who are afraid of fighting - particularly when they leave family behind - children

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Oof. As someone who has been to that brink, this is a very ill informed statement. Most people dealing with depression are fighting it on a daily, if not hourly basis. We see the externals of a person, the moment they break down. But that moment isn't the manifestation of depression, it is the accumulation of who knows how long of fighting and fighting and fighting until exhaustion and despair sets in.

Yes treatment is available but there is no one off cure for depression. Sometimes the drugs merely intensify your depression. Sometimes there's no change. It can be a very long process with very little hope in sight until the right dosage or treatment is hit upon.

And some of you might be surprised how quickly friends and even family members will abandon you. It's not easy going through life feeling like a burden to people and it is not easy dealing with a loved one who has depression.

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I just fail to see how ending your life is cowardly.. I'm certainly not brave enough to asphyxiate myself or blow out my brains

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Eh, when you come down to the actual moment bravery or cowardice is not in play.

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agree?

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150%

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Alcoholics and drug addicts, genetics be damned, have some responsibility in their situation.

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Choice is involved at the beginning of addiction and at the end. Nobody takes one drink and becomes an instantaneous alcoholic. They have to make a conscious decision at some point to go past normal into a state of physical addiction. And with highly addictive substances - they've made a choice to partake and subject themselves to the possible addiction.

And none of them quit until they choose to stop. They don't quit based on being advised by others.

Suicide is also a choice and can be a very selfish event. If you're doing it to avoid a terrible disease for which there is no cure and ultimately a terrible death - MS, ALS etc - I can see the logic, but I would think a discussion with your loved ones would be the "fair" thing to do. But suicide randomly for no reason other than sadness due to some life choices is plainly selfish...it just takes the individuals personal sadness, trials & tribulations and dumps it on all of his loved ones.

Willy, your wanted on viber