RIPWJ (Rest In Peace With Jesus) Robin Williams
I have refrained from saying or posting anything about Robin Williams death because I really didn't know what to say, and still sort of don't, but I'm gonna give it my best shot. I have grown up with this man listening to his comedy, watching his movies, and being inspired by his bright and shining attitude when dealing with his alcoholism and drug abuse. He has entertained us for so long and has been a source of happiness for so many people and bam, his life is just gone. Snuffed out. Way to soon. And by suicide of all things. Suicide is something that is so terrifying to me because I can empathize. I admit that I have had times in my life where I have contemplated suicide because it did seem easier to just escape than to deal with the, at the time, overwhelming emotional trauma. But, thank GOD, I knew that it wasn't the answer and I was able to reach out from that despair and realize that action would hurt the people that love me far more than it would solve any problems I had at the time and that stopped me. I have suffered from depression and anxiety/panic for a large part of my life and so have several of my family members and my friends. It's something I struggle with everyday in silence and I realize that so many more people than me suffer every day as well. My prayers and thoughts are with Robin's family and his friends, and with all of us who loved him as an entertainer. I don't know the demons that Robin wrestled with as he slipped that belt around his neck but I pray that Jesus was with him as his life slipped away. I pray that Jesus is with his loved ones now as they mourn his loss and try and reason through the instant feelings of the why's, the what if''s and the deep anger and sadness that is sure to plague them for months and years.
Depression/Suicide/Mental Illness
I refrained from saying anything right away about this loss because when something like this happens, I get so incredibly annoyed with how all of sudden everyone on Facebook or other social media think they are an expert on suicide/depression/mental illness etc. Everyone has an opinion and they are sure quick to express it. I think until you've truly experienced something you can't speak for someone else and really shouldn't try to speak for someone else, ever.
I read a blog written by Matt Walsh published August 12, 2014 called Robin Williams Didn't Die From a Disease, He died From His Choice that really bothered me (he has since published a follow up after receiving thousands and thousands of angry responses) Depression isn't a Choice, But Suicide Is. Normally I agree with about 98% of the things he writes but this one about Robin really just struck me because as an up and coming addiction and mental health professional I felt that it was extremely uneducated, off the cuff, un-called for at the moment, and harsh towards mental health. It bothers me that there are people in the Christian community that seem to just ignore the facts of science and brain chemistry. While as a Jesus Freak Bible thumping Christian I firmly believe that all mental illness is ultimately caused by sin, I am not naive enough to think that prayer and prayer alone can solve all of it's issues. I say that from experience. I have prayed for a particular person in my life for years and years regarding their mental illness and at times I've seen improvement but ultimately it goes back to the illness taking over. This person refuses to admit that they have an illness, even though it's clear to so many around them. I have prayed for myself in battle against my panic attacks and my bouts of depression and what I feel I have been led to by the hand of God is to seek therapy and intervention of medication.
What I do and don't know from the Christian Perspective about Mental Illness/Depression
I am not an expert, I am not a Doctor, but I do battle it, I do feel it, I do suffer from it so I know enough about it that I can at least speak from my own experience. I do know that I have a chemical imbalance in my brain that causes me to have panic and anxiety. I do know that if I am stressed out my symptoms get worse. I do know that I battle depression and I know that I can control my depression by talking to a professional that can help me work through the issues that are causing it. I do know that medication greatly helps me keep all of this under control and I do know that I am NOT ashamed of my illness or the fact that I take medication to control it. I think the only shame in anything is when a person refuses to do anything, or refuses to admit that they need help because of pride or fear. I think that depression and mental illness have to be treated in a holistic way where mind, body, and spirit are all intertwined and treated together. We as a society have got to stop marginalizing mental illness as something that isn't a true and real disease. I think that far to many times the Christian community blames mental illness on satanic oppression/depression and makes people feel ashamed for having this illness because, they "must not have a good enough relationship with Christ or you wouldn't be sad all the time".
I think that people don't seek out the help they need or deserve because we as a society have made people feel ashamed by it. So many people have the feeling that they don't need some counselor coming into their life and telling them what is or isn't wrong with them. Or that seeing a counselor is something to be ashamed of. Mental illness has been criminalized because so many homeless people suffer from it and are homeless because of it and for some reason this society thinks that being homeless is a crime. Prison's are filled to the brim with people who suffer from mental illness and addiction and are not treated correctly or treated at all.
As Christians, it is our duty and responsibility to take care of and to care for the mentally ill, the addicted, the homeless, the poor, and the widowed. We as Jesus Freaks should NEVER EVER make someone feel guilty, ashamed, or less than or accuse them of just not praying hard enough or having a good enough relationship with Christ. Just because we are believers does not mean that we are immune from sin, develop chemical imbalances, depression, anxiety, or any other mental illness. Being a believer in Christ does not make you immune to these things and in fact makes you more vulnerable because the whole world expects you to be perfect and happy all of the time.
Death/Suicide
Death itself is such a hard thing to comprehend. I have three people in my life now that have died from deaths that really didn't make an sense to me at all. I understand death. I know that it has to happen. I know that we can't live forever in this earth but only can live forever in Christ. I am not afraid of death itself, like my life actually being done and over but the process of death is something that scares me and scares most people. I'm an not afraid to die because I know that when I do I will wake up to the face of my Savior (Psalm 23:4), but how I die, well...that's a pretty scary thing to think about. Death leaves a void in the hearts of the living, it leaves questions, especially with suicide, and it leaves questions on what is next. As a Christian I know that when we are saved in Jesus we have nothing to fear, including death because we get to go home with Him. I know that when I die I am asleep (Ecclesiastes 12:7)and that I do not suffer (John 11:11-14) and that I do not haunt. I know that when I die I will not watch over my loved ones and I will not visit them either in their sleep or when they are awake (Ecclesiastes 9:5-6, 10) and I know that nothing including death, can keep me from Christ or His love (Romans 8:38-39).
As a child I remember being told that suicide was the ultimate sin, that taking your own life was something that was unforgivable. As an adult I found that that is NOT a Biblical idea and there is nothing in the Bible that says that someone who takes their own life will not be in Heaven. But there are many versus that tell us how we can cope with feeling suicidal and that we are not alone (2 Corinthians 4:8-9) no matter how dark our future may seem. We are valuable to God (Luke 12:6-7), that God thinks about us and cares about us ALL of the time (Psalm 139:17-18) and that Jesus Christ will help carry your burdens that you feel are too heavy to carry on your own (Psalm 55:22). There are people from the Bible who thought of suicide and who did actually take their own lives (Numbers 11:14-15).
My Final Thoughts
Fellow believers and lovers of Christ...STOP your ignorant thinking and preaching that depression and anxiety are not real diseases or illness. STOP your ignorant behavior of teaching and preaching that someone does not need medical attention for their mental illness. STOP preaching and teaching that ALL people need is prayer or God in their lives. There is more science to depression, anxiety and mental illness than just a relationship with God. STOP shaming people in to believing there is nothing wrong with them.
To the depressed, suicidal or mentally ill what I know is that depression, anxiety, suicidal thoughts or even attempts, are nothing to be ashamed of. I do know that suicide does NOT solve your issues, they only take your life and leave those who love you in despair. I do know that no matter how hard it seems, no matter the struggle, your life is worth more than that hardship and that you CAN overcome it. You CAN!!! I know that I love you, that your family loves you, that your friends love you. I know that your life is valuable even when you feel it isn't. I do know that you are not beyond help, beyond saving, or beyond loving and that you deserve to be loved and to have someone, anyone, lift you up and make you feel like you are valuable.
If you are depressed or suicidal PLEASE reach out to someone, anyone, ME, your Pastor, your parents, your teachers, local police or medical professional. Please call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-8255.
If you recognize someone who maybe suicidal or in need of help for their depression, PLEASE, don't make them feel like they are just acting crazy. Take them seriously and educate yourself on depression and suicide at The American Foundation for Suicide Prevention Take this seriously and do something about it instead of just ignoring it or thinking it's all in their head because while yes, it's in their head....but I doesn't have to be. An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure!
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