In the wake of Robin Williams's suicide, everyone seems to want to put in their two cents. So here's mine.
Depression is an awful, debilitating disease. I've been there and am not writing this to judge but because I hope someone contemplating ending their own life might read it and it may make a difference. This morning, I heard Henry "The Fonz" Winkler say when people are depressed they can't see what is just outside of their own minds. I think that's pretty well said. I had some serious struggles with depression as a teen and have often been asked what someone could have said to have helped me. I'm not sure that anything could have. Once you are that sick, sick enough to consider suicide, it's hard to believe anything other than what your sickness tells you. However, there are some beliefs and truths you can try to know and hang on to. I hope maybe one of these what I consider truths may stick with someone who falls into depression and may be the thought they cling to while seeking proper help. To me, that's worth all the people I'm about to tick off. My fear is that some depressed teen without some of our life experience sees and hears the media hype and what appears to me to be some making Robin Williams out to be some sort of martyr for depression and they follow suite. I believe he was tormented by depression and I know living with it can feel like hell on Earth. However, suicide is never ok and retweeted quotes about a genie finding his freedom make suicide sound like an acceptable solution. There is danger in that! We have to remember:
1. God gifts us with life. It is not up to us to decide when to end it. Suicide is sinful.
2. The family is left wounded for life in a way that can never be healed. They will forever wonder why they weren't enough and what they could have done differently. The children may never feel whole again because of his actions. Suicide is selfish. If I ever have a thought of suicide, I picture my daughter on her wedding day without her mother there. I have no business marring that beautiful day for her.
3. Suicide is a permanent solution to a temporary problem. As The Lord and my mama have reminded me many times, "This too shall pass." But not if you don't let it. Not if you choose to miss out on years of years of joy and laughter and babies and grandchildren all because of a temporary problem or time of pain becoming overwhelming.
4. The world will not mourn your death and remember you like the celebrities. You are not Kurt Cobain, Robin Williams, or Marilyn Monroe. You matter very much to those who love you but seeds in sick minds can grow in strange ways when fed by mental illness. Suicide is not the way to find the love and acceptance you are needing. More likely feelings toward you will be of anger.
5.Suicide does not always work. Ever see the guy on Oprah who shot himself in the face with a shotgun and lived? You think life is hard now? Try living with permanent disfigurement, brain damage, etc. from an unsuccessful suicide attempt.
6. Our life is not our own and we are not here for the soul purpose of our own pleasure. My teenage years were rough. I had some pretty miserable times. However, the empathy and "grit" I developed during those times allow me to love and advocate for the special needs child God has blessed me with later in life.There is more to your story than what you are feeling now!
