Nanu Nanu

Every time I feel brave and bold enough to talk about my illness and come forward, there's always a negative Nancy waiting in the wings.  I often think and want to scream to people like "NN" that your brain is just like any other organ in your body and when it doesn't function properly, it needs to be healed.  You wouldn't dare call someone with failing kidneys "crazy" or label them "unstable".  It's difficult for me to hear such judgmental comments from people who truly believe, "once crazy, always crazy".  Okay, I'll accept that.  I'll double down though and say that your crazy hasn't been diagnosed and treated and mine has!  I kid and digress but I hope you all see where I'm going with this train of thought.  It is dangerous to place labels on people and we are all guilty, myself included, of labeling.  

Tonight I had dinner with an old friend I haven't seen in months.  The first topic at the bar was Robin Williams and how sad his death was.  I told her about my illness and hospitalization.  I felt such strength.  When we hugged she said, "You are brave my sweet friend and I feel inspired by you."  Many of us have been affected by the suicide of Robin Williams.  It felt personal to me because I've been there.  I always love to think something good will come out of something bad.  As sad as his death is to me, I feel hope in scrolling down my twitter feed seeing all of the talk about depression and mental illness awareness.  I compiled a few which spoke to me and hopefully it well help shed light on this sad disease.  

‪@Active_Minds 10h

It's a tragic day, but we're comforted by the fact that ‪#depression is trending and people are openly discussing ‪#mentalillness

‪@gabehoward29: Still think suicide only affects a few people? Suicide. Affects. Everyone. ‪#RobinWilliams

"Crazy" is a word we throw around far too flippantly. Suicide & ‪#Depression are symptoms of a hurt human being. In need of help.

Depression is no joke. It affects you physically, emotionally, spiritually. It cannot be prayed away either. You need help. ‪#RobinWilliams

Depression is a disease. Just like Cancer. Alcoholism. Or any physical condition that robs us of life, energy, and hope. ‪#RobinWilliams

 ‪@IAmSophiaNelson

We live in a disposable "Dixie-Cup" culture. People feel left out and unloved. We need each other. We die without connection. ‪#RobinWilliams

@jillabbinanti  

It's impossible to know the internal struggles of others, which is why kindness should be our default. RIP ‪#RobinWilliams

We have to talk about it the same way we talk about any other medical condition - ‪@drdrew on destigmatizing mental illness

We can't keep losing people to something that is treatable - ‪@drdrew on mental illness and the death of ‪#RobinWilliams

 ‏‪@mariashriver  

Robin's passing is cause for a reshare. In his memory may we all be kinder to each other & work to make people smile.

When you feel like a failure no matter how many degrees, cars, homes, etc. nothing can fix it but you loving you!

Nanu Nanu...Praying Robin found the peace he so deserved.