COURTESY OF 20TH CENTURY FOXAre you familiar with the film Mrs. Doubtfire? I watched it recently, and I have had it on my mind a lot.
It’s the story of a man who would do anything to connect with and bring joy to his children in the wake of his divorce – even disguise himself as an elderly female housekeeper! He spends his days working for his former wife, taking care of the children and making them laugh, all in makeup and an old cardigan.
Robin Williams plays the father of the children and the title nanny, Mrs. Doubtfire, with his usual comedic charm and really makes them both come alive. His luminous personality really leaps off the screen.
He was a soul so bright that when production of Steven Spielberg’s Holocaust drama Schindler’s List became so grim and suffocating, the director would actually call up Robin Williams to have him tell jokes to the movie’s cast and crew and chase away the darkness.
As I was watching Mrs. Doubtfire, I would see his smile and hear his laughter and as grateful as I was for the light that he brought into the world, I could not help but be struck with sadness by the life that he lived.
The late 1980s and 1990s saw Williams playing several characters known for their zeal for life. They were often contrasted with straitlaced organizations, like the military (Good Morning, Vietnam, 1987) or a boarding school (Dead Poets Society, 1989), or against a sad situation, like terminal illness (Patch Adams, 1998), or divorce, as in Mrs. Doubtfire. This painted Robin Williams as a bright ray of sunshine in an often dark and dreary world.
But in an interview with ABC news in 2006, Williams shared that he struggled with severe depression. He said, “It’s not just being sad. It’s not just, ‘Oh, I’m feeling down.’ It’s not that. It’s an inability to just react to the joy of life, to the big things and the small things.”
Beloved by his industry and the world, bringing laughter with him wherever he goes… unable to find joy in life?
It is especially tragic to consider that his life spent making others laugh was cut short when he tragically took his life in 2014.
To me and to so many in the mental health community, Williams’ story serves as a reminder that depression is an illness and as such it can afflict anyone.
We may wonder if we are becoming depressed and then wave away that feeling because of the way our lives look – we might think, “It couldn’t happen to me; I’ve got a great career,” or “I’ve got a loving family” – but if the question arises, it is at least worth asking.
Unfortunately, no one is immune. But fortunately, no one is alone.
No one must suffer alone. No one must wonder alone. No one must experience pain, or confusion, or hopelessness alone. There are millions fighting the same battle, millions more who have recovered, and mental health professionals who are ready and willing to help.
Depression is in fact an illness – and a treatable illness at that. The first step to recovery is acknowledgement and understanding, so if you think you may be dealing with depression, I encourage you to review the Beck Depression Inventory. It is a sensitive self-guided assessment that will help you identify any symptoms that you may have that you can discuss with a mental health professional.
My friend, asking these questions and finding honest answers is some of the greatest work you could ever do for yourself. Once you have the knowledge you need, help is quickly on the way.
Make today your masterpiece!
Florina
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