There Is A Way Beyond Darkness
By Barbara Mayer
Sedona AZ (August 14, 2014) – Many of us will never have to worry about becoming celebrities, yet for some people who live in that world, the pressures of fame and fortune can also reach into the darker side of depression – which does not care how much fame or money anyone has.
The suicide of comic genius Robin Williams has touched many of us with near disbelief. He was the man of joy and laughter. He was the master of comedy who could help us forget the pressures and pains of just being human. True, he spoke often of his bouts with depression, but he was always in recovery. At least that’s we thought. So now we struggle to comprehend what torture really existed inside Williams’ troubled mind. What depression became so intense that it made him feel there was no way out beyond the darkness which he chose. We mourn his loss, yes. Yet perhaps his death might force us to face the true mental illness of severe depression in our own lives, or in the lives of people we deeply love. Our own tears are just as real as the tears of a clown, and this may be our time to acknowledge them and seek help beyond the darkness of suicide. There is another way.
There’s that word again. Depression. It’s a word too often used lightly when we are sad about something trivial, or when we are just looking for someone to comfort us. The severe depression Williams fought for years, and which finally claimed his life, however, is nothing less than a potential killer. In his case it was the mental illness of depression which took this gifted man’s life. It is also the same demon of severe depression which is touching us and our neighbors right here in Sedona and the Verde Valley.
With the media now reminding us the suicide rate nationwide among senior citizens is on the rise, this is an area of great concern. There is also cause for alarm in our young people, who feel the pressure of life in the fast lane — which society is now becoming — is too much for them to handle. Depression is a mental illness of our times, and it can never been taken lightly.
No one is immune. There may come a time when our normal tendency to get upset or depressed about something moves from the occasional hard look at reality as we think we see it – to the more serious illness of full blown depression which needs care and help. Just seeing the suffering of so many in the world – as well as our own individual concerns — is enough to cause some kind of depression in many of us.
As sure as depression is a killer, however, there is one more sure fact: Hope and help are available. Each one of us needs to stay aware that there are caring and highly trained professionals right here in our own area. They have dedicated their lives to keep our lives positive and mentally strong. There are also signs which can indicate professional help is needed immediately. Some of these include:
- Harm to self by attempting suicide, engaging in self-injury, attempting extreme weight loss, or abusing substances.
- Extreme distress, such as a panic attack or reaction to a traumatic event.
- Distressing behavior, such as a loss of touch with reality or aggression.
Free training in mental health first aid is available locally through Spectrum Healthcare. This training helps people recognize the signs and symptoms of developing mental health problems. Also, the Spectrum Healthcare Crisis Hotline can be reached any time, 24 hours a day, 7 days of the week. Help is always available by calling 928-634-2236.
Can we look within ourselves and around us with honest caring? If we see any signs of depression growing and the human psyche slipping in ourselves or anyone we love, the word is – seek help – and seek it soon.
Let us all be well. And when we are not, let us be wise enough to seek the help which is waiting to bring us back to the fullness of our lives. Each one of us is definitely worth that effort.
Barbara Mayer is a poet, author and interfaith/interspiritual minister who lives, writes and shares the Spirit in Sedona, Arizona.