The news of Robin Williams’ death spurred an infinite amount of news articles, opinion pieces, social media postings and tributes.
Among the most thoughtful stories we read came from right here in Greater Cincinnati that first appeared on Facebook and then on WCPO.com by a talented local illustrator who was diagnosed with manic-depression more than 14 years ago.
“My manic-depression, like most mental illness, is biological and congenital,” writes Kevin Necessary. “My DNA could have dictated that I have cerebral palsy or a predetermination to Crohn’s disease. Instead, it gave me mood swings. It’s chemical and there are ways to treat it using a combination of medications, therapy, and lifestyle choices. ”
“However, I also know how easily the soap bubble on which I stand can pop, even momentarily. Despite my loving wife, friends, family, all the support that I have, I can and occasionally do fall into periods of loneliness and self-loathing. No matter what I achieve professionally or artistically, any setback could potentially cause me to spiral down. It’s not like just being sad. It’s a sudden drowning in a black pool, with all the weight of the water crushing your body and the air sucked out of your lungs. Worst of all, you don’t know which way is up, and you’ve no idea how to swim your way to the surface.”
Necessary writes about how depression can be out of his control that the best he can do is tame and contain it, accept it and learn to live with it.
This is a deeply personal and powerful account that’s worth reading.
