Drug use over the years can have a profound effect on a person's brain chemistry, in that a persons natural neurologic rewards are impaired. He did an interview a couple of years ago where he discussed getting back into distance running as a way to regain his body's natural highs. If he was using medical marijuana as treatment for his Parkinson's tremors, there is a good chance it could have heightened his depression by dampening his cannabinoid receptors and led to his suicide.
joedirt wrote:
Drug use over the years can have a profound effect on a person's brain chemistry, in that a persons natural neurologic rewards are impaired. He did an interview a couple of years ago where he discussed getting back into distance running as a way to regain his body's natural highs. If he was using medical marijuana as treatment for his Parkinson's tremors, there is a good chance it could have heightened his depression by dampening his cannabinoid receptors and led to his suicide.
Could be that he was a comic genius/tortured soul who genuinely loved his work, but was being continuously viewed as a commodity to be exploited for his talents rather than as a very fragile and talented individual. I mean look at Clooney... not even a small fraction of Robin's ability at dramatic acting or otherwise yet he's the GD king of Hollywood.
If you had to point the finger at one thing that killed him.... ALIMONY. Dude was paying off his gold digging ex-wives and apparently had picked up a new one. Had to work his butt off to afford that BS despite the fact that he had open heart surgery a few years back. Also, his television show The Crazy Ones could have been awesome, but people don't have an appetite for wit and improv anymore because they are mostly mentally degenerate cattle that watch cbs's propaganda selection.
an Objectivist wrote:
The psychiatric explanation of depression is pseudoscience. "Depression" is not a mental illness caused by a chemical imbalance, as the drug companies want us to believe. It is quite simply a natural emotional state resulting from a sustained negative evaluation of the facts of one's life. Realize that two different individuals may respond to the same circumstances differently because they each have different values, i.e. things that they consider important. Suicide is rational and justifiable when, for reasons beyond a person's control, his happiness is no longer possible. I know nothing of Robin Williams' reasons for committing suicide, but it is not the case that he was necessarily irrational just because he chose to end his life.
Thank you
Excellent Explanation wrote:
an Objectivist wrote:The psychiatric explanation of depression is pseudoscience. "Depression" is not a mental illness caused by a chemical imbalance, as the drug companies want us to believe. It is quite simply a natural emotional state resulting from a sustained negative evaluation of the facts of one's life. Realize that two different individuals may respond to the same circumstances differently because they each have different values, i.e. things that they consider important. Suicide is rational and justifiable when, for reasons beyond a person's control, his happiness is no longer possible. I know nothing of Robin Williams' reasons for committing suicide, but it is not the case that he was necessarily irrational just because he chose to end his life.
Thank you
Having doubts about "The psychiatric explanation of depression" is reasonable enough. Believing that you can explain it yourself ("It is quite simply a natural emotional state resulting from a sustained negative evaluation of the facts of one's life") is hilarious.
Holy crap. What a load of sh*t you speak.
an Objectivist wrote:
The psychiatric explanation of depression is pseudoscience. "Depression" is not a mental illness caused by a chemical imbalance, as the drug companies want us to believe. It is quite simply a natural emotional state resulting from a sustained negative evaluation of the facts of one's life. Realize that two different individuals may respond to the same circumstances differently because they each have different values, i.e. things that they consider important. Suicide is rational and justifiable when, for reasons beyond a person's control, his happiness is no longer possible. I know nothing of Robin Williams' reasons for committing suicide, but it is not the case that he was necessarily irrational just because he chose to end his life.
bioman wrote:
Holy crap. What a load of sh*t you speak.
an Objectivist wrote:The psychiatric explanation of depression is pseudoscience. "Depression" is not a mental illness caused by a chemical imbalance, as the drug companies want us to believe. It is quite simply a natural emotional state resulting from a sustained negative evaluation of the facts of one's life. Realize that two different individuals may respond to the same circumstances differently because they each have different values, i.e. things that they consider important. Suicide is rational and justifiable when, for reasons beyond a person's control, his happiness is no longer possible. I know nothing of Robin Williams' reasons for committing suicide, but it is not the case that he was necessarily irrational just because he chose to end his life.
Thanks. Couldn't have said it better myself.
I guess this is one of those issues that people can talk right through one another. I actually agree with this guy's "sustained negative evaluation" determination. It can result in what one might consider negative but I think its also the source of a lot of greatness. If its due to chemical amount or not don't matter it is who you are how you evolved for better or worse. You can look at it this way, your incredulity and I suppose anger at that kind of interpretation is an example of a reactive mind to something others don't find as shocking like myself and this guy. We're all different the lesson to be learned is to realize that.
Don't reply to your own posts using different unregistered names you massive douchebag. You took a shot and it didn't work. Get over it.
I'm curious why you would think that's my post considering its not. Maybe I will learn something about how you analyze things.
Well, both posts use apostophes correctly (other than in the last post which was probably deliberate) which means that the posts could have been made by about 5 or 6 posters on this board tops. Then there is the identical writing style.
Trivializing a serious illness to a matter of perspective? Come on. What are you, a 20 year old or something? Ain't no chance that anyone with any life experience is gonna talk such sh!t.
all different wrote:
I guess this is one of those issues that people can talk right through one another. I actually agree with this guy's "sustained negative evaluation" determination. It can result in what one might consider negative but I think its also the source of a lot of greatness. If its due to chemical amount or not don't matter it is who you are how you evolved for better or worse. You can look at it this way, your incredulity and I suppose anger at that kind of interpretation is an example of a reactive mind to something others don't find as shocking like myself and this guy. We're all different the lesson to be learned is to realize that.
This is why CBT works. Depression can have varied causes - it can be a chemical imbalance, but it can also stem from a flawed way of thinking about oneself and one's life. Or of course it can be brought about by negative circumstances. I'm not sure about the whole "suicide being rational" thing but the rest of this comment rings true.
all different wrote:
I guess this is one of those issues that people can talk right through one another. I actually agree with this guy's "sustained negative evaluation" determination. It can result in what one might consider negative but I think its also the source of a lot of greatness. If its due to chemical amount or not don't matter it is who you are how you evolved for better or worse. You can look at it this way, your incredulity and I suppose anger at that kind of interpretation is an example of a reactive mind to something others don't find as shocking like myself and this guy. We're all different the lesson to be learned is to realize that.
We're all different?!? Any other profound insights, Einstein?
My "anger"?!? Really, Freud?
Look, the simple truth is that the poster to whom I and others have replied (whether it is you or not I really don't care) posted a load of ignorance and tried to pass it off as some sort of authoritative final word on depression. So if you like to post nonsense about "reactive minds" because I and others call out BS when we see it, go ahead, knock yourself out.
Just remember, we're all different! : )
That's okay I understand some people want to pretend something is real makes them feel better just tone it down a little this was a relatively constructive thread.
Having depression is like being in a room in a tall building that is being engulfed in flames. You know jumping out the window is a crappy solution but is the more bearable option as things worsen if you aren't getting any aid.
Wowzers wrote:
Look, the simple truth is that the poster to whom I and others have replied (whether it is you or not I really don't care) posted a load of ignorance and tried to pass it off as some sort of authoritative final word on depression. So if you like to post nonsense about "reactive minds" because I and others call out BS when we see it, go ahead, knock yourself out.
Just remember, we're all different! : )
Look I think I understand what's going on here, I honestly just read that part that was quoted and it sounded fine to me and saw some over reaction by I guess you guys in my own estimation. If he was being a douche I don't condone it. But the part that was quoted sounded right to me. I would probably disagree with the drug part. My own opinion is knock yourself out if you think pharmaceuticals would work, but I do think reactive minds is the main reason and my main take is that is part and parcel who you are. Personally I would not take any drugs for depression but at the same time if someone thinks it works for them fine. You have to admit so far you have been very reactive I think I've been very cordial in this debate that's personally investing for a lot of people.
michael furey wrote:
This is why CBT works. Depression can have varied causes - it can be a chemical imbalance, but it can also stem from a flawed way of thinking about oneself and one's life. Or of course it can be brought about by negative circumstances. I'm not sure about the whole "suicide being rational" thing but the rest of this comment rings true.
Well suicide being rational as a label just doesn't capture the sense though. Look some people just like being hard against depression like I can rise above it look at myself in the darkest times and see yourself without resorting to pharmaceuticals. I know that's the gist of the message that if you need help you need to encourage people not to be so tough ass about it but I feel like its a better inspiration for myself even better at preventing the end result than if I went in another parallel universe and get medicated. I think it has something to do with not showing your weak hand until you have to and thinking you may get a better hand later but there's possbility you might not if there's any logical sense to it.