Capitol Fax.com - Your Illinois News Radar » Words to live by
SUBSCRIBE to Capitol Fax      Advertise Here      About     Exclusive Subscriber Content     Updated Posts    Contact Rich Miller
CapitolFax.com
To subscribe to Capitol Fax, click here.
Words to live by

Tuesday, Aug 12, 2014 - Posted by Rich Miller

* Rep. Greg Harris

Lots of us who struggle with depression and addiction all our lives often look and act the same as everyone else.

Just because we look successful, or smart or caring or ‘together’ on the outside doesn’t mean there isn’t an army of assorted demons flying around on the inside looking for some small crevice to jump out. Even famous people have demons who win sometimes.

So to everyone else who is getting up this morning to fight another day….Well Done

Rest in peace, Robin Williams.

       

28 Comments
  1. - ... - Tuesday, Aug 12, 14 @ 1:14 pm:

    thanks for noticing


  2. - Both Sides Now - Tuesday, Aug 12, 14 @ 1:27 pm:

    Well said.


  3. - Yellow Dog Democrat - Tuesday, Aug 12, 14 @ 1:28 pm:

    Grace.


  4. - Weltschmerz - Tuesday, Aug 12, 14 @ 1:33 pm:

    “Richard Corey”.


  5. - Big Muddy - Tuesday, Aug 12, 14 @ 1:39 pm:

    I’m really struggling with the news about Robin Williams today. Tha man is a legend when it comes to making others laugh and smile yet his inner battle was devistating to him. Rep. Harris is spot on here. If anyone out there is suffering from this horrible disease PLEASE go get help. None of us will think any less of you. In fact, I’ll applaud you for stepping up.


  6. - 47th Ward - Tuesday, Aug 12, 14 @ 1:44 pm:

    I think what Harris is saying can also be interpreted as, “hooray for all of those brave people who battle severe depression and substance abuse who didn’t kill themselves yesterday.”


  7. - steve schnorf - Tuesday, Aug 12, 14 @ 1:45 pm:

    Very well said, Rep Harris


  8. - OneMan - Tuesday, Aug 12, 14 @ 1:51 pm:

    True that…

    My hope is much like people in my generation can’t understand Jim Crow kids in kids generation will someday wonder why we treated folks with mental health issues differently than folks with other illnesses.


  9. - Phenomynous - Tuesday, Aug 12, 14 @ 1:52 pm:

    That was reflective, compassionate, and inspirational.


  10. - Big Muddy - Tuesday, Aug 12, 14 @ 1:53 pm:

    47th,
    I love snark as much as the next guy but your comment is out of bounds. Bad form IMHO.


  11. - 47th Ward - Tuesday, Aug 12, 14 @ 1:54 pm:

    No snark at all BM.


  12. - A guy... - Tuesday, Aug 12, 14 @ 1:59 pm:

    The person right next to you might just be keeping a streak alive. Don’t just let them, help them.


  13. - Wensicia - Tuesday, Aug 12, 14 @ 2:14 pm:

    It’s horrible when the torment felt becomes so severe that death seems to be the only way to find relief. I lost a student a couple of years ago and I still feel the pain of his decision.


  14. - Dirty Red - Tuesday, Aug 12, 14 @ 2:32 pm:

    Bangarang.


  15. - Chicago Cynic - Tuesday, Aug 12, 14 @ 2:44 pm:

    One of my favorite sayings is “never compare your insides to someone else’s outsides.” Seems rather apt on Greg’s comment.


  16. - Living It - Tuesday, Aug 12, 14 @ 2:44 pm:

    In support of all those that get up every day living with these and many other “demons”, look up your local NAMI chapter and find a way to support them. If you are in the western burbs of Chicago you can start here: www.nami5k.com


  17. - Earnest - Tuesday, Aug 12, 14 @ 2:47 pm:

    Representative Harris’ statement is spot on. I am one of those people who have had recurrent episodes of depression every couple of years. Though I have an MS in human services, it took a peer support group to give me the skills to recognize and episode early enough to make sure I was set up for appointments and meds before I got to the point where doing things was very difficult. Even through the episodes, while I called of sick several days as needed, from the outside I looked like a very happy and capable person.

    Still, I’m not a fan of n=1 stories. I’d refer back to our discussion about mental health issues in prisons the other week or discussions in the past when there’s been a school shooting by a young person with an untreated mental illness, and believe we need to fund a mental health system at the level needed to be effective.

    Finally, google NAMI and DBSA to connect with peer support. There are a surprising number of groups out there for people.


  18. - What is to be done? - Tuesday, Aug 12, 14 @ 2:58 pm:

    Just like Pagliacci did
    I try to keep my sadness hid
    Smiling in the public eye
    But in my lonely room cry
    the tears of a clown
    When there’s no one around


  19. - Rahm's Parking Meter - Tuesday, Aug 12, 14 @ 3:02 pm:

    Well said Rep. Harris.
    And for one of my favorite actors, rest in peace, O’Captain my Captain..


  20. - logic not emotion - Tuesday, Aug 12, 14 @ 3:05 pm:

    Very well said.


  21. - Ghost - Tuesday, Aug 12, 14 @ 3:26 pm:

    Well spoken


  22. - The KQ - Tuesday, Aug 12, 14 @ 4:31 pm:

    Be nice to someone today. Smile or hold the door for them. They might be thinking no one cares and your kind gesture may give them the strength to make it through the day.


  23. - ANON for a moment... - Tuesday, Aug 12, 14 @ 4:34 pm:

    I went through a severe clinical depression years ago. And while I had excellent healthcare and friends, no one knew it was as bad as it was. And, even if there had been a magic pill that was available and placed within my reach, I couldn’t have reached out for it. Yet, finally, it took everything I had inside to finally reach out for help…almost before it was too late. Where that strength came from I still do not know but the meds eventually created a level playing field and I am here today, much to my surprise and relief. That darkness is incomprehensible to those who have never experienced it…


  24. - Jabes - Tuesday, Aug 12, 14 @ 4:38 pm:

    I agree with 47th Ward — that was immediately how I read it. For some people, no matter how much “help” one gets (meds, therapy, hotlines, friends, “just telling someone,” and everything else that’s typically suggested) it doesn’t get better, ever. The value judgment inherent in the “well done” portion of Rep. Harris’s otherwise very compassionate and truthful statement was unneeded.


  25. - anonymous - Tuesday, Aug 12, 14 @ 4:53 pm:

    Governor’s Day at the fair is at 11 30, not 1-3


  26. - E town - Tuesday, Aug 12, 14 @ 5:15 pm:

    Let’s not over think the comment it was sincere and heartfelt and that’s all that matters in my opinion

    RIP Robin


  27. - The Scream - Tuesday, Aug 12, 14 @ 9:37 pm:

    You cannot eat, there’s too much to think about.
    So sick you can’t sleep, there’s too much to think about.
    So sick you hide things that will kill you.
    So sick you go to work, afraid to stay alone.
    See the doc. Give it three weeks.
    Color returns to your life.
    The sun comes up.
    You will be stronger. A better spouse. A better friend.
    A more compassionate person.
    Heal yourself. It works.


  28. - jake - Tuesday, Aug 12, 14 @ 10:08 pm:

    A note to anybody out there who is wrestling with bipolar disorder, which is probably what Robin Williams had. This is based on research I have done, stimulated by a family member who is a bipolar sufferer with a history of multiple hospitalizations for substance abuse and attempted suicide. Bipolar is sometimes confused for depression, but it does not respond to antidepressants that are effective for unipolar depression. If you or a loved one cycles between mania and depression, make sure you get the right medication, which is lithium or another mood stabilizer, but NOT antidepressant.


Sorry, comments for this post are now closed.


* Showcasing The Retailers Who Make Illinois Work
* Reader comments closed for the holidays
* And the winners are…
* SUBSCRIBERS ONLY - Update to previous editions
* Isabel’s afternoon roundup
* Report: Far-right Illinois billionaires may have skirted immigration rules
* Question of the day: Golden Horseshoe Awards (Updated)
* Energy Storage Brings Cheaper Electricity, Greater Reliability
* Open thread
* Isabel’s morning briefing
* SUBSCRIBERS ONLY - Today's edition of Capitol Fax (use all CAPS in password)
* Live coverage
* Selected press releases (Live updates)
* Yesterday's stories

Support CapitolFax.com
Visit our advertisers...

...............

...............

...............

...............

...............

...............

...............


Loading


Main Menu
Home
Illinois
YouTube
Pundit rankings
Obama
Subscriber Content
Durbin
Burris
Blagojevich Trial
Advertising
Updated Posts
Polls

Archives
December 2024
November 2024
October 2024
September 2024
August 2024
July 2024
June 2024
May 2024
April 2024
March 2024
February 2024
January 2024
December 2023
November 2023
October 2023
September 2023
August 2023
July 2023
June 2023
May 2023
April 2023
March 2023
February 2023
January 2023
December 2022
November 2022
October 2022
September 2022
August 2022
July 2022
June 2022
May 2022
April 2022
March 2022
February 2022
January 2022
December 2021
November 2021
October 2021
September 2021
August 2021
July 2021
June 2021
May 2021
April 2021
March 2021
February 2021
January 2021
December 2020
November 2020
October 2020
September 2020
August 2020
July 2020
June 2020
May 2020
April 2020
March 2020
February 2020
January 2020
December 2019
November 2019
October 2019
September 2019
August 2019
July 2019
June 2019
May 2019
April 2019
March 2019
February 2019
January 2019
December 2018
November 2018
October 2018
September 2018
August 2018
July 2018
June 2018
May 2018
April 2018
March 2018
February 2018
January 2018
December 2017
November 2017
October 2017
September 2017
August 2017
July 2017
June 2017
May 2017
April 2017
March 2017
February 2017
January 2017
December 2016
November 2016
October 2016
September 2016
August 2016
July 2016
June 2016
May 2016
April 2016
March 2016
February 2016
January 2016
December 2015
November 2015
October 2015
September 2015
August 2015
July 2015
June 2015
May 2015
April 2015
March 2015
February 2015
January 2015
December 2014
November 2014
October 2014
September 2014
August 2014
July 2014
June 2014
May 2014
April 2014
March 2014
February 2014
January 2014
December 2013
November 2013
October 2013
September 2013
August 2013
July 2013
June 2013
May 2013
April 2013
March 2013
February 2013
January 2013
December 2012
November 2012
October 2012
September 2012
August 2012
July 2012
June 2012
May 2012
April 2012
March 2012
February 2012
January 2012
December 2011
November 2011
October 2011
September 2011
August 2011
July 2011
June 2011
May 2011
April 2011
March 2011
February 2011
January 2011
December 2010
November 2010
October 2010
September 2010
August 2010
July 2010
June 2010
May 2010
April 2010
March 2010
February 2010
January 2010
December 2009
November 2009
October 2009
September 2009
August 2009
July 2009
June 2009
May 2009
April 2009
March 2009
February 2009
January 2009
December 2008
November 2008
October 2008
September 2008
August 2008
July 2008
June 2008
May 2008
April 2008
March 2008
February 2008
January 2008
December 2007
November 2007
October 2007
September 2007
August 2007
July 2007
June 2007
May 2007
April 2007
March 2007
February 2007
January 2007
December 2006
November 2006
October 2006
September 2006
August 2006
July 2006
June 2006
May 2006
April 2006
March 2006
February 2006
January 2006
December 2005
April 2005
March 2005
February 2005
January 2005
December 2004
November 2004
October 2004

Blog*Spot Archives
November 2005
October 2005
September 2005
August 2005
July 2005
June 2005
May 2005

Syndication

RSS Feed 2.0
Comments RSS 2.0




Hosted by MCS SUBSCRIBE to Capitol Fax Advertise Here Mobile Version Contact Rich Miller