As if the death of Robin Williams couldn’t get more heartbreaking, his wife Susan Schneider released a statement yesterday in which she insisted that Williams had not relapsed into drug use but was suffering – as we all know – from depression and anxiety. What we didn’t know? He had also been diagnosed with the early stages of Parkinson’s Disease.
Here’s Schneider’s full statement:
Robin spent so much of his life helping others. Whether he was entertaining millions on stage, film or television, our troops on the frontlines, or comforting a sick child — Robin wanted us to laugh and to feel less afraid.
Since his passing, all of us who loved Robin have found some solace in the tremendous outpouring of affection and admiration for him from the millions of people whose lives he touched. His greatest legacy, besides his three children, is the joy and happiness he offered to others, particularly to those fighting personal battles.
Robin’s sobriety was intact and he was brave as he struggled with his own battles of depression, anxiety as well as early stages of Parkinson’s Disease, which he was not yet ready to share publicly.
It is our hope in the wake of Robin’s tragic passing, that others will find the strength to seek the care and support they need to treat whatever battles they are facing so they may feel less afraid.
Of course, Parkinson’s is dealable and survivable, but it’s anyone’s guess as to how this diagnosis figured into his mental and emotional state. It’s still just such a sad loss, and his wife and daughter are dealing with it all with such grace.
Parkinson’s Disease can cause depression, as well as exacerbate depression in those already suffering from it.
It may be the PD magnified the depression that Robin Williams was already dealing with and it was simply too much.
In any case, we have lost a great person & he will be deeply missed.