First of all, I want to say that my heart goes out to his children, family, and all of his adoring fans who loved him dearly. Robin touched the hearts of many fans, including me, and was an inspirational figure.

What would lead a person, such as Robin Williams, a critically acclaimed genius of both cinema and comedy to commit suicide. How can we wrap our minds around such an act? 

The fact is, we don’t know what thoughts were running through Robin Williams’ mind that fateful evening. The only person that could have answered that question was Robin. The hard part is that we will never know, because there was no suicide note. In the end we are forced to speculate.

Understanding Robin’s Suicide 

Robin’s wife released a statement talking about some of the underlying reasons for Robin’s suicide, including a revelation about his recent Parkinson’s diagnosis and his family noted the actors long battle with Depression.

ADHD + Bipolar Depression = Increased Risk for Suicide 

What has gotten less media attention, since his passing, was the role in which his ADHD and Bipolar played in his suicide.  I’m not sure if he was ever officially diagnosed, but many people that knew him have indicated that he likely suffered from ADHD, as well as Bipolar disorder.

You see, Bipolar is like a pendulum swinging from one extreme to the other. From the depths of depression to the euphoric highs of mania. When someone is coming out of a depressive episode, usually following a manic episode they are at risk for suicide. Actually, it’s right at the end of the depressive episode that they are most at risk. At the point where they are still depressed, but just regaining enough energy to actually followthrough with the suicide attempt or plan.

ADHD Symptoms 

ADHD is signified by hyperactivity and impulsivity, yet sometimes it’s the latter that poses the most danger.

Attention Deficit Disorder or ADHD is generally understood as being composed of the following core symptoms – inattentiveness, hyperactivity, and impulsivity. The “H” in ADHD stands for hyperactivity and in children it’s displayed with behaviors that appear to be “bouncing of the walls.” These children have high degrees of energy, and fidget with their hand or feet. As an adult this hyperactivity takes a more internal form, we learn what’s outwardly socially acceptable and what’s not. Yet inside there is a storm brewing, racing thoughts, a need for constant stimulation, persistent disorganization, and having trouble completing or following through with tasks. This is especially true when tasks are boring, detailed, require sustained concentration, or are generally not interesting to the individual with ADHD.

Impulsivity and ADHD 

Impulsivity is a symptom that can be defined loosely as a difficulty in “thinking before acting” or pausing to consider the consequences before reacting. People with ADHD have a difficult time with impulsive responses. They blurt things out of turn in class or at inappropriate times in meetings or social situations. They also find it difficult to contain their emotions and regulate their feelings, which leads them to say things they don’t mean or take things too far. Impulsivity can lead to other problems such as gambling, substance abuse, and issues with reckless spending. We know that Robin Williams struggled with substance use and addiction. He used cocaine in the 80’s and interestingly, the molecular make-up of cocaine is not that dissimilar to the stimulant medications prescribe to treat ADHD. Therefore, using cocaine as a recreational drug, is sometime a persons attempt (with dangerous consequences) at self-medicating their underlying ADHD.

Death by suicide is a hard thing for us to wrap our heads around, especially when it happens suddenly. It’s even more perplexing when it’s done in an apparently unplanned or impulsive manner. Research has indicated that those with ADHD are at a greater risk of suicide attempts.When ADHD occurs alongside other disorders, like Major Depressive Disorder or Bipolar, the risks of suicide increase exponentially.

So, I’m left with the lingering question… Did Robin act impulsively when he committed suicide and was this due in part to his untreated ADHD, and his Bipolar Depression?

Get Help

It’s important to seek help if you are feeling down or depressed. Depression is a treatable condition and SSRI medications work will for folks. If you are having suicidal thoughts, plans, or thinking about acting out please call 1-800-273-8255 the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline available 24-7.

If you would like help understanding your ADHD or your child’s ADHD, I offer coaching over the phone or in-person throughout Westchester, NY. Feel free to reach out, email or call me today. More information is available at my website potentialwithinreach.com.