A SAD COMIC! Robin Williams being a funny man and his ending his own life has sparked controversy, but it has given us all the opportunity to give serious thought to cause/effects of mental state and well-being which is often ignored as opposed to physical well-being (doctors and clinicians no exception ). Williams is one example how it can be masked by ones exterior, how one can joke about their own grievances and is not an indicator of mental well-being. In memory of the extraordinary Robin Williams, from Make em Laugh: The Funny Business of America by Michael Kantor and Laurence Maslon, this book describes how Williams started his career. As a preamble , there is a story recounted by Groucho Marx in his 1959 book Groucho and Me: Im sure most of you have heard the story of the man who, desperately ill, goes to an analyst and tells the doctor that he has lost his desire to live and that he is seriously considering suicide. The doctor listens to this tale of melancholia and then tells the patient that what he needs is a good belly laugh. He advises the unhappy man to go to the circus that night and spend the evening laughing at Grock, the worlds funniest clown. The doctor sums it up, After you have seen Grock, Im sure you will be much happier. The patient rises to his feet, looks sadly at the doctor, turns and ambles to the door. As he starts to leave, the doctor says, By the way, what is your name? The man turns and regards the analyst with sorrowful eyes. I am Grock.
Posted on: Sun, 17 Aug 2014 02:13:44 +0000
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