I had two small connections with Robin Williams. He optioned a movie script I wrote but I didn't meet him then, only his representatives. Of course I was disappointed when he went on to make a different movie and the option lapsed (the movie eventually was made starring Kelsey Grammer).
The other one was an open mic night at the Comedy Store on Sunset Blvd. in Los Angeles. I was there with a friend when Williams appeared unexpectedly to try out some new material. He was funny, he interacted with the audience (he made a crack about the shirt my friend was wearing), but then a strange thing happened.
He couldn't stop.
He even said at one point, "I don't have a finish." We thought that WAS the finish, but then he started up again and gradually the mood shifted and we caught a glimpse of the desperation underlying the fun.
In my workshops I always mention the importance of taming your harsh inner critic. It's the voice or feeling that tells you that what you're doing is not good enough or, even worse, that you are not good enough. Most of us have a voice like this, and from what I saw and have since read about Williams, his was particularly strong. That's not to say that was the reason for his suicide but I'm sure it was one factor.
Everybody needs support and understanding, not least from themselves. When getting criticism is part of the job, as it is for writers, actors, and people in the other creative professions, it's easy to let a harsh inner critic get the upper hand. I've suffered from clinical depression and, again, the inner critic is not the only cause but it certainly plays a role.
I have a short audio visualisation that can help you start to transform your inner critic into a constructive inner guide. If this is an issue that's causing you any distress, please email me at jurgenwolff(at)gmail.com and I'll send you the audio as an mp3 download--no charge.
And if you ever feel that your self-doubt is sending you on a downward spiral, don't hesitate to get professional help. When you're in the middle of that kind of descent it can feel like there's no way back, but there is.