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Tony Hicks wrote an interesting article on how the public responds to reports of celebrity depression. To read his piece, “Yes, Stars Like Owen Wilson Can Hurt, Too,” click here. It begins:
Shouldn’t Owen Wilson be immune to misery?
He’s a movie star in the prime of his career. He dates beautiful women. He has bags of money. He’s the epitome of the life so many people would give their left arm for.
So why — assuming the reports coming from the Associated Press, the National Enquirer, and Celeb.TV.com are accurate — would he want to kill himself?
Doesn’t this guy, adored by the masses with a dream life, have way too much to live for?
I don’t know. And neither do you. Only one person does.
On Sunday, Wilson apparently tried to commit suicide at his home in Santa Monica. The Associated Press reported Tuesday that Santa Monica Police logs indicate the call to Wilson’s home was for a suicide attempt. He was listed in good condition at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles Monday; no updates were offered on Tuesday. His family and spokesman have declined to comment, citing Wilson’s request for privacy.
All of this will prompt a giant, collective public head scratching over why someone with talent, money and fame would slash both wrists and take a belly full of pills (as reported by the National Enquirer on Monday).
All the analysis will be for naught. Because the only person who knows is Owen Wilson.
Which is important to keep in mind. In our everyday dream world, good looks, hot girlfriends, great movie roles and fat paychecks are the ingredients of happiness. But even if a person seems to have all that, no one knows what else is at work, bubbling under the surface. Success and happiness are ever-shifting, and personal, concepts.
Assuming it’s true, only Owen Wilson knows the level of pain that pushed him to try taking his own life. Therefore, it’s extremely difficult to pass judgment.
If anything, Wilson deserves our sympathy for feeling so barren that suicide becomes a real option.
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Therese J. Borchard writes the daily blog, Beyond Blue, on Beliefnet and is a regular contributor to the award-winning blog, World of Psychology, on Psych Central. Therese is the author of Beyond Blue: Surviving Depression & Anxiety and Making the Most of Bad Genes and The Pocket Therapist: An Emotional Survival Kit. Subscribe to Beyond Blue, visit her website, or follow her on Twitter @thereseborchard.
Meet others on the journey in
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Therese J. Borchard writes the daily blog, Beyond Blue, on Beliefnet and is a regular contributor to the award-winning blog, World of Psychology, on Psych Central. Therese is the author of Beyond Blue: Surviving Depression & Anxiety and Making the Most of Bad Genes and The Pocket Therapist: An Emotional Survival Kit. Subscribe to Beyond Blue, visit her website, or follow her on Twitter @thereseborchard.
posted August 30, 2007 at 12:00 pm
As was said on Larry King last night, there is often a Pagliacci angle to a comic genius (and he is that) like Owen Wilson — his laughter hides “The Tears of a Clown …”
posted September 1, 2007 at 8:52 am
It was striking to me that the day before this news about Owen Wilson, I had seen a few programs featuring him and his great sucess in the entertainment industry…and then BAM! I see this. It is also not uncommon for all these icons in that industry, that seemingly have everything going for them, to fall prey to this syndrome (it’s all over the news) Can this be that we are truly in the period the Bible calls Tribulation? It seems to be hitting everyone I know, especially the rich and famous. And that of course leads to Armegeddon/Har Meggido, and that thought can depress anybody! But as is common with God there is “All things are turned to the good, for those that Love God and are called according to His Word” If the Bible is Truth, then all these prophesies shall come to pass. The upside to this downside is, it signals the coming of the Messiah!(in our Lifetime !)This is the dawning of the New Age…the Dawning of Aquarious. There is no end to the world, just a new chapter
LUV 2 ALL
Wisdum
posted September 22, 2007 at 11:33 am
A belated but worthy commentary on Owen Wilson:
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/09/16/magazine/16wwln-lede-t.html