The author reflects on the profound impact of his son Rob's mental illness and the hardships that accompanied it, particularly following Rob's death. He realized that his denial and unwillingness to see the full picture of Rob's struggles prevented understanding and acceptance. Despite Rob's charm and intelligence, he battled bipolar disorder and alcoholism, often hiding his pain from loved ones. The author's acknowledgment of these truths became a crucial part of working through his grief and understanding Rob's life.
Rob was mentally ill. Acknowledging this was the first giant step I took after his death, and it became the skeleton key for navigating my grief.
Despite his struggles, Rob was smart, engaging, and funny. He learned to hide his pain and showed us the version he thought we wanted.
I often chose to view Rob in a hopeful light, missing the signs of his mental illness. It was an act of self-deception.
Rob struggled with self-acknowledgment of his mental illness, admitting his alcoholism but rarely confronting the deeper issues that plagued him.
Collection
[
|
...
]