Shawn Colvin Talks About Living with Depression

How can a man who made so many laugh, have so much sadness that he could take his own life?

This is a question many have asked in light of the recent death by suicide of comic icon Robin Williams.

But singer/songwriter Shawn Colvin understands the dark places a person can go to when dealing with depression. The “Sunny Came Home” singer battled through depression, even as she was beginning to experience mainstream success with a top ten hit that won Grammys for Record of the Year and Song of the Year.

In an interview with Huffington Post Live, Colvin explains that even simple things, such as getting out of bed, or taking a bath become major challenges.

Colvin also addresses the issue of how those with depression have difficulty accepting help from family members:

“If I was able to take in anything that was supportive, loving, compassionate, the horror of depression is that you’re void of thinking you’re worthy of any of that and you feel like a burden. You feel like no one understands it, and you feel guilty about that. You feel like no one can help, and in fact, it’s very difficult for them to help, especially if they themselves haven’t been through it.”

Reading books by those who have also experienced depression may be one way family members and friends can understand what is going on with their loved one: “You can really get in the head of someone who can explain it from a perspective.” This is one reason she wrote her book, Diamond in the Rough: A Memoir.