why did robin williams kill himself

Robin Williams died by suicide on August 11, 2014. The primary underlying cause of his suicide was undiagnosed Lewy body dementia (LBD), a severe and little-known neurological disease that led to paranoia, hallucinations, insomnia, severe anxiety, and cognitive decline. His widow, Susan Schneider Williams, emphasized that it was not depression alone that killed him but the devastating effects of LBD on his brain, which made him feel he was "losing his mind" and "not me anymore." In addition to LBD, Williams had lifelong struggles with depression, anxiety, and a history of substance abuse. He had been sober for years but struggled with depression that resurfaced in his final years, worsened by LBD symptoms. He also faced relationship troubles, financial stress, and health issues, which amplified his mental health challenges. The combination of these factors created unbearable distress, which led to his tragic decision to end his life by asphyxiation (hanging) at his home. Thus, Robin Williams' suicide was the result of an intricate interplay between his neurological disease (Lewy body dementia), severe depression and anxiety, and compounding life stressors.