Keith and Tourettes

[O'Neal, Kevin W.]

>Frate, Chris
>Previous message: Keith and Tourettes 
>
>Kevin,
>
>>From my point of view, I don't think anyone's innocent speculation
about Keith's mental state is going to offend Keith's >>family.

Fair enough.
But put yourself in those shoes.
Would you want anyone speculating on *your* mental health, to the point
of diagnosis?
I wouldn't.
I've seen law suits on the very subject.

>If he were my brother/son/friend, I would think it would be a relief to
have an explanation for the bizarre things he did, >many of which were
funny and some of which hurt people close to him.

Since Pete and Roger and John have all said it...and it's not a
secret.....I'll say it too...
Keith was polluted on drugs throughout his career with The Who.
How can anyone make an intelligent evaluation of him given that fact and
limited published video?

>Anyone who drinks and medicates themselves to death at the age of 32
has a mental illness, diagnosed or not.
> Whether it is Tourettes, depression, Schizophrenia, or Quadrophenia,
it doesn't matter. My take away from it is that 
>maybe Keith didn't have to die when he did if he could have been
treated properly, and that's sad because we all miss him.

I agree wholeheartedly.
And the sadness with this fact is why it makes me feel uncomfortable
with placing him in a definitive bucket.
Drug abuse (which, despite what some may think...includes Alcohol) is
the leading cause of depression and suicide (including a host of strange
behaviors).
Mental illness is not.
Why is there a need to look beyond the obvious?
Based on what?
Someone else's impression of "reality?"

That's all I'm saying.

BTW, it's "Tourette's" as in Tourette's Syndrome.

Kevin in VT


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