'He was very uncomfortable': Robin Williams' son Zak says the late actor was 'frustrated' due to misdiagnosis with Parkinson's disease
Robin Williams - who would have turned 70 today - was 'frustrated' with his health struggles before he ultimately took his life in 2014, his son has revealed.
The legendary comedian had unknowingly been misdiagnosed with Parkinson's disease and was actually suffering from Lewy body dementia - the second most common type of progressive dementia after Alzheimer's - his family found out after his death.
'What I saw was frustration,' Zak, 38, told host Max Lugavere on his podcast The Genius Life. 'What he was going through didn't match one to one [with what] many Parkinson's patients experience. So, I think that was hard for him.'
Speaking out: Robin Williams' son Zak says his father was 'frustrated' before he passed due to his misdiagnosis with Parkinson's disease (Pictured, 2012)
Zak, who is a mental health advocate, continued: 'There was a focus issue that frustrated him, there were issues associated with how he felt and also from a neurological perspective he didn't feel great,' and added: 'He was very uncomfortable.'
Williams' son also questioned the medication that his father was put on, suggesting they may have made his overall health worse. "Those drugs are no joke,' he explained. 'They're also really hard on the mind and the body.'
'I couldn't help but feel beyond empathy. I couldn't help but feel frustrated for him," Zak continued. 'It can be really isolating even when you're with family and loved ones.'
Tragedy: Robin Williams - who would have turned 70 today - was 'frustrated' with his health struggles before he ultimately took his life in 2014, his son has revealed (Pictured, 2007)
Lewy body dementia causes a progressive decline in mental abilities, and those affected might have visual hallucinations and changes in alertness and attention.
Zak also shared his experience with dealing the loss of his father, and how it impacted his mental health.
'I was heavily drinking to manage my mental health where it created very harmful issues. For me personally, I was having health issues. I was experiencing some psychosis and when I spoke with a psychiatrist I was diagnosed with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder,' he said.
Adding: 'I was self-medicating through the trauma using alcohol.'
Zak, who is a father of two, went on to seek help in a 12-step program as well as group therapy, which helped him.
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