The Robertson family behind the mega hit A&E show Duck Dynasty hasn’t always been roses and rainbows. Fan favorite Si Robertson is revealing mental illness, alcoholism, and suicide attempts in his new book, “Si-cology: Tales and Wisdom from Duck Dynasty’s Favorite Uncle.”
In Si’s new book, he talks about how hard life was for him and his brother, Phil before fame and fortune came calling. He revealed that when they were children their mother “suffered a nervous breakdown and was diagnosed as manic-depressive.”
Si goes on to say that “she spent a lot of time in hospitals and the state mental institution.”
Admitting he’d had his own struggles; Si confessed that when he was a young adult he struggled with alcohol abuse especially while he served in Vietnam.
Si wrote, “Although I was there [Vietnam] for only one year, it was a really difficult time in my life. Believe me, it was easy to find a drink in Can Tho if you wanted one. You could find a drink and a girl whenever you wanted for the right price.”
“It was the only time in my life when I drank heavily. Now, I partied during my short stay [in college], but it was different in Vietnam. I was largely drinking to forget where I was.”
“When you’re in a place like Vietnam, you get to a point where you don’t care anymore. You’re in a place that’s foreign to you and you know for a fact that many people there hate you and will kill you if they get the chance.”
“It really does something to your mind to know that many of the people living around you don’t like you and want you to die. I drank so much beer and whisky in Vietnam that I decided I would quit drinking alcohol altogether once I returned home.”
“I saw what alcohol was doing to me in Vietnam and realized I needed to stop for good. It was during Phil’s struggles with alcohol and drugs, so it was a really wild time to be around.” Si wrote about moving to Arkansas where Phil and his wife were living.
“Phil was operating a honky-tonk and was drinking at the time.” He went on to describe how Phil was even arrested once after seriously injuring someone during a bar fight.
“To be honest, Phil was not a very good person until he found Jesus Christ. But he repented his sins and is sharing the rest of his life sharing God’s Word.”
Si goes on to write about how the family problems followed their next generation when his son Scott was born in 1977. Scott was almost two months premature and Si stated that he “was trouble before he was even born.”
“Scott was suicidal from the time he was about five years old. His behavior was really erratic as a child. When Scott would get tired, he would throw his arms out and fall backward.”
“It took me a while to realize Scott needed help. When Scott was angry, he was out of control and did a lot of damage.” At the young age of 11, Scott’s mother caught him trying to jump out of a second story window.
They took him to a military hospital where Scott was diagnosed with Asperger’s and since treatment began has lived a happy healthy life.
Si published a letter from his son, Scott in his book. In the letter, Scott wrote, “You are and always have been the rock this family holds to. Your faith in God as I grew up showed me that we might not always have the answers and that was okay because God was in charge and would always take care of us.”
“I love you , Dad, and will consider myself lucky if I grow up to be half the man you are.”
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