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Linkin Park Fans Are Sharing How Chester Bennington's Music Got Them Through Difficult Times

Finding healing through the pain.

Fans around the world are mourning the loss of Linkin Park singer Chester Bennington, who was found dead Thursday of an apparent suicide.

Many of the musician's friends, colleagues, and peers took to Twitter to share their grief, including Linkin Park singer Mike Shinoda.

The 41-year-old singer, who is survived by six children, had previously spoken publicly about his addictions to drug and alcohol, as well as wanting to take his own life after being a victim of child abuse.

"In 2006, I had a choice between stopping drinking or dying. I did some counselling with the guys and they really opened up and told me how they felt," he said. "I had no idea that I had been such a nightmare. I knew that I had a drinking problem, a drug problem and that parts of my personal life were crazy but I didn't realize how much that was affecting the people around me until I got a good dose of 'Here's-what-you're-really-like.' It was a shock. They said that I was two people – Chester and then that fucking guy. I didn't want to be that guy."

Musician Chester Bennington of the band Linkin Park visits Music Choice at Music Choice Studios on February 21, 2017 in New York City. (Photo by Michael Loccisano/Getty Images)
Michael Loccisano via Getty Images
Musician Chester Bennington of the band Linkin Park visits Music Choice at Music Choice Studios on February 21, 2017 in New York City. (Photo by Michael Loccisano/Getty Images)

Bennington also wasn't shy about talking about his mental health demons. In 2015, he opened up to Rock Sound about some of the dark periods in his life.

"I literally hated life and I was like, 'I don't want to have feelings. I want to be a sociopath. I don't want to do anything. I don't want to care what other people feel like. I want to feel nothing,'" he said.

Even director Joss Whedon shared how the band helped him.

"A Thousand Suns" got me through a horribly dark time. I'm indebted. Thank you and RIP Chester Bennington, wish you were here

— Joss Whedon (@joss) July 20, 2017

Others encouraged people to talk to someone if they were feeling depressed or suicidal.

The MenTalkHealthUK Twitter page noted that we need to talk about men's mental health in particular.

We need to do more. We need to talk more. Men need to be able to talk about their mental health. We need to listen. #RIPChesterBennington

— MenTalkHealth (@MenTalkHealthUK) July 21, 2017

Depression affects everybody let's be kind to one another #RIPChesterBenningtonpic.twitter.com/oxLHEnwUAc

— Curate_Zed| ADAMS (@Curate_Zed) July 21, 2017

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