Posted by bluedog on January 30, 2003, at 10:58:45
In reply to Re: Privacy, posted by sjb on January 30, 2003, at 9:22:35
> I do worry, however, that the reason the Raiders kept this hush-hush initially, (finally, last night the coach said the right things) is indeed because of the stigma, and that is very sad.
>Forgive me for not knowing the guys name or the team involved (I live in Australia and don't know much about superbowl etc) but I very clearly remember reading a report on the net recently about one of the star players in one of the teams being treated for social anxiety...Unfortunately I can't for the life of me find this link back.. but apparently this guy used to be shunned by his team mates and considered weird by the media because he used to conduct post game interviews with his helmet still on because his social anxiety was so overwhelming.
I think the reporting about the whole thing was quite open and apparently he was treated with one of the ssri's (Paxil I think) for his social anxiety and his problems were much improved. He apparently left his old team because the lack of understanding displayed by the coach and players of his condition in that team had created irreconcilable differences but another team was willing to snap him up (despite knowing about his condition) and his sporting performance was outstanding in the new team. So maybe not all teams in the superbowl competition are so ashamed about the stigma about one of their players suffering from a "mental illness". I found the fact that an all American sports hero suffering from a mental illness was willing to go public about the whole thing was a pretty good step in the right direction.
Also in Australia past Wimbledon Tennis champion Pat Cash has also recently released an autobiography which goes into detail about his own battle with depression and suicidal ideation. He was interviewed on prime time TV about his book and he was completely open and unashamed that he had suffered from a mental illness. I was very heartened by the whole thing.
YES even All American or All Australian rich and famous tough guy sports stars can fall victim to mental illness and it's nothing to be ashamed about. More of the same I say to lift the stigma surrounding depression and other mental illnesses. The more famous people that willing to come forward and admit they are actually human can lead to more of the same and I believe that this will ultimately improve the lot of us ordinary folks suffering from the same problems considering that Western Corporate culture seems so hell bent on identifying so intimateley with sports culture.
This may sound like heresy but I believe that this is the one and only area where drug company sponsorship of teams and individual sports persons using their products through necessity can actually be beneficial for ordinary people suffering from mental illnesses.
Did anyone also see Jack Nicholson's speech at the Golden Globe awards where he admitted to taking a Valium before the ceremony. I don't know if he really did take a valium or not but I noticed there was some very distinct discomfort and nervous laughter from the other stars in the audience at this comment, but I doubt whether he gave a damn. If it was a true comment I say good on you Jack Nicholson. (I'm sure the manufacturers of valium must have been happy about his comment)
bluedog
poster:bluedog
thread:35888
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/social/20030120/msgs/35939.html