Urban Meyer and his Battle with Mental Illnesses
September 13th, 2016 at 12:56 PM ^
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September 13th, 2016 at 12:50 PM ^
September 13th, 2016 at 12:53 PM ^
New level of respect for Urban here. Another reminder that it's just a sport
September 13th, 2016 at 2:09 PM ^
September 13th, 2016 at 12:57 PM ^
Is bleacher report now an acceptable source to post on this blog?
September 13th, 2016 at 1:02 PM ^
When doing original, thoughtful reporting like this, absolutely. The B/R stuff we didn't want appearing on the blog was their clickbait slideshow crap and the like; this is in a completely different category.
September 13th, 2016 at 1:04 PM ^
I was just going edit my reply, but you beat me to it... That's the first bleacher report article I've read in years... they have come a long way. Very well done... and a thorough answer to those wondering why he left Florida, and then ultimately came back to coaching.
September 13th, 2016 at 1:17 PM ^
Yeah they hire some actual writers now. Gotta separate the fan made crap from the legit stuff
September 13th, 2016 at 1:29 PM ^
Bleacher Report started out as a fully fan-based site, which is the source of their name. They taught fans how to write clickbait pieces and slideshows which "juiced" their Google results. This turned them into valuable "virtual real estate."
In 2012, TBS bought them and they got "serious." They have "upped their game." CNN now uses them as a "legit" sports news source. They aren't just a bunch of fans screaming from the bleachers anymore.
September 13th, 2016 at 2:12 PM ^
Good to "know"
September 13th, 2016 at 8:05 PM ^
With a difficult point to make without offending some I suppose. I'm not sure anyone could put it much better. I had know idea how they got that name. +1 because they won't let me give you 10.
September 13th, 2016 at 11:15 PM ^
September 13th, 2016 at 12:59 PM ^
September 13th, 2016 at 1:01 PM ^
Why do we alwyas feel the need to raise awareness and then do nothing about it....
September 13th, 2016 at 1:05 PM ^
I think part of it may be that it allows people struggling with mental illness to see that high profile, very successful people also have those struggles.
September 13th, 2016 at 1:17 PM ^
is very little that can be "done" about mental illness that is not already being done. There is treatment out there but it costs. You cannot really have federally funded and operated mental health facilities because there are issues related to what constitutes "illness." (i.e. could "dissent" become a diagnosable "illness" at some point). People have been "raising awareness" about it for years, there is just not really any good answers. The hardest thing for many people is that they don't know they are suffering from a mental illness because they have never had any other reality to compare it to.
September 13th, 2016 at 2:15 PM ^
I disagree with almost everything you said. There are tons of things that could be done that are not being done right now. Also, your quote about "many people not knowing they are suffering because they don't have another reality to compare it to" is way off base. I think even people who have severe mental illness would tell you there are days that are better or worse than others
September 13th, 2016 at 2:30 PM ^
is too bad you think that statement is off-base, because it is completely "on-base" and a big part of the reason that many people never seek help. Yeah, a severely depressed person who can barely get out of bed in the morning knows that something is wrong, but people with very subtle and tricky mood disorders (a lot like Meyer it sounds) often go for years not understanding why they can't concentrate or maintain jobs or adequate interpersonal relationships. It is a major problem with the diagnosis and treatment of mental health disorders and you saying it is way off-base is genuinely puzzling.
September 13th, 2016 at 3:03 PM ^
agree to disagree man. All this talk about mental illness IS MAKING ME SO ANGRY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! AAAAAAAAAARRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGG
September 13th, 2016 at 3:48 PM ^
So we are against federal fundnig for mental health care because you're afraid they'll become secret police prisons?
I think we can provide free/confidential counseling services without turning into 1984. We need to focus on the statistica and percentages. Yes that 1% or likely much much less may be held against their will(this still can happen in private systems), but we could enact more things to help the majority without focusing on the minor pitfalls exhaustively.
One example which I don't 10% agree on is saving coal miner jobs. We have just over 30k coal miner jobs, and while I agree the government would 100% drop the ball on skills re-education and helping these towns, that small drop in the bucket could easily be addressed and push forward with phasing out coal at an aggressive pace.
Now no politics so I won't go into the global warming or carbon debate, but rather wanted to point out how a tiny minority, or freak occurance gets disproportianately addressed or worried about when it's essentially irrelevant.
September 14th, 2016 at 2:18 AM ^
September 13th, 2016 at 2:32 PM ^
FYI: there are about three times as many suicides in the US than there are homicides. Seriously. It is the second most common cause of death for people ages 15-30.
And, from my own experience, mental health is very important. Both of my parents had severe mental health issues, which lead to a very rough childhood. I have had to deal with depression and ADHD since then-- and only in the past few years have I actually gotten help. And you know what? I wish I had gotten help as an adolecent. Medication and therapy have helped me deal with anxiety, focus, and have made me a better husband and father. They allowed me to be something other than a miserable person.
So while I guess you could say "society" can't do anything about mental health, individuals certainly can.
September 13th, 2016 at 2:42 PM ^
agree. Individuals can do a lot about it and there are resoures available. Raising awareness is certainly one thing that all people can do and awareness and discourse about it is miles ahead of where it was 20 years ago.
September 13th, 2016 at 3:46 PM ^
You mentioned medication and therapy which did not come up in the article. I kept reading wondering when they were going to talk about how therapy and medication helped bring the chemical/physical balance needed by so many people. Instead, they focused on the religious and self control tools used to manage his reponses. Those are good things, but for the majority of people with mental illness, they will require some form of medication and therapy. This is so critical and I'm really dissapointed this article made it seam like people could overcome mental illness without addressing one of the most core issues. It is a chemical imbalance which needs to clinically be addressed.
September 13th, 2016 at 8:38 PM ^
You don't know what you're talking about.
September 13th, 2016 at 9:09 PM ^
September 13th, 2016 at 11:42 PM ^
Read what theytookourjobs has to say.
Read Edmund Bourne's "The Anxiety and Phobia Workbook".
Consider a much more comprehensive approach.
More young people get in trouble abusing prescriptions meds than street drugs.
More deaths from prescription drug overdose than auto accidents.
I could go on.
September 14th, 2016 at 12:19 AM ^
September 14th, 2016 at 2:36 AM ^
In all honesty, I'm more in agreement with theytookourjobs than what I have read from you. Of course you are not able to convey all the aspects of your knowledge on a sports blog comment, so it's not possible for you to express your entire opinion.
I work in this field, and practice integrated, comprehensive methods. The over-dependence on psych meds nowadays is a disaster.
If you want to develop a broader perspective on this subject, you might watch the PBS documentary "The Medicated Child" and the A&E Documentary "Generation RX". Or read any of Dr. Peter Breggin's work.
Peace.
September 14th, 2016 at 2:17 AM ^
September 13th, 2016 at 1:11 PM ^
...this is absolutely doing something about it. I've dealt with similar mental health issues and found this article to be not only inspiring, but very informative.
I'd request that before people rush to post something on this, they actually take the time to examine it. This is a very important and sensitive issue that affects a ton of people; dismissing this as "raising awareness and doing nothing about it" misses the mark by a lot.
September 13th, 2016 at 1:16 PM ^
September 13th, 2016 at 1:47 PM ^
...he's doing something just by talking about it. It's very important for people to see high-achievers admit that they've struggled with mental illness. It helps take away the stigma that dogs people who admit they struggle/have struggled with mental health issues. As someone who has dealt with depression and anxiety most of my life, I appreciate Meyer going public with this.
September 13th, 2016 at 1:02 PM ^
Being in the public eye puts alot of stress on people I think...and a willingness to open up about your own personal health concerns is a level of confidence that most people don't have...including me. So #respect to UM for putting his shit out there.
September 13th, 2016 at 1:03 PM ^
Eek ... I don't wish mental illness on anyone, even if they do coach OSU. I hope he gets some relief.
September 13th, 2016 at 1:04 PM ^
he is doing better than he was. Too bad he is going to come down with a nasty case of the Harbaughs in about three months.
September 13th, 2016 at 1:12 PM ^
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September 13th, 2016 at 1:13 PM ^
"Do you think, when you come before God, he’s going to ask you about your win-loss record?”
good to know he'll be just fine with what is going to happen to him on the last day of the regular season until he leaves ohio.
September 13th, 2016 at 1:16 PM ^
September 13th, 2016 at 1:18 PM ^
September 13th, 2016 at 8:47 PM ^
taking off their armor and showing the world or even a close friend your weak spots takes a strength that some find a bridge too far. This is perfectly fine and their prerogative. Unfortunately this is a far to common problem and actually going and getting the help they need becomes a sign of weakness they don't want to admit and consequently won't get because of that.
I love to show my surgical scars off (JAWS) and show them as battle scars of life. But to admit that I am depressed or filled with anxiety is simply between me and my Dr./therapist or a web site such as this that would give me a small feeling of anonyminity. Certainly not in front of co-workers or people you may compete with on a professional level. The good news is, good people are understanding and sharing their experiences in front of the world to shed light on a disability some might want to keep in the dark.
"But ooohhoh the tide is turning." Roger Waters Pink Floyd. a song to share...
September 13th, 2016 at 1:23 PM ^
September 13th, 2016 at 1:27 PM ^
I really don't like Urban Meyer. I find him to be a slimy and generally sketchy individual. If I were to rank my least favorite people in college football, he would almost certainly be #1 or #2.
Even with that dislike as a backdrop, I found this article to be a great read on an important issue. Mental health issues are so underdiagnosed and even worse, largely ignored. They can be every bit as disabling as a physical ailment. I have to give credit to Meyer for taking the time at a busy point in his schedule (the lead up to the season) to discuss this uncomfortable issue.
For those dismissing this as raising awareness but doing nothing else, for mental health issues, raising awareness IS doing something that is VERY constructive. As a parent of a child with severe ADHD and anxiety, I can't tell you how much my son loves knowing that some of the most accomplished sports icons - Michael Jordan and Phelps to name two - also were diagnosed with ADHD. Hope that seeing this article bring a similar feeling to some who suffer with issues akin to what Meyer dealt with.
September 13th, 2016 at 1:28 PM ^
with mental illness, and I wouldn't wish it on anyone, not even Urban Meyer.
The way that it is treated in this country is shameful for a first world nation. Many health insurance policies won't pay for treatment until you meet your insanely high deductible, while physical ailments are covered from the beginning with just the co-pay required.
Because of this, some mental health providers require payment up-front even with insurance and those suffering from mental illnesses are often those least able to afford care.
We actively discourage people from seeking treatment and then we wonder why our streets run red with blood.
September 13th, 2016 at 1:35 PM ^
to say, I think insurance has come pretty far in terms of covering mental illness once it is diagnosed. Certainly not every policy, but most run of the middle employer provided health insurance covers it. You may out of pocket when you are seeking out treatment initially, but if a you are diagnosed by a psychiatrist it is most often covered, with limitations on the number of visits.
September 13th, 2016 at 1:44 PM ^
It covers fuckall for mental health until the deductible is met. $1,000 per person and $2,500 for the whole family. On top of the nearly $400 per month in premiums.
Unless you're making pretty damn decent money, that is putting a serious dent in your budget each month.
September 13th, 2016 at 1:49 PM ^
deductibles here, but visits to mental health professionals are covered for the most part just as doctor visits would be. I would know, I am all jacked up.
September 13th, 2016 at 3:57 PM ^
Welcome to the ACA influenced plans.
Went from copay system to $3k deductible for a single person and likely no mental health coverage(Haven't looked, also don't trust it'd actually be confidential). Wait though, we can pay it all tax free by putting all our money in an HSA that gets interest, yes a whole whopping .01% or some trash. Which may be a 10-20% discount depending on your effective tax rate, but if you count the time value of money if you were investing, that minimizes it less, rather max out an IRA then have a large HSA incase I get sick expecting insurance to cover next to nothing. Heck once I meet the deductible I think it's still like 20-30% out of pocket. Steal from the middle class to give to the poor. The poor are happy and the rich are happy, the middle class are too busy working overtime to pay for it to complain.
In other words bankers(BoA) in this case get a whole bunch of money to hold onto, for free to make risky real estate investments. However it's touted for the american consumer and "choice".
"Consumer driven healthcare" is the term they use. I consider it "Consumer Screwed lack of care".
September 13th, 2016 at 6:28 PM ^
September 13th, 2016 at 1:40 PM ^
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