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View Full Version : Anxiety disorder article about Giants baseball player



Ele'ill
28th April 2012, 05:24
going out on disabled because of an anxiety disorder and the health 'experts' still missing the point (my opinion)

http://www.mercurynews.com/giants/ci_20498253/anxiety-disorders-like-aubrey-huffs-largely-misunderstood?nstrack=sid:6836531|met:300|cat:0|or der:1


Some fans have been unsympathetic since Giants first baseman Aubrey Huff was placed on the 15-day disabled list this week with anxiety disorder. The theme of the mocking on sports-talk radio and the Internet: How tough is your life when you're making $11 million this year playing a kid's game?
That attitude misses a larger point, mental health experts say. While fame, adulation and high salaries are the rewards for some professional athletes, it often comes with stress to meet expectations. And Huff is only the latest ballplayer to become overwhelmed and show that even the best athletes are still human.
"Most people don't have a clue about the pressure these athletes are under," said Greg Dale, director of sports psychology and sports ethics at Duke University. "They think someone's life is perfect because of the money. But try hitting a 90-mile-an-hour fastball when you're distracted by problems. The money probably makes it even more difficult."

Prometeo liberado
28th April 2012, 05:39
If what you mean by "missing the point" is that they ar assuming that anxiety disorders are the result of external factors only then I agree. I would argue that internal imbalances are triggered by external stress. The same reason why some people can handle a drink while others while others are crippled by it. Its not that some are just stronger and others weaker by will. If thats what you meant.

khad
28th April 2012, 06:55
I can't imagine he had it worse than Breezy who played for the Habs during the 1990s. That guy cried himself home after every game and eventually developed a heart condition due to fans' death threats year after year.

I doubt it's gotten that rough in baseball.

Ele'ill
28th April 2012, 07:29
What irritated me a bit about the article and what I thought was kind of missed is that the 'experts' tried to defend the athletes by suggesting they're under some sort of super immense pressure that 'we' can't fully understand or that 'we' don't experience as non pro athletes or I guess anybody at that social/financial status level does which is a really shitty talking point and distracts from the actual issue being how mental health affects us as humans. A pro athlete suffering from mental health issues may not be any different than a minimum wage worker suffering from mental health issues.