This episode of the Grim Drive Podcast, where we explore mental health through the lens of professional sports and athletes, takes a look at Dak Prescott + Recovery.

One of the most notable recovery experiences we have come across has been that of NFL quarterback Alex Smith, whose experience was documented in the recent ESPN documentary titled “Project 11.”  We chose to do this episode on another NFL quarterback, Dak Prescott (who happens to play in the same division), instead.  We focused on Dak Prescott for two main reasons.  One, his recovery process is multi-layered (recovery from loss of loved ones, pandemic isolation, and ongoing post-surgery rehab).  And two, Prescott has been very vocal about his mental health struggles and the importance of speaking out and getting help when it comes to mental health.  Each player who is willing to use their platform to reduce the stigma of mental health needs to be recognized and discussed, to ensure the collective benefits of that gesture are maximized for the masses.

We focus the first part of the episode on unpacking the many layers to Dak’s previous, ongoing, and future recovery process.  We then cover the topic of recovery, where host Jon Cunha, LMHC covers his extensive work with athletes on mindset and recovery through a five-part Q+A.  Many athletes put in work on performance mindset, but few understand how to approach the mental side of injury recovery.  This episode, and particularly the Q+A, is a must listen for any athlete recovering from injury, or non-athlete whose life has been impacted by injury or illness.

As a reminder to listeners, please click subscribe on your podcast listening platform and rate+review the podcast if possible, we really appreciate all feedback, so much that we are offering a pair of FREE Celtics tickets to a game in 2021-2022 for one lucky person out of all who write an HONEST review for us in the first three months of 2021. You can enter to win these tickets by taking a screenshot of your review and submitting that through the “contact us” option on our website at GrimDrive.com. The contact us option will ask for your name+email address and will provide you with the option to upload the screenshot file.  MAKE SURE you take the screenshot of the review BEFORE you submit it, if you wait until after you submit your review you will no longer be able to see the review to take the screenshot.

Dak Prescott  episode related links:

• Charitable cause: https://www.faithfightfinish.org

• https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/29854487/cowboys-prescott-got-help-anxiety-depression-offseason
• https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/nfl/cowboys/2020/09/10/dak-prescott-dallas-cowboys-depression-brother-jace/3460645001/
• https://sports.yahoo.com/dak-prescott-reveals-that-his-brother-died-of-suicide-203713773.html
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?t=15&v=Ju5l9-w3vYw&feature=youtu.be
• https://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/2020/09/11/skip-bayless-dak-prescott-depression/
• https://www.si.com/nfl/cowboys/news/dallas-cowboys-real-leader-dak-prescott-responds-to-bayless-on-depression
• https://www.theplayerstribune.com/videos/whats-your-sign-dak-prescott
• https://www.theplayerstribune.com/articles/dak-prescott-football-procamp
• https://www.dallascowboys.com/news/the-bond-created-by-hayden-hurst-dak-prescott

Injury:

• https://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/breaking/ct-dallas-cowboys-dak-prescott-ankle-injury-20201012-iex3xqvkobdghde4sctrndpxoy-story.html
• https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/nfl/cowboys/2020/12/04/cowboys-dak-prescott-ankle-injury-rehab-update/3832026001/
• https://www.cbssports.com/fantasy/football/news/cowboys-dak-prescott-making-impressive-recovery-progress/
• https://www.dallascowboys.com/news/dak-prescott-discusses-rehab-from-ankle-surgery
• https://www.nbcsports.com/washington/video/alex-smith-pulling-dak-prescotts-recovery-after-similar-leg-injury

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What to do about Injury/Recovery:

***Disclaimer on MH tips (A LOT of tools and strategies with mental health are easy to understand, HARD to execute…#1 reason they are hard to execute is the fraudulent mindset of “it can’t be that easy”…it is and it isn’t…easy to comprehend does not mean easy to execute (working out and eating right are perfect examples of this)…beware of the mind’s tendency to downplay great solutions due to negativity, denial, or excuse making designed to avoid hard work…trained responses by the brain, deluding the self into thinking there is no point in order to give yourself permission to avoid change.  *It is always best to seek professional help and work with someone, ESPECIALLY with trauma/PTSD.

Dealing with injury/recovery: Q+A with Jon 

Questions:

• What are the biggest challenges you see people face with injury recovery?
• What are the biggest mistakes or missteps you see people make when dealing with injuries and the recovery process

• I would imagine recovery from injury is a process that has multiple stages to it…walk me through the stages and what each stage tends to involve…
• For those listening who don’t have a team of rehab specialists working around the clock for their care, what do you suggest?
• If someone is struggling with overlapping issues (recovery, depression, pandemic, etc.), is there an order of operations to how they handle those issues or do you try to attack each issue at the same time?

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Grim Drive Example: 

• Alex Smith of WFT

The post Episode 8: Dak Prescott + Recovery first appeared on Grim Drive.

This episode of the Grim Drive Podcast, where we explore mental health through the lens of professional sports and athletes, takes a look at Robin Lehner + PTSD.

Our previous episode covered Josh Gordon + Substance Abuse, during which we discussed the prevalence of underlying trauma in those struggling with substance abuse or addiction issues (some research reports this number as high as 70-75%). That episode focused more on addiction as a topic.  In this episode on Robin Lehner, a Swedish Hockey goalie in the NHL, we delve into trauma/PTSD as the main mental health topic.

According to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), more than two thirds of children reported at least one traumatic event by age 16.  The definition of trauma has evolved, now including any type of abuse or neglect, violence (experienced/witnessed/vicarious), sexual exploitation, loss of a loved one, refugee or war experiences, assault, accidents or life threatening illnesses, and bullying.  

Trauma can lead to the onset of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, or PTSD, though this doesn’t always happen, and we still don’t fully understand why some develop PTSD and others do not.  What we do know is that weakness is NOT the cause, and that when PTSD is present, many other mental health issues can also form as a result.  Robin Lehner is someone who reports being diagnosed with PTSD due to childhood trauma, which then caused Bipolar Disorder, when then eventually contributed to substance abuse issues.  In this episode, we unpack this complicated diagnosis and discuss PTSD in more detail.

As a reminder to listeners, please click subscribe on your podcast listening platform and rate+review the podcast if possible, we really appreciate all feedback, so much that we are offering a pair of FREE Celtics tickets to a game in 2021-2022 for one lucky person out of all who write an HONEST review for us in the first three months of 2021. You can enter to win these tickets by taking a screenshot of your review and submitting that through the “contact us” option on our website at GrimDrive.com. The contact us option will ask for your name+email address and will provide you with the option to upload the screenshot file.  MAKE SURE you take the screenshot of the review BEFORE you submit it, if you wait until after you submit your review you will no longer be able to see the review to take the screenshot.

Robin Lehner episode related links:

Charitable cause:: ​https://samehereglobal.org/profile-robin-lehner/

The Athletic: https://theathletic.com/522117/2018/09/13/islanders-goalie-robin-lehner-opens-up-about-his-addiction-and-bipolar-diagnosis-i-could-not-stand-being-alone-in-my-brain/

Twitter link where he acknowledges that he developed Bipolar FROM trauma: https://twitter.com/robinlehner/status/1216583388032851968?lang=en

Other:

Trauma/PTSD:

• https://www.samhsa.gov/child-trauma/understanding-child-trauma
• https://www.healthline.com/health/emdr-therapy

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What to do about PTSD:

***Disclaimer on MH tips (A LOT of tools and strategies with mental health are easy to understand, HARD to execute…#1 reason they are hard to execute is the fraudulent mindset of “it can’t be that easy”…it is and it isn’t…easy to comprehend does not mean easy to execute (working out and eating right are perfect examples of this)…beware of the mind’s tendency to downplay great solutions due to negativity, denial, or excuse making designed to avoid hard work…trained responses by the brain, deluding the self into thinking there is no point in order to give yourself permission to avoid change.  *It is always best to seek professional help and work with someone, ESPECIALLY with trauma/PTSD.

PTSD/Trauma:

• Exposure to actual or threatened death, serious injury, or sexual violence (direct, witnessed, vicarious, OR repeated/extreme exposure to traumatic details)
• Intrusive symptoms associated with the trauma (memories, dreams, flashbacks)
• Avoidance of traumatic details (internal or external)
• Negative changes in thoughts/mood associated with the traumatic event (can’t remember
  details, blaming of self, lack of interest in activities, constant negative emotions like fear,
  horror, anger, guilt, shame….detachment, or inability to experience positive emotions
• Noticeable changes in arousal/reactivity (irritable, reckless or self-destructive, hyper
  vigilant, issues with concentration, sleep issues

Steps to Take: Dealing with PTSD/Trauma:

Factors to consider:

• –  The % of those dealing with addiction who have underlying trauma (+ trauma informed care)
• –  The definition of trauma has changed over the years…

Steps to take:

• As hard as it often it, try not to BLAME YOURSELF
• Try not to ISOLATE
• Try not to NUMB (sub ab, self-harm, etc.) (Get HELP and support instead)
  • National Suicide Prevention Hotline: 1-800-273-TALK
  • National Helpline for Substance Abuse: 1-800-662-HELP
  • Crisis Text Line: Text “CONNECT” to 741741
• Find a therapist on Zencare or Psychology Today
• SAFETY is the first priority (psychological/physical/etc.)
  • Seeking safety is the first step in dealing with trauma/PTSD
  • Because it is very easy to be RE-traumatized, which can have a domino effect
  • We do this before ever discussing a “trauma narrative”
  • Create a safety plan: a way of planning ahead so you can cope with PTSD symptoms
    • Identify and understand your triggers
    • People, places, shows, anniversaries, holidays, smells, seeing an accident
    • Write down a list of emergency contacts/numbers (family, friends, therapist, etc) – Ask for help from them, especially before you know you may be at risk
    • Make sure your meds are on you
    • Identify healthy ways of coping (deep breathing, grounding exercises, etc.) – Identify early warning signs:
      • changes in thoughts, mood, behavior
      • Identify what helps you feel safe and in control
• Other approaches to trauma work: 
  • Narrative based Therapy
  • EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing Therapy)
    • In session, you relive traumatic experiences in brief doses while the therapist directs your eye movements
    • Recalling distressing events is often less emotionally upsetting when attention is shifted
    • Over time, this reduces the impact that the memories have on you
    • Particularly effective for those who struggle to talk about their past experiences

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Grim Drive Example: 

• Mental Health clinicians, particularly in hospitals, but really everywhere, who are trying to support many others while also balancing their own mental health

The post Episode 7: Robin Lehner + PTSD first appeared on Grim Drive.

This episode of the Grim Drive Podcast, where we explore mental health through the lens of professional sports and athletes, takes a look at Josh Gordon + Substance Misuse.

Substance Misuse is a problem that has affected many, either individually or through a family member.  The statistics, particularly in the US, are trending in the wrong direction.  The US reports an annual loss of $740 Billion due to drug/alcohol use (missed work, healthcare, crime).  There has been a 9% increase over five years in marijuana use among college students (6% non-college). In a 12-month period ending in May 2020, there were over 81k overdose deaths (most ever in a one year period), and drug overdose deaths have more than tripled since 1990.  Almost 21 million Americans have at least one addiction, yet only 10% of them get professional help.  It is also important to note that addiction doesn’t have to involve a substance.  Addiction can also be to technology, video games, gambling, or pornography.

Josh Gordon ​is a WR in the NFL for the ​Seattle Seahawks​). He has previously played for the ​Cleveland Browns​ and the ​New England Patriots​. Gordon played ​college football​ at ​Baylor​ and was selected by the Browns in the second round of the ​2012 NFL Supplemental Draft​ (for players whose eligibility was impacted somehow, preventing them from entering the regular draft).  In many ways, he has been the poster child for substance misuse issues, as he has dealt with suspensions due to substance use at every level he has played at, from high school to the pros.  At one point, he even missed 43 of 48 games while on the Cleveland Browns.

More important than his status as a professional athlete, Josh Gordon is a person.  He is an example of how so many with addiction issues have underlying trauma in their past.  And he is someone who faced insurmountable odds and had to persevere through trauma and countless challenges just to make it where he is today, alive, not in prison, and trying to gradually improve his life each day (setbacks included). With this in mind, he is an example of success, demonstrating that where we come from and what our past experiences are, do not need to be present truths, and change is worth fighting and growing for.

As a reminder to listeners, please click subscribe on your podcast listening platform and rate+review the podcast if possible, we really appreciate all feedback, so much that we are offering a pair of FREE Celtics tickets to a game in 2021-2022 for one lucky person out of all who write an HONEST review for us in the first three months of 2021. You can enter to win these tickets by taking a screenshot of your review and submitting that through the “contact us” option on our website at GrimDrive.com. The contact us option will ask for your name+email address and will provide you with the option to upload the screenshot file.  MAKE SURE you take the screenshot of the review BEFORE you submit it, if you wait until after you submit your review you will no longer be able to see the review to take the screenshot.

Josh Gordon episode related links:

• Overall story: https://www.boston.com/sports/new-england-patriots/2018/09/18/josh-gordon-drugs-suspension-timeline
• Death of his brother, led to relapse in 2019: https://www.sportscasting.com/the-tragic-death-of-josh-gordons-brother-led-him-down-a-dark-path/
• https://the-cauldron.com/an-open-letter-to-charles-barkley-co-cb5c4e64cf3
• https://ftw.usatoday.com/2017/11/josh-gordons-heartbreaking-reason-for-using-drugs-in-middle-school

Chris Long:

• https://www.nbcsports.com/philadelphia/eagles/chris-long-admits-marijuana-use-speaks-out-against-nfls-policy-and-hes-right
• https://bleacherreport.com/articles/2838352-ex-eagles-de-chris-long-hopes-to-destigmatize-marijuana-change-nfl-drug-bans

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What to do about Substance Misuse / Addiction:

***Disclaimer on MH tips (A LOT of tools and strategies with mental health are easy to understand, HARD to execute…#1 reason they are hard to execute is the fraudulent mindset of “it can’t be that easy”…it is and it isn’t…easy to comprehend does not mean easy to execute (working out and eating right are perfect examples of this)…beware of the mind’s tendency to downplay great solutions due to negativity, denial, or excuse making designed to avoid hard work…trained response by the brain, deluding the self into thinking there is no point in order to give yourself permission to avoid change.  *Always best to seek professional help and work with someone 

• The % of those dealing with addiction who have underlying trauma (+ trauma informed care)
  • The definition of trauma has changed over the years…
  • Know that if you know someone with sub ab issues, they likely went through
    something really traumatic/challenging
  • And if you have substance misuse issues, ask yourself: What underlying trauma from
    my life may be fueling this use; or what underlying emotions am I using substances to cope with?
• Substance use is borrowed happiness from the next day
  • Nothing healthy exists that feels good as instantly as drugs/chem release
  • Short term vs. long term thinking and consequences
  • Be aware of the path of addiction
• How ANY reliance on addiction/numbing from problems can be a “gateway” because it’s not the drug that matters, it’s conditioning the brain to rely on chemical release and PLEASURE instead of learning about emotions, learning how to sit with and understand emotion, etc.
• Holding in = strong, but not effective and still feel terrible; vs.; open up = be strong in a different way and have a chance at feeling better even if short term things might get worse

Steps to Take:

• Be HONEST with yourself + Beware of Denial (very common coping mechanism) 
  • Mind vs. brain
    • Addiction WANTS you to justify continued use; as does the underlying shame
• Get support (as much as possible)
  • The right friends + family
  • SAMHSA’s National Helpline – 1-800-662-HELP (4357)
    • SAMHSA’s National Helpline is a free, confidential, 24/7, 365-day-a-year treatment referral and information service (in English and Spanish) for individuals and families facing mental and/or substance use disorders.
• Harm reduction (relapse is a PART of the PROCESS
• Change your environment (but not just temporarily, such as a vacation/rehab)
• Change your SOCIAL environment too
• Understand your triggers and confront them at the right pace (don’t set up for failure)

The post Episode 6: Josh Gordon + Substance Misuse first appeared on Grim Drive.