Being an NFL athlete and playing at the highest level comes with a
price. Players are put on pedestals and expected to achieve greatness
every year. Fans invest time and energy into their teams, players and
build around what’s ahead. For Edwards-Helaire, he’s battled the
stigma around keeping his aliments behind the scenes. A two-time
Super Bowl champion with the Kansas City Chiefs, the unknown was
kept among those who knew him.
Going back to his days at Louisiana State University where he was a part
of a great team which featured present Tigers in Joe Burrow, Justin
Jefferson, Ja’Marr Chase, and Devin Stingley Jr; Edwards-Helaire was
enjoying the fruits of going undefeated and winning a national
championship. An unfortunate tragedy changed his college career
during his tenure.
While two LSU football players were trying to sell an electronic item, a
person was fatally shot from an attempted robbery gone bad. This
caused PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) which stemmed from
Edwards-Helaire’s overall mental health. Witnessing gun violence and
avoiding harm weighed heavily. A simple sell turned tragic within
seconds.
Edwards-Helaire revealed during his struggles on X (formerly known as
Twitter). “My first couple of years, you just try to block everything out
and it’s like, “Oh, at some point I’m going to get over it.” And you start
to realize that just doesn’t happen. You get older and you realize, “Hey,
no matter the age, no matter the person, no matter of the situation,
everyone needs help at some point.” It takes courage to talk about
having PTSD and dealing with it once people kind of bring it up, it is not
something that I’d always want to talk about. I never know how my
body will react or my mind, it is something that I can’t really pinpoint or
know exactly what’s going to happen.”
Now, here’s the open discussion which needs to be said: “blocking it
out.” Tragedy occurs in our lives; how we process it all comes from an
emotional standpoint. How the body and mind respond sends all types
of hormones to other areas. Overwhelming enough to make some feel
nausea or vomiting from dehydration. PTSD is a silent illness and can
stay with us our entire life.
Edwards-Helaire missed time during parts of the season with what the
team called an illness. Protecting their player from media scrutiny was
more important than winning. A lot of players don’t talk openly about
their mental health. For him, keeping this under wraps can become
click bait in today’s social media spectrum. Players are high profile, and
anything said about them can irate or belittle a mental psyche.
It was that moment in college, which gave Edwards-Helaire the courage
to open about his struggles and coping with it. The flare-ups caused him
to be admitted to the hospitals from nonstop vomiting. PTSD is one
illness most suffer from and don’t know until symptoms feel worse.
Toxicity in sports with high levels of testosterone can discourage
players from opening. Having to deal with championship expectations
and contribute to winning is secondary if your mental health isn’t
winning.
Fans would say: “Players are paid millions of dollars; they can’t have
mental health issues.” Well, yes they’re humanistic like we are, and the
overall conversation takes a turn. It’s no different than you work a 9-5
and dealing with stress on your job. There must be room to breathe
and take it slow. NFL players can compete at the highest level; but
money doesn’t cure unhappiness with your mental health. Taking time
and seeking treatments is more important than first-team reps during
camp.
As Edwards-Helaire prepares contributing to 2024 and a quest for
Kansas City’s three-peat, making mental health a priority is crucial to
overall well-being. Realizing his struggles and seeking treatments is a
personal victory. Putting yourself first has more than any touchdown
celebration, NFL accolade, endorsement, the whole bits. Money is secondary; mental health is first and foremost. His openness will help
other athletes and people who are dealing with it in silence.
Saving lives and using his platform to share his personal struggles sheds
light on many mental health issues that go unknown in sports. We’ve
seen former players talk about CTE; this is one step in breaking the
stigma surrounding mental health. Thank you Clyde Edwards-Helaire for
opening and sharing your struggles. You’re not alone in this battle and
continue to lead the way on and off the field.
