Stress/anxiety issues

[ol' aches and pains]

There seems to be a mini-epidemic right now of "stress related" issues. I knew about Zach Greinke's struggles of course, which are now evidently under control. But in the last few days, I heard Kahlil Greene of the Cardinals was just reactivated after being on the DL for stress related probelms, and Dontrelle Willis of the Tigers and Joey Votto of the Reds are both currently disabled for the same reason. What gives?

[runningshoes]

You mean, these guys are human beings?

Wow. Who would have thunk it?

[ol' aches and pains]

You mean, these guys are human beings?

Wow. Who would have thunk it?

Can you recall another time when three guys in the Majors were disabled at the same time by this? Or even two? I can't.

[STLCards2]

Can you recall another time when three guys in the Majors were disabled at the same time by this? Or even two? I can't.


A combination of the following:

1. Social anxiety disorders have been diagnosed exponentialy more the last 10 years. No reason to believe that trend would not trickle into sports...

2. Coincidences happen sometimes.

[runningshoes]

Can you recall another time when three guys in the Majors were disabled at the same time by this? Or even two? I can't.

Well...not that we're aware of.

[Rich the Giants fan]

I'm just wondering why no one ever injured their oblique before a few years ago?

[lyrical]

Well it was probably uncool to be DLed for a mental illness before Zack Greinke. But now that he's become a star everyone's doing it. :P

[baseball junkie]

Baseball has a history of hiding these types of issues, as does our society in general out of a misguided sense of shame.

For years when he was a younger man John Smoltz saw a "sports psychologist". Rick Ankiel had a panic attack/meltdown live on ESPN. Social anxiety was a big part of what drove Ricky Williams out of the NFL.

Anxiety disorders are real and can be debilitating. Our society lauds people like Jay Cutler for managing his physical ailment, diabetes, while still playing professional sports but turns a suspicious eye at Willis when his team tries to manage his illness -- Willis is still denying it, probably out of shame.

Jay Cutler has proven diabetes can be managed and a professional career can resume and flourish. Greinke has done the same with anxiety disorders.

I hope Willis, Votto, Greene and the countless silent others get the help they need and we don't have to read about another Jeff Reardon or Donnie Moore.