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Post by Admin on Apr 24, 2017 17:15:28 GMT -4
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Post by James Fluss on Apr 24, 2017 18:14:46 GMT -4
This article really highlights the fact that no matter how successful people might view a person, whether it be academic or sports accomplishments, no one really knows what kind of personal issues and troubles someone might be going through. Depression, according to the NIH, is the leading cause of disability for Americans aged 15 to 44. The fact that this illness can affect so many people from all walks of life is something that should be noted and acknowledged when thinking about how we view others. Especially as clinicians and providers in the medical community, I think it's really important to ask abut depression in any medical setting. David Freese is doing something very commendable. As a famous sports-star, his story can give so much hope to many different people around the world. Hopefully, this article will encourage others who are suffering from depression to be able to open up to their friends or family no matter how successful they are in any field as well.
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Post by Khadeja Chowdhury on Apr 25, 2017 18:02:12 GMT -4
"How are you doing today?" is a simple greeting that I, and thousands of others, use a dozen times a day, each time really just expecting a "fine, and you?" in return. Rarely does the other person answer with the truth. The sheer number of people suffering from depression is astounding and yet the number of people who hide these struggles is unequivocally more surprising. The article illustrates that even the most successful people like David Freese that we look up to are just as susceptible to these feelings of depression. Freese has struggled with depression his entire life, yet still managed to reach a pinnacle that others would consider to be the ideal of a successful man. Though he is highly functioning to an extent, Freese is like so many others that have turned to alcohol and drugs to manage their emotions and is now able to openly share his struggles to destigmatize mental illness. Freese shows that it is okay to admit that you need help and that with the right people in your corner and right management, things do and will become better. I hope those that read this article that are still struggling know that at some point life will reach a turning point for them. They may meet their significant other, like David, or just reach the epiphany they need. As David states, “To be honest, I never knew I could be so happy.’’ -- we all struggle at some point, but when someone asks us how we are doing, I hope this can inspire them to give an honest reply and allow those in their life to help them reach that turning point and not give up hope.
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Post by Mandeep Gill on Apr 26, 2017 15:11:27 GMT -4
I think it is always a hard thing to imagine that people who are so successful in terms of their stature or wealth can always succumb to depression just like any average person. In this article David Freese, a famous MLB player stated that he had always felt like he was depressed and battled to get out of bed to do anything. I always think to myself how can someone like him who is a World Series Champion be able to go through depression since he can have anything he wants with the amount of money, fame, and power he has. But then again everyone in life is always fighting an inner battle that the outside world is oblivious to and depression is a serious medical/psychiatric illness that needs to be managed and supported by the victim's support structure. In this article it is stated that Freese's support structure is his wife and now he is able to live a more happier life because he has the support he needs. I, myself have recently learned news that a friend commit suicide a couple weeks ago and he was battling depression for a very long time, but when you were to meet with this person, he would be the most cheerful person on the outside and you would never have imagined someone like him to be fighting his own inner demons. I wish people who are in a bit of a slump can find ways to open up to someone who is close to them about their inner issues so that they would not have to deal with something as serious as depression on their own. If my friend would have reached out his voice to me, his family, or other friends, I am sure he could have been saved, and I am certain that anyone in his position who is dealing with depression can be saved if they have a solid support structure. By reading this article, that is evident to me that loved ones will always be there for someone who is depressed and that person going through depression just has to be brave and strong enough to open up to these people in order to get the help they truly need.
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Post by Gurbir Dhaliwal on Apr 27, 2017 11:54:03 GMT -4
This article to me demonstrates that it doesn't matter who you are, what you do or however successful you think you are, depression and other mental illnesses can affect anyone. I honestly believe that nearly everyone goes through depression at some point in their lives, it's how we deal with it that determines our outcome. For example, Freese first found his outlet by drinking after a disappointing game. Had he stayed on this road he would of lost much more in his life like his health and baseball. But he had support around him from teammates and coaches. Not everyone has that kind of support and fall into the trap of becoming chronically depressed and dive so deep that it's almost impossible to help them without giving them a pill and sending them home. Freese was the lucky few who used the support around him to turn his life around leading him to meeting his wife and getting the 2 year 11 million droller extension from the Pirates. Personally, I believe everyone will at some point (or multiple) have low points in their lives. It's how we deal with our issues that will determine our future.
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Post by Marcel Modebelu on Apr 27, 2017 13:57:03 GMT -4
People often associate how successful or wealthy a person is with there mental health. This article highlights the possibility of being successful and wealthy and be dealing with a some type of mental disorder. i think everyone is in constant battle with which we try as much as possible to hide under a fake smile or fake reply to the question "How are you doing today", depression is a word that is usually taken for granted that but is a serious medical/psychiatric illness, i overcoming depression starts by talking to someone professionally or otherwise, and i hope this article can inspire and give hope to anyone suffering from this crippling illness to seek help and not give up.
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Post by cesilg on Apr 29, 2017 0:15:59 GMT -4
Honestly speaking I found this article difficult to follow. (Mostly likely because I have no head for baseball). What I did get though is that regardless of how someone is seen in public or even how they interact with other people on the surface, you can’t fully grasp what they’re going through until you take the time to get to know them, like Fleet Rand (Social worker) did with Mr.Freese . Just having someone there to talk out your problems with can sometimes work greater wonders than any medication would. Overall, this article highlighted just how important it is to have a support system in place.
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Post by Aishat Zurakat ASU on Apr 29, 2017 18:17:10 GMT -4
Being famous for a lot of celebrity means living their lives in contrast. There is the life they want to live and the part of having to satisfy both fans and haters. I believe this is a major source of depression for most of them. Although they may not confess this due to living the lives people want them to, since they have to be perfect. The world of today views mental disorders generally as a disability, they cannot afford to have this 'taint' their perfection. Being a celebrity and separating personal life from pubic life is definitely a huge step in preventing depression. Accepting that they are depressed and imperfect without minding what people have to say about them deserves an applause.
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Post by Avneet Ghumman on Apr 29, 2017 18:45:16 GMT -4
Depression is a disease which does not look at your name or socioeconomic status. It is not a one size fits all when it comes to treatment and does not correlate to the level of success one achieves in their life. This is very evident in the following article, which outlines the life of MLB player David Reese. Reese had a life people could only dream of: he was successful, accomplished and financially well off. However, depression is often a silent disease, and although Reese made several attempts at reaching out, his destiny was already written. Contemporary treatments such as counseling and medications were not beneficial for David Reese, however it seems companionship was what was missing from his life. His success story is inspiring and sheds a positive light on mental illness, which I believe is very important in spreading awareness and normalizing talking these issues. I personally believe that no matter what we try to do or how hard we try to plan our lives, everything is already written. Everyone will experience bad times and good times through out his or her life, it is just a matter of not losing faith.
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Post by Harneet Ghumman on Apr 29, 2017 18:59:26 GMT -4
I thoroughly enjoyed reading this article as I felt it was refreshing and very hopeful in regards to the issue of mental illness. The article reflected on David Freese, a professional baseball player who suffered from depression and anxiety. To the fans, David Freese appeared to have it all whether it was the money, championships or just fame and David himself felt the pressure to portray a hero. Sadly, in reality many people suffer from a mental illness and very few seek help. David’s story really highlighted the fact that mental illness is not a disease that can be cured overnight and one often has to try many different treatment methods. Patients often believe that there is a miracle pill that will magically cure their symptoms but this is not always the case. David Freese himself self-medicated for years with alcohol and met with many different counsellors but none seemed to help. However like all good fairy tales it was not until he found love that Freese also found a counsellor that fit his style. Freese’s story really emphasizes the fact that mental illness is a process and if you keep working hard you can achieve happiness and live the life you want to live.
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Post by Jillian Kelly on May 1, 2017 17:42:09 GMT -4
St. Louis is my hometown and I had no idea about Freese's struggle with mental health and addiction. I'm interested in what type of treatment he received because the article made it sound like he relied on supportive and life-style changes rather than pharmacotherapy and rehabilitation. It seems like the best thing for him was to leave St. Louis, because in doing so, he left his triggers for abusing alcohol. As hard as it is, cutting ties with's familiar and starting fresh is the best thing to prevent against relapse. However, not everyone struggling with addiction has the insight to recognize their triggers and/or the willpower to avoid them. They say addiction is a life-long disease and that achieving sobriety is only half the battle. As one of my teachers put it; a person can use a substance over and over without ever experiencing cravings, but once the switch in their head is flipped and they become drug-dependent, they can never go back. She said "once a cucumber becomes a pickle, it can never be a cucumber again." Given that alcohol is legal and easy to find no matter what city you are in, it seems like it would be the hardest addiction to beat. I wish David Freese and his family all the best.
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Post by Akram Uraizee on May 1, 2017 18:56:29 GMT -4
This is a great example of what some pro-athletes go through during their professional careers. Mental health challenges are rampant in sports and we discover some athletes getting involved with substance abuse. Freese is no exception and his experience with alcohol & depression best exemplifies the challenges some athletes face outside of sports. Having collided his car into a tree, having been charged with multiple DUIs, and having to face the pressures of any professional athlete, it is understandable that Freese went through a very dark time during his life. What is amazing to me is that he stuck through it came out into the light. The article mentioned that he did not attend Alcohol Rehab which I think could have definitely helped him with his alcohol problem. The pivotal moment in his life seems to be meeting Mairin, who later became his wife. She proved to be instrumental in him turning his life around and served as a great support to him. Her strength gave him the power to rise above the circumstances and change his life for the better. I give much credit to Mairin for being there for him when he needed it the most. Having a strong and loyal relationship is without a doubt a great source of support that can bring the best out of anyone. It just goes to show that having supportive people in your inner circle can be instrumental in implementing positive change. There was no mention of Freese taking any drugs to help him through his depression. I would be interested in getting a greater inside perspective on which drugs helped him during his struggle and what therapies he may have pursued. Even learning of whether or not he sought the help of a psychiatrist would be interesting to know. The field of psychiatry is definitely an ever-growing field and an option for some people like Freese who suffer from mental health issues. I applaud Freese for enduring such a challenging time in his life and serving as a beacon of hope to many around the globe who suffer from depression and alcohol abuse.
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Post by Faisal Uraizee on May 1, 2017 19:20:59 GMT -4
It’s really great to see Fresse doing a lot better. I think him leaving his hometown was certainly pivotal in him turning his life around. A change in scenery and a departure away from all the attention and expectations that comes with being a hometown hero really allowed him to take a step back from it all and view life through a different lens; one not clouded by the theme of baseball. Perhaps he never wanted to become iconic to begin with. He did in fact turn down a college scholarship to Missouri. You would think that the success he achieved in his professional career would in some way counter any feelings of depression that he was experiencing internally, but it ironically just added onto to the struggle. Lucky for Fresse that he found a partner who complemented him so well. That definitely allowed him to break the booze habit while also giving him an opportunity to redefine himself as not only an incredible baseball player, but also a husband and future father. You see many famous people who seem to have it all but yet still suffer with depression. For example, the legendary comic genius Robin Williams who took away his own life due to his life-long struggle with depression. He hid it so well behind the face of the many characters he would transform himself into that you would have never guessed it that he had been suffering. I think these cases really do highlight the importance of clinical depression and the reality that many people face. It's often considered taboo in some cultures to even discuss issues of mental health, but fortunately it is becoming more accepted as time progresses. I commend Fresse for staying in the game of life when it felt easy to strikeout.
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Post by Lisa Lin PCOM PA-S on May 1, 2017 20:17:46 GMT -4
Many who suffer depression in this world function normally without a trace of how they feeling on the inside which may be "broken down" in return, how they reflect on the outside "I'm fine". These patients are the most worrisome because they don't seek help as they should. Instead they turn to alcohol, substance abuse of both prescribed or illicit drugs. However, people like David Freese is an model and inspiration of how life can be if depression is controlled and managed from a professional health care provider. I hope many who read this article can be enlightened by David Freese's attitude and one day quote as he said, "To be honest, I never knew I could be so happy.’’ Because life itself is a struggle for many, but not all can admit they need help.
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Jose Berrios Mendez
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Post by Jose Berrios Mendez on May 2, 2017 18:36:36 GMT -4
This article gave me goosebumps, a man like David Freese going through depression since he was a kid just baffles my mind. So many people miss the warning signs of person's around you everyday that are suffering inside just like Freese was. The good thing is that Freese has been having counseling & therapy since he was kid. David Freese probably was the best athlete in his High School everyone looking up to him & he felt the pressure since he was a teen. Fame can overwhelm someone & if they don't have the right mindset & plan it could destroy them in a blink of an eye. Mairin was the spark that he needed, as well as, Fleet Rand who both went beyond what everybody else was trying to accomplish with Freese. They understood him & helped him manage his problems in a positive way.
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