“Sports Is So Short Lived and Athletes Don’t Understand That!” : Dennis Rodman Opens up About the Mental Health Struggles and Breakdowns He Faced as an Athlete
Dennis Rodman is just as polarizing as the personalities found in the mainstream.
The former Bulls and Pistons star was a staple of several championship rosters.
The Worm amassed accolades and increased his value with on-court performances.
As an incredible underdog story, it feels easy to root for Rodman. And then not anymore. Extravagant outfits, more extravagant lifestyle choices, excessive partying – the red flags were piling up.
Rodman became an enigma that was beyond the comprehension of the average NBA fan.
Also read: Michael Jordan told Dennis Rodman, who took 30 photos of Jager every day, to take it easy.
Dennis Rodman faced incredible difficulties
Having lived through a difficult childhood that involved homelessness, Rodman’s mental health took a hit before stardom. And the bright lights didn’t add to the fragility inside his head.
Rodman struggled to hold the fort. Alcoholism, domestic problems and everything else accumulated. A host of legal problems plagued Rodman during and after his career.
Reputation, sympathy, and profit: Rodman lost a sizable chunk of it all.
How does Rodman describe the mental health struggle he was involved in?
Rodman describes how the pressure on a professional athlete is immense. The short span of the average professional athlete’s career creates incredible pressure associated with performance and durability.
His mother advised the Worm to leave everything in the locker room after games. Possibly with the intention that all the pressure built up from him ends the game. Rodman therefore claims to have had periodic breakdowns of that nature in the locker room.
Rodman says such breakdowns helped “Do not burn both ends of the candle.” The Worm admits to relying on this coping mechanism “all time”.
Rodman’s perspective simply gives us a glimpse of what goes on inside the head of a professional athlete. If it got that bad for someone who had an enviable career like Rodman’s, imagine how a regular athlete fares in his day-to-day life.
Perspective is key to judging anyone. Rodman rarely humanizes himself and his own antics haven’t helped in his case. However, images like the one above reveal a very problematic mindset. Unfortunately, considering how talented the man was in his art.
With more athletes speaking out about mental health issues, we may see a change in the culture. A general change to a healthier environment is difficult, but not impossible.
Let there be more Dennis Rodman-style talent on the field and less Dennis Rodman-style antics off it. And Rodman’s own perspective might just be a stepping stone toward such a realization.
Also read: ‘I Killed My Impostor’: $500,000 Dennis Rodman Admitted Surviving a Suicide Attempt by ‘Killing’ What Was Inside
