Bradshaw discusses mental health at EC presentation
Leader-TelegramFeb 08, 2017
"He is the same goofy guy that we see on TV,"
Bradshaw, in rancher-style attire and in nonscripted mode, admitted he was uncertain what city he was in, saying he'd had little time to rest after being part of Fox network's
"This is the only gathering I'm doing all year," he said, referring to his part in the Human Connection Series presented by HSHS Sacred Heart and
Bradshaw, 68, briefly told of his glory days as quarterback with the
"I have a lot of memories. In fact, that's all I have now," he said, drawing laughs from the crowd. "I had three 300-yard games in my career. Isn't that terrible?"
The NFL Hall of Famer openly spoke of depression, with a divorce hitting him hard. Even with success on the football field and business interests, he had emotional breakdowns.
"It got to where I couldn't get out of the hole," he said as the crowd quieted. "I couldn't get happy."
Bradshaw said he met with mental health experts and took medications for many years but was still struggling.
"I really learned about me," he said about his therapy. "It still comes, but it doesn't overwhelm me anymore."
Bradshaw, in his usual animated manner, challenged men in particular to come to grips with depression and get assistance. "It's the smartest thing, acknowledging you have a problem," he said.
The combination of treatment for depression, his Christian faith, a caring wife and a drive to utilize every day's opportunities now allows Bradshaw to be happy in most situations.
"I don't waste a day," he said. "I work at it. I want to enjoy life, this God-given life. We need to be kind to people, learn how to love again, how to care again."
Regarding his sometimes silliness as a football analyst, he said: "The goofy guys are the geniuses up there. The geniuses have limits; stupidity doesn't."
"My father (Jim of
"I actually wanted to try to get my jersey signed, but he's an advocate for depression," Kirchen said. "He has a message about that and how to be successful in life."
"You can't corrupt a
"She's been a diehard
Contact: 715-830-5831, chuck.rupnw@ecpc.com, @crupnow on Twitter
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