on May 5, 2012
Junior Seau, one of the greatest NFL players of all time, took his own life this week in his home outside of San Diego. From initial statements from family and friends, there is no indication of severe depression or any financial/emotional pressures that normally preceed suicide. Could TBI have been the culprit?
Junior played 20 years in the NFL at the linebacker position for San Diego, New England and Miami. He was always known as one of the toughest, hardest working, and smartest defensive leaders in the league. Earning that reputation required that Seau suffer hundreds of concussions from thousands of extreme helmet to helmet/knee/ground collisions, each causing a little bit more TBI over the course of his 20 year career.
This life-long abuse to the brain causes inflammation and other issues that continues years after the initial injuries. The pain and inflammation often leads to alcohol and drug abuse, inability to function in society and severe depression - none of which Junior Seau seems to have exhibited in the weeks leading up to his death.
We all know how devastating Traumatic Brain Injury can be, and how it can change your life. If Junior was suffering TBI, unnoticed, then he did not have the kind of support he would need to help him see the value in life over death. I hope that others who have experienced slow, incremental TBI over a period of years will recognize their injuries and the symptoms of TBI, so they can get help before going to the extreme of taking their own life. There is hope and life after TBI.
I hope that we can reach other athletes with similar injuries and help them see the hope. It would even be great to have a former athlete join our site and help spread that message with their fame and large following.
I'm looking for VOLUNTEERS!
Junior played 20 years in the NFL at the linebacker position for San Diego, New England and Miami. He was always known as one of the toughest, hardest working, and smartest defensive leaders in the league. Earning that reputation required that Seau suffer hundreds of concussions from thousands of extreme helmet to helmet/knee/ground collisions, each causing a little bit more TBI over the course of his 20 year career.
This life-long abuse to the brain causes inflammation and other issues that continues years after the initial injuries. The pain and inflammation often leads to alcohol and drug abuse, inability to function in society and severe depression - none of which Junior Seau seems to have exhibited in the weeks leading up to his death.
We all know how devastating Traumatic Brain Injury can be, and how it can change your life. If Junior was suffering TBI, unnoticed, then he did not have the kind of support he would need to help him see the value in life over death. I hope that others who have experienced slow, incremental TBI over a period of years will recognize their injuries and the symptoms of TBI, so they can get help before going to the extreme of taking their own life. There is hope and life after TBI.
I hope that we can reach other athletes with similar injuries and help them see the hope. It would even be great to have a former athlete join our site and help spread that message with their fame and large following.
I'm looking for VOLUNTEERS!
Posted in: Health, TBI - Traumatic Brain Injury
Topics:
Junior Seau, TBI, Traumatic Brain Injury, NFL, Concussion, Brain Injury
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