Could Herschel Walker's sef-admitted history of mental illness have any relation to previous concussions?
Wow... What a great question!!!
Matt C., a loyal reader of my columns, asked the title's amazingly provocative question.
A bit of background info.
For many years, there has been a growing argument that concussions may lead to mental illness (depression, aggressive behavior and suicide). The NFL, with its' long history of multiple concussions, is replete with cases (personal tragedies) that lend support to this theory.
Herschel Walker played 15 or so years of professional football (USFL and NFL) as a running back a very susceptible position for concussions. These years of pro competition do not even begin to include his pee wee days, his junior high and high school years and his Heisman Trophy experience at the University of Georgia.
Might his dissociative disease or what is probably better known as multiple personalities disorder be a result of or affected by sports induced concussions?
Furthermore, how might a new career in MMA affect his underlying mental illness? Is it a real concern?
Bob Woodruff interviewed Herschel and discussed his mental illness. Here's a link:
http://www.herschelwalker.net/content.asp?title=ABC%27s%20Nightline%20Interview%20with%20Bob%20Woodruff&menuid=Interviews&contentid=ABC%20Bob%20Woodruff&id=112
Matt C., a loyal reader of my columns, asked the title's amazingly provocative question.
A bit of background info.
For many years, there has been a growing argument that concussions may lead to mental illness (depression, aggressive behavior and suicide). The NFL, with its' long history of multiple concussions, is replete with cases (personal tragedies) that lend support to this theory.
Herschel Walker played 15 or so years of professional football (USFL and NFL) as a running back a very susceptible position for concussions. These years of pro competition do not even begin to include his pee wee days, his junior high and high school years and his Heisman Trophy experience at the University of Georgia.
Might his dissociative disease or what is probably better known as multiple personalities disorder be a result of or affected by sports induced concussions?
Furthermore, how might a new career in MMA affect his underlying mental illness? Is it a real concern?
Bob Woodruff interviewed Herschel and discussed his mental illness. Here's a link:
http://www.herschelwalker.net/content.asp?title=ABC%27s%20Nightline%20Interview%20with%20Bob%20Woodruff&menuid=Interviews&contentid=ABC%20Bob%20Woodruff&id=112
Posted by Johnny Benjamin MD at 9/24/2009 6:09 AM 
Categories: MMA
Tags: NFL Herschel Walker mental illness Dr. Johnny Benjamin MMA
Categories: MMA
Tags: NFL Herschel Walker mental illness Dr. Johnny Benjamin MMA
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