Votto Speaks About the Issues He's Been Dealing With

by Slyde on Jun 23, 2009 5:38 PM EDT in News Comment 21 comments

I'm going to delay the game thread for a bit tonight (don't worry, it will be up by game time), because I want to post some of what Joey Votto said today. This is all from John Fay, and I encourage you to go read it in its entirety. These are Votto's words:

As some of you know, my father passed away last August. The first day back I kind of put that all on back burner and just played baseball all the way to the end of September. I don’t want to use the word suppress because he was in my thoughts and I was dealing with it on a daily basis. But, as powerful a moment that is to lose your father so young in a way I did suppress it. From August to beginning of spring training, I was pretty severely depressed. I was dealing with the anxiety of grief and sadness and fear. Every emotion you can imagine that everyone goes through.

....

I spoke to some doctors. They came to the conclusion I was dealing with obviously being depressed and anxiety and panic attacks. They were overwhelming to point where I had to go to the hospital on two separated occasions. Once in San Diego and once – nobody had been told about – but I went to the hospital once in Cincinnati when the team was on the road.

"It was very, very scary and crazy night. I had to call 911 at 3 or 4 in the morning. It was probably the scariest moment I ever dealt with in my life. I went to the hospital that night.

....

"I’ve been talking and seeing some doctors. They’ve been a great help. And speaking to people in general – I spoke to my team last week – and letting people know what I’ve dealing and how difficult this grieving process has been. My father was young, and I’m a young man. I really wish I hadn’t lost my father so young. I’m the oldest brother. I feel like I’m responsible for my family. Maybe I have proclivity for depression or whatever it is.

"But I was dealing with some pretty abnormal circumstances – the combination of being a major league ballplayer, a young ballplayer and also dealing with my father and my family."

These words really spoke to me. As most of you know, my mother passed away in January and it has been one of the hardest things I've had to deal with emotionally. I can't imagine having to perform in front of thousands of people on a nightly basis with that weighing on my mind. Professionally athletes learn very early to block out distractions while performing, but I'm sure if you try to do that with something that really matters to you, it's going to come to a head eventually. It appears that this is what happened to Votto.

Hopefully Joey has been able to get some help and truly can improve on his outlook. In situations like these, if you don't deal with the pain it will eat you alive when you least expect it. I wish him nothing but the best as he continues to try to make sense of it all.

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Big ups to JV for being so candid

I cannot even imagine how I will deal with this eventuality. Him and I are the same age, and it seems like such a distant prospect. But death, and the void it leaves, could happen to anyone, anytime.

On a selfish note, I am so happy to see Votto’s name in the lineup. And I have a feeling he is about to murder some baseballs, and cement his place in the uppermost strata of all sportsmen ever. I think he is just that damn good.

"I lay my head on the railroad tracks, and wait for the double E"- Warren Zevon

by Colin Auscapee on Jun 23, 2009 5:55 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

I been there

The “it could happen at anyone, anytime” thing with death has really had be concerned since one day when I was about 21. It happened out of nowhere and the notice of fragility that life holds has not went away for me since that time, and I’m now 26. The panic attacks, the 911 calls, it all came on the same as it did for Votto for me. I feel for him, it’s scary and people that haven’t had this stuff enter their minds really should realize that they’re lucky.

by TheNaturalMevs on Jun 23, 2009 5:58 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

You doing OK now?

Wear something sexy to my funeral.

by Pops Daniels on Jun 23, 2009 6:15 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Kudos to Joey for being able to come forward and explain all this

I’m sure it couldn’t have been easy to talk to the media about it, and the fact that he’s able to talk about it now probably speaks volumes of the progress he’s made over the last 4 weeks. Hopefully he’ll be able to keep it behind him from this point forward, and hopefully he knows he has the support of Reds nation on this. I can’t imagine having to compete in front of thousands every night with this hanging over my head, especially with little brothers at home going through a lot of the same stuff.

Oh yeah, and if BruzFan and pronto are reading, you two can fuck off. Is he still a “mangina” that can’t handle stardom? Idiots.

"We, as for me all seasons you are affected peculiarly in the edge of my seat and are happy concerning the fact that the Adam Dunn fan has been mixed up exactly." - Reynard-san

by BK on Jun 23, 2009 6:02 PM EDT reply actions 10 recs

rec'd for the call-out

I can’t remember the last time I heard something so genuine, honest, vulnerable and intelligent from a professional athlete.

I already respected him as a player, but I have so much respect for him as a person too now. I agree, BK, that the fact that he spoke so candidly to the media is a good sign that he’s doing much better. I hope he crushes the ball tonight, but even if he never plays another game I wish him well and am glad that he’s doing better.

I wish I could be there when the team returns home so I could give him a 10 minute standing ovation.

Isn't there a slanket somewhere you should be filling with your farts?

by nycredsfan on Jun 23, 2009 6:09 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I have a lot more respect for Votto after reading this

It can’t be easy to admit that you suffer from depression as a professional athlete, especially knowing that so many over-compensating “macho” guys are going to hurl insults at you.

Now go hit 4 homeruns tonight!

by D-Rock on Jun 23, 2009 6:03 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Likewise. It takes a ton of machismo and maturity to lay oneself bare as Joey did.

He didn’t owe the media or fans an explanation, but he gave us a very heartfelt and intimate one nonetheless. He clearly has a sense of responsibility that well outstrips the stereotypical expectation we have of professional athletes. I have not yet had to confront the loss of a parent, but doing so under pressure to soldier on in front of the public eye would be an incredible burden.

Joey impresses me as an exceedingly earnest and thoughtful guy.

I got to go down to the stadium and whip batteries at the players on both teams. - Philly Boy Roy

by RijoSaboCaseyWKRP on Jun 23, 2009 6:38 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Good on ya, Joey

I too have no idea how I will eventually deal with the death of my parents and the ensuing stress it will incur. The way he has dealt with this makes me lurv him that much more. FWIW the Reds are gonna be back on the 30th (Tues) against the Dbacks. I’m seriously considering buying a cheap seat just to go and give him a standing O.

"Power guys like Giambi and Dunn have always had high OPS because no one wants to pitch to them. But it takes two hits to score them from first." -- Harold Reynolds

by jch24 on Jun 23, 2009 6:18 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

im in

i have a close friend who has panic/anxiety attacks and its completely normal to try to hide it from everyone. im glad joey’s talking about it publicly as i think that is an extremely good sign for him. i also think he just became RR’s favorite ballplayer, if he wasnt already.

I remember just going through my recent divorce (albeit one I really, really wanted) and the process made the daily work grind a real GRIND.

"We're going to Adonis, son"

jch24

by obc2 on Jun 23, 2009 6:39 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Keep Fighting Joey

I have had anxiety/panic attacks and depression for almost thirty years. At least 50 times I have either gone to the hospital with someone else or by ambulance to be treated. It is a debilitating disease of the mind and has basically overseen my entire adulthood. I would not wish this condition upon any person on the face of this Earth – it is that horrific. To those who suffer with me, stay strong and know you are not alone.

by Dukestreetking on Jun 23, 2009 7:13 PM EDT reply actions 1 recs

hi, hello, and welcome

enjoy some baseball my new friend.

I am an internationally recognized Ghostbusters Expert. - Mads

by Charlie Scrabbles on Jun 23, 2009 7:28 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

i'm 4+ years older than the guy, but with this...

“My father was young, and I’m a young man. I really wish I hadn’t lost my father so young. I’m the oldest brother. I feel like I’m responsible for my family. Maybe I have proclivity for depression or whatever it is.”

…mr. joey votto’s my new hero. even if he is canadian.

Wha' happened??

by Dubman on Jun 23, 2009 10:24 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Thanks for posting

Slyde, I didn’t know you had suffered that. My thoughts and preayers go out to you. I haven’t had to deal with anything like this, thankfully. Losing a loved one so early is crushing. Obviously, Joey Votto is a repsonsible young man who has a keen sense of duty—no wonder he felt the pressure crush him. I had no idea he had brothers, let alone those very young ones. H emust feel like he has to be their father now. I pray that he can handle all of the stress with grace and dignity. I know he can.

It does take alot of courage, integrity, and virtue,to admit that. I’ve dealt with depression (which did not reach near the levels that Votto’s did) and I couldn’t imagine having to publically explain to co-workers that it was affecting my performance. It is typically more acceptable for women to do so too.

In any case, I hope the press will quit hounding him now and just let things get back tp normal as far as that is possible.

by Red_Poodle on Jun 23, 2009 10:49 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Big Ups to JV

Amazing to see a player be so candid. In the world of pro sports it takes a lot of courage to speak publicly about those issues. Best of luck to Joey and his family. I hope all works out for him, he’s a very promising young baseball player.

by Matt Buggenhagen on Jun 23, 2009 11:00 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Depression, aniety, panic attacks...in some one so young and talented is a tough break.

Joey’s handling it so well, he’ll do fine…the good side of this situation is that maybe, just maybe other people who are also so afflicted will see that even young star athletes get hit by this stuff AND that it is controllable and nothing to be ashamed about.

I Fucking hate shame. guilt is bad enough…but shame should be outlawed.
Guilt = I did something wrong/bad and I can somehow through action or external redemption be forgiven and get another chance. It is fixable.
Shame = I am something wrong/bad. It is not fixable.

The sad side are those ‘shamed’ folks out there who either choose to believe that one just needs to ‘suck it up’ or that depression/mental illness is the product of ‘being a weak sissy..loser’ – the fear of being homosexual is very powerful in these folks.
I feel worse for them than Joeh at this point.

One tequila, two tequila, three tequila, floor.
George Carlin

by Madville on Jun 23, 2009 11:02 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Screw......everyone.....

My father was diagnosed with bone cancer this past weekend…….and nobody understands more than me.

I am so depressed and sooooooo stressed out.

I wish JV the best. But I understand. My father is 72 and I am having a very hard time coping with it.

Sorry for the nasty title………but I am veyr upset……( I went back and edited it)

by Dude Rock on Jun 24, 2009 3:04 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Having been through in the last year what you are going through

let me suggest to you to be open about the experience with those around you. If you have siblings, talk to them about what you are going through. Chances are, they are feeling the same thing. It doesn’t make the feeling go away, but it sure helps to know that you are not alone. I wasn’t particularly close to my siblings, mainly because most of them are several years older than me, but being able to talk about it with them helped ease the burden just a bit, and sometimes that’s all it takes.

Good luck to you and your father. Keep fighting and stay strong!

"It seems like we're not hitting because we're not getting hits." - Dusty being Dusty

by Slyde on Jun 24, 2009 8:09 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I'm so sorry about your Father

My father (the hardass prick) contracted a rare blood cancer and died in 1990. Although time does heal the pain..his last year was maybe the toughest time of my life. 19 years later I still think of him almost daily…

Hang in there Dude..our prayers and support are with you and your dad.

One tequila, two tequila, three tequila, floor.
George Carlin

by Madville on Jun 24, 2009 6:55 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Good for Joey

I was so glad to hear that Joey was going to come back to play last night. Then even more happy to hear that he decided to talk about what was wrong with him. He’s a brave man to talk about this on a national stage.

Just think though, if he was that good dealing with all of this, just imagine how good he’s going be once he put’s this behind him.

Hey Meat!

by chouteau on Jun 24, 2009 8:28 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

I work in disability law

and I’ve seen people with fewer access to resources and less innate strength become disabled from leaving their house or carrying on a relationship. No one knows what a panic attacks is like unless you’ve experienced one, but from the medical records, it must be one of the single most terrifying things to happen to you,

Good for Joey for his statement. He shows tremendous strength for admitting to suffering an illness that is very misunderstood, especially amongst the halfwits who make up the rosters of the average MLB team.

by timb116 on Jun 24, 2009 9:31 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs