Shawn Andrews chemical imbalance thread

[PhillyPhreak54]

I think if someone has issues they should resolve them, whatever way they have to. Now that it is known he has this, I understand the issues.

Clinical Depression, although I joke about mental illness sometimes, is real. Just like PTSD was a taboo subject back in the day, it is a real issue.

Now...do some people fake it and use it as a crutch? Absolutely.

But if someone has legit problems, and they correct and control them, more power to them.

[SunMo]

your only not a Hoyda if you actually kill yourself

[The BIGSTUD]

I think Reid fined him, because Andrews never told him what was wrong. He never told anyone. All he ever said was "I'm just taking some time to get well, and am going through tough times."

If that is all that he's going to give Reid, then of course he will be fined. You have to at least tell your boss what the hell is wrong with you.

With that said, it could all be a ploy just to miss camp. No one can say for sure yet.

[Father Demon]

He's depressed because he got his numbers tattooed upside down on his damned beefy arms.

[PhillyGirl]

Depressed Andrews had gun pulled on him last year

By Bob Brookover

INQUIRER STAFF WRITER
BETHLEHEM, Pa. - All the speculation about what was keeping Shawn Andrews from joining his Eagles teammates at training camp finally got to him, so today the two-time Pro Bowl guard decided it was time to talk about his "personal issue."

Depression that has required medical treatment prevented the 6-foot-5, 335-pound offensive lineman from reporting to work at Lehigh University.

"After finally deciding to get professional help, I felt like maybe talking about my situation could be a blessing to someone else going through the same things," Andrews said today from his home in Arkansas. "Regardless of whether you're a celebrity or you play for the Philadelphia Eagles and you're in the limelight, you still go through problems."

Andrews, despite tremendous career success during his first four seasons in the NFL, has also endured some serious life trauma. Before the 2007 season, he lost a 23-year-old, overweight friend to a heart attack, which spurred his own desire to lose weight and eat healthier.

His brother Derrick, a member of the U.S. Army, has done two tours of duty in Afghanistan.

Andrews, 25, said he also had a gun pulled on him several times in Philadelphia, the most recent being during the Eagles' playoff run in January 2007.

He also became a father for the first time in the spring when his son Shawn was born.

"A lot of things in my life have happened even since I've come to Philadelphia," Andrews said. "Random people have pulled out a gun on me. One time during the playoffs, some guy walked from around a building and said, 'You're going to the Pro Bowl? [blank] him, he's not going to the Pro Bowl.' Luckily, I was talking to someone and I didn't hear him. If I heard it, I think I'd have been on the ground."

The fifth-year guard wouldn't elaborate on all his problems, but he admitted he has not always had a good sense of himself.

"I've just had a lot of thoughts and questions going through my mind about a lot of things," he said. "Some things I'm embarrassed to talk about. But even dating back to when I was growing up . . . people made fun of me. I always wanted people to think I was more than what I was.

"When I got into the [NFL], I wanted to be man enough to admit that, but I tried to use material things to say who I was. I know now that some of the happiest times in my life were when I didn't have a pot to piss in. I'm hoping this is just part of my growing process."

Andrews said he is scheduled to see a psychiatrist Thursday in Philadelphia and that he recently started taking medication for his depression. He admitted, however, that he resisted initial offers of help.

"I've actually just started to take a little medication," he said. "I've never been a big fan of medication, but at this point in my life I feel like every little bit helps. I was at the end of the road."

A friend, Andrews said, referred him to the Philadelphia-area psychiatrist in June before he left the Eagles' final spring camp and returned to his home state of Arkansas, but he decided against treatment.

"My pride got in the way," Andrews said. "I didn't want anybody to see me walking into a psych clinic. Professionals aren't always the answer. Sometimes, just talking things out helps. And now with all the rumors coming out, it has only made things worse. Some of the comments really got to me. You always hear guys say that they don't care what people think and sometimes I don't about certain things. But in the grand scheme, I want people to think positive about me."

The initial speculation was that Andrews wanted a new contract, but both his agent Rich Moran and the Eagles immediately dismissed that notion. Moran also denied speculation that Andrews didn't want to risk injury by taking part in the contact part of training camp, which ended with yesterday's workout.

Andrews insisted that his decision was all about depression.

"That's the ultimate reason I wasn't at camp," he said. "I would have been there physically, but mentally I wouldn't have been an asset to my team or myself. I could have got myself or one of my teammates hurt."

There was also speculation that Andrews didn't want to report to training camp because he was overweight again, a problem that plagued him during his college career at Arkansas and his first two NFL seasons.

"For a while I didn't work out and I didn't put my weight back on," Andrews said. "I went about a month and I only gained two pounds. But I started working out again and that helped me through some things. I'm still 335 and in shape."

Andrews said he hopes to be cleared to return after meeting with his doctor Thursday.

"I really miss being around the guys," Andrews said. "I really do miss a lot of aspects of the game. But my story, everything is real. If I sit here and lie to you, I'm lying to myself. Hopefully, the doctor will give me the OK to play, but I won't everything is OK if it isn't."

Andrews said the Eagles have been fining him $15,000 per day since he did not report to training camp, a total that would now be at $180,000.

"That's college money for my son, but whatever the number is, that hasn't been my focus," Andrews said. "I know the value of a dollar. I come from a household of four where the weekly income was 200 or 300 dollars a week. I just felt my mental health was more important than a dollar."

Eagles coach Andy Reid addressed the situation briefly following the team's morning practice yesterday, saying that he had spoken to Andrews and reiterating that the guard's absence was unexcused.

Though Reid publicly seems bothered by his Pro Bowl guard's absence, Andrews indicated the coach has understood his problems during their phone conversations.

"I think every time we've talked, he became more sensitive that I do have issues going on," Andrews said. "I'll admit that I said some things around my teammates that have created some of the rumors that have been going on, but a lot of that was said out of anger. I said I might give football up because I didn't know how to handle my anger. This really has taken a toll on me mentally."

Andrews, who has recently added to his collection of tattoos, said that is also a reflection of what he's been going through.

"I think that was just part of me trying to identify myself," he said. "I've always felt like I was different. I feel like I'm an abstract person and I still wonder who Shawn Andrews is. That's why you always see me joking around. Being around people and singing activates my fun side. At the end of the day, this doesn't take away from my fun side, but it has for the time being.

[PhillyPhreak54]

That is a pretty good article. Good for him on getting help.

[SD_Eagle5]

Am I the only one that is confused by this:

"A lot of things in my life have happened even since I've come to Philadelphia," Andrews said. "Random people have pulled out a gun on me. One time during the playoffs, some guy walked from around a building and said, 'You're going to the Pro Bowl? [blank] him, he's not going to the Pro Bowl.' Luckily, I was talking to someone and I didn't hear him. If I heard it, I think I'd have been on the ground."

So he was talking to someone and some random guy came from around a building with a gun and said 'farg him he's going to the Pro Bowl'? Yet he didn't see the guy or hear the guy.

[Diomedes]

What I take away from this episode is that Andrews is kooky and unreliable.  From this point on, I'll take any decent play he renders as a nice gift, but not a given.

[mpmcgraw]

Kind of like how often you expect a coherent post from MDS.

[rjs246]

So one of the players on the team takes a trip off the reservation and everyone is worried... except for Phreak, who is proud of the guy for getting treatment. This is a shocking turn of events.

You know, most people are capable of getting therapy AND actually reporting to their job to earn a living at the same time. A crazy concept, I know, but it has been done before.

[mpmcgraw]

You are just hating because he is fat.

[ice grillin you]

I'm just wondering if people actually think having clinical depression means you're a Hoyda?

the internet makes a man outta pusssies from around the way who usually wouldnt have a farging thing to say

[PoopyfaceMcGee]

That is a pretty good article. Good for him on getting help.

You seriously believe both of those things?  Yikes, man.

[PhillyPhreak54]

So one of the players on the team takes a trip off the reservation and everyone is worried... except for Phreak, who is proud of the guy for getting treatment. This is a shocking turn of events.

You know, most people are capable of getting therapy AND actually reporting to their job to earn a living at the same time. A crazy concept, I know, but it has been done before.

No, I am still worried. But I thought it was a good read and I bought his explanation. I am glad he got treatment, yes. Because too many people pull the too proud thing and never go see people to talk to. I had a good friend who did that. He was too proud and nothing was wrong with him blah blah, but he eventually went and got help after we urged him to. Now he's better than ever.

[Wingspan]

I am not sure that you will find more misguided and misinformed posts than in the last 2 or 3 pages of this thread.