The part that was so unnerving about the ABC Special was the genuine concern for him that his ex-wife showed. Regardless of how the story evolves from here, I just wish the best for him and his family.
I'm going to take Vince Dooley's stance on this one which was, "All I know is whatever personality he had when he had the football was the one I liked."
I'd rather just have a blog that sticks to snarky comments about our neighbors and occasionally discusses our sports programs. I'd rather not pick apart our greatest legend.
Going forward, if you're looking for commentary on this, you won't find it from me.
PWD
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18 comments:
I happened to miss the special... so I see that you don't want to comment on it Paul, but where could I find it?
Important to remember that just because there were scary episodes (Russian roulette, gun and wife), and that his interests were varied, and that he's improved with "treatment" for MPD, does not mean that he has MPD.
MPD/DID "practitioners" have been accused of suggesting "memories" and convincing patients of a diagnosis. It has been analogized to scientology-style brainwashing because the idea that another personality is the cause (i.e. "it's not my fault) is attractive to the depressed mind. Often, their "treatment" involves many expensive sessions. The mainstream psych folks are terribly frustrated with this splinter group, because Mungadze and his like take EVERY psych diagnosis and spin it into MPD/DID with questionable psychotherapy techniques.
1. I think Herschel has some issues, but then again millions of Americans do.
2. I don't think Herschel has MPD/DID.
3. I think his psychologist (not psychiatrist) has taken advantage of him for publicity and money. He may actually believe his diagnosis of Herschel, but his methods and motivation are suspect.
4. What's really a shame is that the publicity or "awareness" this story generates will keep some patients from getting appropriate psychiatric care.
I'm a physician and deal with such issues daily. I'm used to anecdotes as counterpoints, like "well if he's doing better, you can't argue with that", or "my cousin did the same thing and he's doing great", or "I rubbed my joints with something from the root doctor and now they're fine, so everybody should have a root doctor".
If I could ask Herschel one question, it would be "How much money have you paid Dr. Mungadze?" I think our favorite son has been had.
Amen anon 4:51 - I couldn't have said it better. And thanks PWD for closing the chapter on this. Herschel Walker is the best back in football period and his hero status to UGA needs to remain just that.
1. I love Herschel. Always have, always will.
2. Maybe he has MPD, maybe he doesn't (see Anon@4:51 AM). Medical science used to believe that bloodletting was a way to cure someone in order to release the bad "humours". It was actually published in medical journals. I have often wondered if we are even that advanced when it comes to the mind. Psychologists who work hard will hate me for this, but in my experience with their assessment and success in treating various disorders, they are batting at the Mendoza line which is bad in baseball, and worse for medical science. A client I have right this minute has seen three different psychologists in two years, and has - you guessed it - three different assessments. All used the book, talked in terms like axis I, axis II, gave the diagnosis a clinical number with official sounding terms, and if only one of them had been involved you would think they knew something. Getting three different results - and this is the kicker, two of the three had each others notes and test results and knew there were other diagnoses - tells me that psychology knows the language of science, but not the substance.
3. Even if HW is 'cuckoo for Cocoa Puffs', it makes his success that much more amazing. If he played football in desperation to avoid the things that troubled him in his head, then how much better is that than the alternatives? He is the Van Gogh of football, but he still has both ears.
So now we have the Good Herschel and the EVIL Herschel.
I'm just glad CMR came off his medicine last year and let the EVIL CMR out some.
I have not been able to bring myself to watch it yet. I don't know that I ever will.
In my mind not only is the chapter closed, it was never opened.
that 'Evil Herschel' joke hasn't been funny either time
http://kissingsuzykolber.uproxx.com/2008/04/herschel-walker-survived-russian-roulette.html
Kind of macabre, but still a little funny.
I don't know how you can think that photoshopped image is even remotely funny. I think that and you are absolutely disgusting.
Mr. Egger,
Gotta tell ya man. I didn't think it was funny.
PWD
Having known Herschel for almost 30 years now, I was quite surprised, as were most other people, to learn he had any psychological problems, and am proud of the way he has apparently confronted these issues. I have always known him to be kind, sincere, and genuine, and the idea that he is promoting this book simply for publicity is preposterous. If anything, during our college years, Herschel tried to keep out of the limelight as much as possible, but the local and national attention he always garnered was extreme in the least. The Herschel most of us know has always been an unselfish, patient, thoughtful man, who never says an
unkind word about anyone, and his standing in college football history, and his advocacy and representation of UGA throughout the years, remain ones of passion, honesty, and integrity. No condition, mental or physical, can ever change that.
I didn't even know he was divorced.
I guess I have a rather perverted and sick sense of humor Paul. It wasn't the picture that made me laugh, as much as the line about the Vikings trading away all the bullets.
Sorry if some don't share my humor. I wish it hadn't happened, but he lived and laughter can help salve the soul sometimes.
that should read "but the line...", not as much as, the picture didn't make me laugh at all, the line about the Vikings made me chuckle though.
Egger,
In fairness, the line about trading away the bullets busted me to pieces. But I didn't see that until later.
PWD
I agree with Anon 4:51, a little closer look needs to be taken at this Mungadze character. From what I can discern from his website, his credentials are not in order.
Of Note
1. He appears to be a Master's level therapist.
2. His doctorate is not in Psychology or Psychiatry.
3. He advertises to speak to groups. The good ones don't have to.
4. He claims to be an expert, no such thing. DID is RARE.
5. Imagine HW's luck--the one 'expert' on DID just happened to be in the town HW lives in. Like Lou Gerhig getting Lou Gerhig's disease.
I have been in the field of therapy and counseling for 16 years in private and adolescent in-patient care and I have seen 1 case that may come close. From what I saw, folks with this diagnosis do not function well on any level. Very few with a serious personality disorder do.
But, I disagree with Anon 4:51 that a Psychologist or Psychiatrist is taking advantage of HW. Hopefully a Ph.D or MD would have far better ethics to become involved with such a book.
Do a google search for DID and Mungadze and look at the guy's web page and judge for yourself. Expert and authority are all over it. Expert is a word likd 'deluxe' if it says it on it, it usually isn't.
Would it be too far from the imagination to believe that HW became depressed when his football career ended. Depression could explain most of this behavior.
At the risk of saying more when I said I wouldn't....to the last anon.
Orson Swindle and I were talking about it last night. He seems like a guy with more than a little OCD to compliment his depression or manic behavior.
As Orson said, You just don't do 1000 push-ups at a shot without some level of compulsive behavior
sorry - not last night. the day after it aired.
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