Psychological well being consciousness is private for Abraham

You need to admire a man like John Abraham (1996-1999). Not simply because he was a feared move rusher that led to him being one among 10 who will probably be inducted into the College of South Carolina Athletics Corridor of Fame on October 14, however as a result of he had the braveness to hunt assist with a social nervousness dysfunction that affected him for a lot of his life.

“I have been battling social nervousness and quite a lot of different anxious stuff, so I believe this will probably be my first time going out and being round individuals and attempting to be free, speak and divulge heart’s contents to individuals,” stated Abraham, who splits his time in Atlanta and Columbia. “It has been some time since I have been capable of speak and actually be round individuals, so hopefully this will probably be a popping out social gathering so I can begin coming to extra video games and be extra social with the individuals of South Carolina.

“I did not need individuals to suppose that I did not wish to be round. Once you’re struggling via issues you possibly can’t management, it onerous to elucidate to individuals when my thoughts and my physique act otherwise than I would like them to. It has been an issue my complete life, however with soccer you typically had a method out. I had no issues speaking to reporters however going to huge occasions was powerful. I missed out on quite a lot of occasions all through my life and many issues individuals have requested me to do.”

Searching for remedy and studying about cognitive-behavioral remedy (CBT) and dialectical conduct remedy (DBT) have put him on a greater path.

“I discovered about CBT and DBT, and if I will make it via this occasion, will probably be huge for me,” Abraham stated. “It needs to be actually good.”

Abraham encourages others who’re battling such points to hunt assist and is glad to see the elimination of any stigma related to looking for assist with one’s psychological well being.

“Simply know that you’re worthy,” Abraham stated. “You’re worthy of the reward or consideration that you simply get. For me, I did not really feel worthy, and that is one thing I would like individuals to really feel for themselves. It will be powerful typically. They’ve quite a lot of therapies now that individuals can work on. You do not have to be the lifetime of the social gathering, however you actually have extra those who wish to see you than you suppose. I do know what it’s now, so now it is one thing I actually need to work on.

“Again within the day, we did not have a look at psychological well being as a lot as we do now. I all the time thought I used to be only a scared particular person, and with social nervousness, you do not suppose anyone needs you there anyway. I all the time thought if I went to one thing, I would not be capable of speak to anybody and so they would not need me there. It was so nerve-wracking. I really wished to be round extra individuals. I missed out on so many awards reveals and banquets that I may have gone to. I believe individuals may need misplaced respect for me as a result of they thought I did not wish to be round.”

Abraham did not have a typical path to greatness on the gridiron. Born in Timmonsville, S.C., he was higher identified early on as a monitor begin at Lamar Excessive Faculty the place he set the state document within the 200-meter sprint. He did not play organized soccer till his senior 12 months, and that happened principally as a result of he was being aggressive together with his girlfriend.

“I used to be attempting to get extra accolades within the yearbook,” Abraham stated with amusing. “I used to be going into my senior 12 months, and I had performed monitor and basketball, and I used to be pondering I wanted extra. My girlfriend on the time had extra accolades than me!

“I used to be shocked once I was recruited to play soccer. When you do not play a sport for a very long time, you do not have quite a lot of information of methods to play and what faculties are you. I began getting recruited late, like throughout basketball season. It was positively a second that modified my life. I bear in mind sitting within the lunchroom, and everybody was saying (then South Carolina coach) Brad Scott is right here, and I used to be saying, who the heck is Brad Scott? I used to be nonetheless making ready myself for basketball when he got here in and shocked me to recruit me to South Carolina.”

His pure athleticism made him a menace for opposing backfields as he tallied 23.5 sacks throughout his Gamecock profession, whereas main the staff in sacks in all 4 seasons. He earned second-team All-SEC honors in 1999.

“A few of my greatest reminiscences together with making my first begin my freshman 12 months, taking part in in opposition to Georgia and getting my first sack, and in addition taking part in in opposition to Clemson and getting a sack there,” Abraham stated. “Once you’re taking part in Clemson, it is a completely totally different sort of recreation. You actually know why you are at South Carolina while you play Clemson.”

Abraham was a first-round choice within the 2000 NFL Draft by the New York Jets. He went on to play 15 seasons within the NFL with the Jets, Atlanta Falcons and Arizona Cardinals, and appeared in 5 Professional Bowls. He’s additionally the Falcons’ all-time profession chief in sacks.

“Going to the NFL from faculty, all the sudden you’ve got extra time,” Abraham stated of his transition to the professional recreation. “The pace is totally different and also you’re coping with grown males. The largest factor was simply looking for one thing to do together with your time. In faculty, you’ve got lessons on high of all the things. Within the NFL, you are achieved at 3 o’clock and you haven’t any examine halls or something like that.”

Abraham retired in 2014, and now likes spending time together with his three daughters, age 20, 12 and 5.

“I’ve simply being attempting to take pleasure in spending time with my household and dealing on my psychological well being,” Abraham stated. “I do not suppose it is onerous to make that transition from soccer, however you positively must make a plan. It’s best to all the time plan 4 or 5 years forward to know the place you are going. I performed for 15 years, and I used to be fortunate to have collected sufficient the place I needn’t rush into any form of job. So, I can take my time and journey and luxuriate in life with individuals.”

He was part of the 2017 SEC Legends class, which options former soccer standouts from the league and was honored in occasions surrounding the SEC Championship recreation that 12 months, and when he obtained the decision from South Carolina about his Corridor of Fame honor, he was relieved.

“I am not going to lie, that was one among my huge targets in life,” Abraham stated. “I used to be comfortable. I acquired the decision from (Particular Assistant to the Athletics Director) Charles Waddell, and I used to be like, I am prepared!”

Abraham appears ahead to being again on campus and sharing his expertise together with his daughters.

“Now that I am getting older, I wish to make reminiscences for my youngsters,” he stated.

“After I come on the town, I see how good issues are on campus. They’re doing an ideal job. The issues now we have to supply now are so nice. I really like going by the brand new monitor there now. The stadium is a lot nicer, and the (Dodie Anderson) Tutorial (Enrichment) Middle is gorgeous.”

This 12 months’s Corridor of Fame class contains Abraham, Mike Durrah and Connor Shaw from soccer, Michael Roth from baseball, Scotti Ward from males’s basketball, Brantley Southers and head coach Nancy Wilson from ladies’s basketball, Ron Willis from monitor & area, volleyball coach Kim (Hudson) Williams and Athletics Director Dr. Mike McGee.

They are going to be inducted into the Corridor of Fame on Thursday, October 14, and acknowledged on the South Carolina-Vanderbilt soccer recreation on Saturday, October 16.