Royce White and Anxiety in Sports - Joe Chacon's Blog

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Joe Chacon's Blog

Royce White and Anxiety in Sports Stuck

Posted on November 18, 2012 at 11:49 PM.

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By now you may have heard about the situation involving Royce White and the Houston Rockets.

Houston drafted White with the 16th pick in the most recent NBA draft. White has an extreme anxiety disorder which prevents him from flying with the team.

White's anxiety disorder was a cause for concern from other NBA General Managers, but the Rockets thought they'd be able to assist White. Unfortunately, for both parties, the rookie has not progressed and has become increasingly frustrated with the lack of support from the organization.

The pulse of fans and media on this subject shows that support for White comes from those who have dealt with anxiety, and those who can't relate to the situation are saying he should suck it up and play.

I think there has to be a compromise in the middle.

Anxiety, put simply, is a complete mindf---. Once somebody with the disorder realizes what the triggers are, they have two roads to take. The first road is to avoid it completely and see if you can be productive in life without having to cross paths with that trigger. In this case, being in an airplane is one of White's triggers.

The second option is to continue to be exposed to the trigger in an effort to deaden the response your brain has to it. Essentially what happens with anxiety is the person affected by it goes into a fight-or-flight response. Whether it is being in an elevator, or driving in a car, you can have a panic attack if you allow your mind to control you.

For those who have never had panic attacks, it is hard to imagine how anybody could start to get shortness of breath simply by sitting in an airplane. That's the major reason why there has been such a backlash against White not contributing to the team thus far.

White is not doing himself any favors by taking his emotions to Twitter and expressing is frustration with the Houston organization. He has also threatened to walk away from the NBA. Throwing those rants out into the world with a tirade in the same way a 16-year-old would if she didn't get the kind of car she wanted is not going to earn any friends for White.

I don't know White personally, but I did deal with an anxiety disorder between 2006 and 2008. It was triggered by being in an airplane and knowing that no matter what, I couldn't leave it. I was not in control of myself or where I could be, like I would be if I was driving a car. For the next two years I would awake with panic attacks stemming from what my brain thought was a traumatic experience.

The disorder nearly made me an agoraphobe for parts of those two years in which I was struggling with anxiety. Agoraphobia is when one gets panic attacks and severe anxiety from leaving their home. While I never had issues with leaving the house, I would second guess any task that required me to venture further from fifteen miles from where I lived.

While I was prescribed the common anxiety medication, I only took it one time. Instead, it was one thing somebody told me that put me on the road to recovery. That person said, "Nobody has ever died from a panic attack." Soon after that I started to do everything that would have previously triggered an attack. Sure enough, the triggers become less and less severe and eventually I grew out of my anxiety -- but it took a lot of work.

The Houston Rockets don't owe Royce White a ticket to overcoming anxiety, but there is enough money between both of them to get him the best help possible. It's easy to sit here and say that White needs to keep getting on a plane and deal with the panic attacks until he gets the best of his disorder, but anything else (i.e.; medication) would just be putting a band-aid over the underlying problem.

It's tough to see anybody, even millionaire athletes, struggle with anxiety, but it can be overcome with the right treatment and attitude.

Good luck, Mr. White, stay strong.

Joe Chacon is a staff writer for Opertion Sports and a featured columnist for Bleacher Report. You can follow him on Twitter @JoeChacon.

Comments

# 1 JohnDoe8865 @ Nov 19

Good blog Joe. I've struggled with Panic Disorder in my past as well and unless or until someone experiences it, they can't imagine how debilitating that it can be, or how frustrating it can make some activities that some see as routine. It's simply not as cut and dry and anyone would like it to be.

I too realized that I couldn't die from them and that helped me a lot. One thing I'd advise those who suffer, is to think about it. What's the absolute worse than can realistically happen? That's helped me tremendously.

I hope Royce can overcome this and give himself a chance to play.

# 2 Bionickle @ Nov 19

I think it's an unfortunate situation for both parties. The Rockets drafted him hoping they could help him overcome his mental issue and be a factor for their progress. And I'm sure the last thing White wanted was to be unable to fulfill his dream of playing in the NBA and having to struggle with this.

I feel like this is one of those cases were he would have been better off getting drafted later and gone to an established franchise like OKC,Miami,Boston,LAL,Chicago,etc. Since they wouldn't have the need for him to contribute right away he would have had a better chance to deal with this in a more patient atmosphere while working on his game.

# 3 ggsimmonds @ Nov 19

I think Royce has more than anxiety disorder. I've known several people who suffer from panic attacks, and while I know that different people behave differently, White's behavior seems more than anxiety disorder.

# 4 cmehustle @ Nov 19

I agree with ggsimmonds. While I think an anxiety disorder can defintely be troubling, there are signs of something even deeper with White. Just a little bit of a look into his backround and I can see that. I wont downplay anxiety though as I have also had bouts with that, being in the Navy and haveing to wear masks (gas masks, oxygen masks during firefighting drills,) and being in enclosed spaces triggers claustrophobia for me. One thing with the military tho, you have to do it. No getting around it. Maybe if there was a back way out for me I would have attempted it but since there was no other way I just tried to get through my issues the best I could just to get it over with.

# 5 cmehustle @ Nov 19

By the way, why didnt he report to the d-league? And why did 2k rate this clown a 68, what the hell has he done in the NBA? Speaking of ratings Brandon Roy a 80? Really? Quickness 84, durability 65, dunk 67, and vertical 75????? What year is it 2007??

# 6 keator @ Nov 19

Taking nothing away from Mr. White's problem, he has been given a cold dose of the "real world". Playing in the NBA is an opportunity, not a right. Mr white can find another job that will allow him to not have to board a plan, and provide for his family and future. However, if he wants to be apart of the Rockerts and the NBA, it is his job to get better, not the rockets to help him.

A lot of soul searching for Mr. White, but the NBA and especially the rockets dont owe him anything, and dont have to help him get better.

# 7 PH1LLYSFINEST13 @ Nov 19

Absolutely no reason why he cant play home games. Unless there is something I dont know about between Houston and him where he HAS to play away games to also play home games. I know he has a serious problem , but I also know he has a chance to play in the NBA...Better find a work around... hire a driver and make sure you are where u need to be.

# 8 cbjr @ Nov 22

There are many leagues out there where teams never travel by plane due to the cost factor. When he gets sick of cramped, funky buses and cars, then he'll be ready to approach his disorder like an adult and deal with it.