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  1. #1
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    Bulldog Tom Boyd talks about his anxiety, depression to support young men’s mental health

    Bulldog Tom Boyd talks about his anxiety, depression to support young men’s mental health

    BULLDOGS star Tom Boyd has opened up about his panic attacks, anxiety and depression around the time of the team’s historic 2016 premiership win.

    While Boyd’s playing career was flying, he said his mental health was suffering.

    “We had an amazing year. We managed to win the flag which was an incredible experience,” he said.

    “But from my point of view I think it papered over a lot of the cracks that were starting to appear in my mental health.

    “The real moment my mind started to turn was when I began having panic attacks while driving — that physiological effect of your heart racing, you’re sweating and you can’t concentrate, feeling dizzy.

    “It’s hard for some people to understand. It’s not tangible; it’s not something you can see.”

    Boyd will front the launch of ‘headcoach’ a national campaign giving young men tips on how to look after their mental, as well as physical, fitness.

    At age 21, Boyd took time out of football to receive clinical treatment for anxiety and depression.

    “My mental health has hindered me more than any physical injury I’ve sustained in my life and I’ve had multiple surgeries,” he said.

    “I really had no idea of some of the techniques you can use not only to help with mental health issues but also to prevent them.”

    Headspace CEO, Jason Trethowan, said it was hoped headcoach helps reduce the incidence of depression and anxiety among young men, one in seven of whom will experience it each year.

    “Young men are three times more likely to die by suicide (than other people), it is the leading cause of death of males aged between 15 and 44 …(but) less than one in five seek help for mental health issues.”

    The National Youth Mental Health Foundation, headspace, has partnered with elite athletes to create education for young men on how to care for their minds.

    Boyd advises young men to do things they enjoy to help protect their mental health.

    “Some of the things that can be helpful for me during challenging times can be as simple as monitoring my breathing and getting ahead of moments of stress and anxiety,” he said.

    “Now I can say to myself I’m not feeling great, let’s go and do something enjoyable, let’s take the dog for a walk or get the camera out or go surfing.”

    Headcoach will be launched at the MCG tomorrow.

    www.headspace.org.au/headcoach

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  3. #2
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    Re: Bulldog Tom Boyd talks about his anxiety, depression to support young men’s mental health

    What a champ. Hopefully some of the clowns that seemingly have taken some twisted joy in his on field struggle will read this and feel ashamed. Good on ya Boydy, takes enormous strength to say this.
    [B][COLOR="#0000CD"]Our club was born in blood and boots, not in AFL focus groups.[/COLOR][/B]

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    Re: Bulldog Tom Boyd talks about his anxiety, depression to support young men’s mental health

    Quote Originally Posted by AndrewP6 View Post
    What a champ. Hopefully some of the clowns that seemingly have taken some twisted joy in his on field struggle will read this and feel ashamed. Good on ya Boydy, takes enormous strength to say this.
    I will be waiting for his unconditional apology in an article to Tom and the public for his behaviour in the press over the last 5 years.
    Bring back the biff

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    Re: Bulldog Tom Boyd talks about his anxiety, depression to support young men’s mental health

    That’s a brilliant article. I’ve had similar shit in my life the last few years and opening up and chatting to mates and colleagues worked for me. Hope the big fella is going ok and has more good days and less bad days as time goes on

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    Re: Bulldog Tom Boyd talks about his anxiety, depression to support young men’s mental health

    Quote Originally Posted by Throughandthrough View Post
    That’s a brilliant article. I’ve had similar shit in my life the last few years and opening up and chatting to mates and colleagues worked for me. Hope the big fella is going ok and has more good days and less bad days as time goes on
    Don't be shy to get professional help if you need to. Hope you are ok.
    FFC: Established 1883

    Premierships: AFL 1954, 2016 VFA - 1898,99,1900, 1908, 1913, 1919-20, 1923-24, VFL: 2014, 2016 . Champions of Victoria 1924. AFLW - 2018.

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    Re: Bulldog Tom Boyd talks about his anxiety, depression to support young men’s mental health

    Quote Originally Posted by bornadog View Post
    Don't be shy to get professional help if you need to. Hope you are ok.
    Cheers Bad. My employer has a support programme that I took full advantage of. The first person was hopeless but the second was wonderful. A similar article by Ben Kennedy 12 months ago inspired me to get help , best thing I ever did

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    Re: Bulldog Tom Boyd talks about his anxiety, depression to support young men’s mental health

    Quote Originally Posted by Throughandthrough View Post
    Cheers Bad. My employer has a support programme that I took full advantage of. The first person was hopeless but the second was wonderful.
    Good to hear.
    I have also taken advantage of an Employee program, the first person was so bad I didn't seek help for almost 2 years but the second person was excellent.
    Western Bulldogs: 2016 Premiers

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    Re: Bulldog Tom Boyd talks about his anxiety, depression to support young men’s mental health

    There's so much I want to say about this, and I don't know how to put it altogether. I like to think of myself as being articulate, but this time around, I've got nothing, except to say too many friends and colleagues have been bitten, and its fantastic that a courageous young man like Tom is going to front this initiative.

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    Re: Bulldog Tom Boyd talks about his anxiety, depression to support young men’s mental health

    I'm in total awe of the fact that Tom is only 22 (something I think that keeps being forgotten - especially by a***hole "journalists").

    He is just a kid. A kid.

    And it's HUGE that a kid can come out and be so thoughtful and mature about an issue that older people have swept under the carpet for so long. Well done to him for fronting this, it's wonderful.
    Wake me up when we get to heaven, let me sleep if we're going to hell

    Good luck, for your sake I hope heaven and hell are really there, but I wouldn't hold my breath

    And we all found heaven - 2016 Premiers!

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    Re: Bulldog Tom Boyd talks about his anxiety, depression to support young men’s mental health

    For some perspective, I was having many work related surgeries with the bonus of PTSD, depression and anxiety with no sleep too, and I couldn't/was unable to even post on this form for about 2.5 years back many years ago. Life can be unbearable, even moreso when you come back and BAD and GVGjr skip thousands of posts ahead and I'll never catch them up now .

    So while I, and many like me (be it police, emergency services, armed services or civilians generally) couldn't function for a period, Tom is playing elite sport. Elite sport! I don't know how he is doing it, especially in the face of public hate and innuendo, but I can tell you this; Tom is one tough mother*!*!*!*!er! To train and play through this injury (what he describes is a serious injury) is courageous and a great example to all people to facing the same problem to seek help and to remind them to keep fighting through it to continue to do what you love. That courage is amplified by talking about it publicly, to risk the public hater's hate, but taking that risk on to help others. The definition of real leadership. And when said haters spew hate, we should all be reminded of what Tom has done through this as this is a window to his true character: Courageous, a fighter, of honesty & leadership and desiring to help others. A very good human and a true bulldog.
    Last edited by bulldogtragic; 25-07-2018 at 10:27 AM.
    Rocket Science: the epitaph for the Beveridge era - whenever it ends - reading 'Here lies a team that could beat anyone on its day, but seldom did when it mattered most'. 15/7/2023

  15. #11
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    Re: Bulldog Tom Boyd talks about his anxiety, depression to support young men’s mental health

    Quote Originally Posted by bulldogtragic View Post
    For some perspective, I was having many work related surgeries with the bonus of PTSD, depression and anxiety with no sleep too, and I couldn't/was unable to even post on this form for about 2.5 years back many years ago. Life can be unbearable, even moreso when you come back and BAD and GVGjr skip thousands of posts ahead and I'll never catch them up now .

    So while I, and many like me (be it police, emergency services, armed services or civilians generally) couldn't function for a period, Tom is playing elite sport. Elite sport! I don't know how he is doing it, especially in the face of public hate and innuendo, but I can tell you this; Tom is one tough mother*!*!*!*!er! To train and play through this injury (what he describes is a serious injury) is courageous and a great example to all people to facing the same problem to seek help and to remind them to keep fighting through it to continue to do what you love. That courage is amplified by talking about it publicly, to risk the public hater's hate, but taking that risk on to help others. The definition of real leadership. And when said haters spew hate, we should all be reminded of what Tom has done through this as this is a window to his true character: Courageous, a fighter, of honesty & leadership and desiring to help others. A very good human and a true bulldog.
    I know a former policeman with PTSD, he has had some terrible struggles in recent times. I really feel for all those who suffer from these sort of issues.

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    Re: Bulldog Tom Boyd talks about his anxiety, depression to support young men’s mental health

    Quote Originally Posted by Axe Man View Post
    I know a former policeman with PTSD, he has had some terrible struggles in recent times. I really feel for all those who suffer from these sort of issues.
    It’s not fun, but hopefully as a Victorian society in particular, owing to VicPol members having the highest police suicide rate, more and more will get done to improve the rank & file mental health and significantly reduce the personal impact and suicide rate. The more people like Tom can raise mental health, and the sooner we can all feel free to discuss it nonchalantly as an injury, like we do an physical injury, and not a self imposed ‘dirty secret’ the better we will all be. Most of us will be touched to some degree, so talking and promoting better mental health is a great step in the right direction by Tom and co.
    Rocket Science: the epitaph for the Beveridge era - whenever it ends - reading 'Here lies a team that could beat anyone on its day, but seldom did when it mattered most'. 15/7/2023

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    Re: Bulldog Tom Boyd talks about his anxiety, depression to support young men’s mental health

    Quote Originally Posted by bulldogtragic View Post
    It’s not fun, but hopefully as a Victorian society in particular, owing to VicPol members having the highest police suicide rate, more and more will get done to improve the rank & file mental health and significantly reduce the personal impact and suicide rate. The more people like Tom can raise mental health, and the sooner we can all feel free to discuss it nonchalantly as an injury, like we do an physical injury, and not a self imposed ‘dirty secret’ the better we will all be. Most of us will be touched to some degree, so talking and promoting better mental health is a great step in the right direction by Tom and co.
    Last year I participated in the mens health program that the Bulldogs run every year. Best talk for that program for me was by an ex cop on this very topic. Was a real eye opener.

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    Re: Bulldog Tom Boyd talks about his anxiety, depression to support young men’s mental health

    Quote Originally Posted by Topdog View Post
    Last year I participated in the mens health program that the Bulldogs run every year. Best talk for that program for me was by an ex cop on this very topic. Was a real eye opener.
    What were main points you can recall from them?
    Rocket Science: the epitaph for the Beveridge era - whenever it ends - reading 'Here lies a team that could beat anyone on its day, but seldom did when it mattered most'. 15/7/2023

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    Re: Bulldog Tom Boyd talks about his anxiety, depression to support young men’s mental health

    This forum is further proof of the importance of what Tom is doing. There are SO many people out there suffering silently and what Tom is doing is going to help a lot of people not only speak openly about it but identify it. It can hit in very subtle ways. Funnily enough i pretty much had my rock bottom time around our premiership too. It was pretty strange feeling on top of the world yet at the same time feeling empty. Papering over the cracks is a good term for it.

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