Comments on: Wade Belak laid to rest today; Tie Domi speaks up about depression

By: stephanemcsween

stephanemcsween — Wed, 07 Sep 2011 03:20:14 +0000

Mental illness no one sees it. diagnosis are hard. I was fine until 4 years ago. We were a loving family. bought a house successful business and suddenly i did not fell so good. I had hard time getting things accomplished. I did not know what was going on but I knew something was wrong. By the time I finally got what was happening everything was gone. I had destroyed it all unwillingly. But for the grace of god my family came back. Today I live one day at a time it is all I can do.
There are good days and there is bad days. I’m learning how to live with the disease, it takes its toll on my family and me. I am very lucky to have them. I probably would not be here if it were not for them.

By: polegojim

polegojim — Mon, 05 Sep 2011 15:31:54 +0000

Ice – that’s the tough part – depression of the degree that leads to suicidal thoughts/tendencies doesn’t need a ‘trigger’. I’m sure head shots, etc can make it worse, but it’s really an illness similar to allergies or asthma, etc. It’s an inherent chemical make up, and typically seen along a longer line of hereditary analysis. Depression can also be masked by drugs (prescription or other), heavy alcohol use/abuse, where alcohol abuse is actually a symptom, but treated as the ‘illness’. Anything to take the pain away and get away from the looming feelings of fog, negativity, hopelessness – for which no real reason can be pinpointed.

It’s been estimated that between 8%-10% of all adults in US suffer from clinical depression of varying degree’s of seriousness. Since there are about 700 NHL players per year, % are that at least 70 of them are suffering from depression – some very serious. In the most serious cases where suicide is considered or attempted, it has nothing…nothing…nothing to do with money, success, family. It’s an internal emotional pain that seems insurmountable.

That’s why it’s so important to get treatment, just as with any other illness. It just doesn’t ‘go away’, but can be managed…but only if discussed.

By: icelovinbrotha215

icelovinbrotha215 — Mon, 05 Sep 2011 05:03:58 +0000

The question is what is triggering the depression. We can’t continue having these men dying at a premature age. I hope Tie and other former enforcers shed some light on this dark and mysterious subject.

By: polegojim

polegojim — Mon, 05 Sep 2011 04:44:12 +0000

Well said and done Tie. Every expressed message like that can save a life.