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During his 12-year career, Brandon Marshall was one of the NFL’s top wide receivers and best-known players. His nickname was “The Beast” because of how hard it was to tackle him after he made a reception.
But there was a beast inside Brandon Marshall, and it was one that almost prematurely ended his NFL career and his marriage and nearly landed him in jail. That beast for Brandon Marshall was a mental illness known as borderline personality disorder (BPD).
Brandon Marshall’s Career
Brandon Marshall was drafted in 2006 in the first round by the Denver Broncos. He went on to play for the Miami Dolphins, the Chicago Bears, the New York Jets, the New York Giants and finally the Seattle Seahawks in 2018.
Over that time, he set numerous records, including the most pass receptions by a receiver in one game (21), and was one of only six NFL players ever to record 100 receptions three seasons in a row.
He was the first player since 1960 to record at least 10 receptions in eight games in his first four seasons. In 2012, he was voted the MVP at that year’s Pro Bowl.
Brandon Marshall and BPD
Even though Marshall had a solid career, his run-ins with the law began at the University of Central Florida during his college years. Hardly a year went by when Marshall wasn’t charged with an infraction. Those charges included two DUIs, disorderly conduct, resisting arrest, suspicion of domestic violence and assault.
Following his 2010 trade to the Miami Dolphins—and what turned out to be a below-average season—his friends and family began urging him to get help. So, in the summer of 2011, he went to the McLean Hospital in Belmont, Massachusetts, where he was diagnosed with BPD.
Brandon Marshall on Mental Health Disorders
“I remember the doctors there gave me a pamphlet on BPD, explaining the signs and symptoms, and I started highlighting the things I had been feeling,” Marshall wrote in an article entitled “The Stigma” in the Players Tribune. “By the time I was done, the whole damn pamphlet was yellow.”
Finally, learning about the disorder that had plagued him his entire life was a game-changer for Marshall.
“When they diagnosed me, I just … exhaled — like the biggest exhale of my life. It was just a huge relief.”
It was then that Marshall realized the importance of talking to someone about his problems.
“My emotions had been controlling me, and I was trapped — not by anything external, but by things that were inside me. But I couldn’t be the one to help myself. I needed to seek help.”
What Is Borderline Personality Disorder?
According to the Mayo Clinic, BPD is a mental condition that affects the way you think about yourself and others. A person suffering from BPD has difficulty functioning on a daily basis and may exhibit signs of impulsiveness, frequent mood swings and inappropriate anger. Though intense self-loathing and feelings of abandonment occur regularly, these symptoms of BPD often push away the people a person values most.
Here are some other facts about BPD:
- It’s estimated that 1.6% of Americans suffer from BPD, but that number could be as high as 5.9%.
- Women make up about 75% of those currently diagnosed with BPD.
- The number of men with BPD is probably underestimated because men are more reluctant to seek help and are often misdiagnosed as having PTSD or depression.
- By some estimates, 35% of the men and 25% of the women currently incarcerated in the United States suffer from BPD.
- Only around half of people with BPD seek treatment. Of the other half, 30% avoid getting help because they fear the stigma attached to mental illness.
Brandon Marshall and Mental Health
Marshall says that after being diagnosed with BPD, he came to see football as his platform—but helping others feel okay about seeking help for their own BPD became his true purpose. In 2011, he became one of the first well-known athletes in the United States to speak out about their struggles with mental illness.
Marshall has been open about how his reputation as a supposedly “tough” athlete influenced his views about mental health.
“When I first heard the term mental health, the first thing that came to mind was mental toughness. Masking pain. Hiding it. Keeping it inside. That had been embedded in me since I was a kid. Never show weakness. Suck it up. Play through it. Live through it. Now, I realize that mental health means the total opposite.”
Brandon Marshall’s Life After His Diagnosis of BPD
Marshall wrote in the Players Tribune that he’s exactly the same person he was when he was having so many problems. He still has troubling emotions and feelings.
“The only difference is that now, I know how to deal with my emotions the right way.”
Brandon Marshall no longer has problems with law enforcement. These days, Marshall regularly addresses groups about how important it is for people to seek help with BPD. He and his wife, Michi, cofounded Project 375 to increase awareness of BPD and other mental health issues in order to combat the associated stigma and raise funds for treatment.
Project 375 also hosts training sessions across the country to teach people how to identify the signs of mental illness and educate them about how to seek help.
How We Help Fight Mental Illness at FHE Health
Admitting that feelings of loneliness, abandonment and anger might be signs of a mental illness can be hard. Brandon Marshall turned his life around by recognizing the importance of getting help for BPD.
If you want to find help for your condition, call us at (833) 548-0308. Our team of counselors is available to assist you 24/7. Today is the day to take the first step towards your journey to recovery.
