Pro motocrossers and mental illness.

straight^
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straight^
Edited Date/Time 1/26/2012 7:30pm
It's never discussed, mentioned, documented or observed, and until this month's RacerX I'd never seen anything about it anywhere in the moto media, ever. In the little piece about "things you didn't know about Damon Bradshaw" it mentions he has OCD and its caused me to wonder if other pros struggle with similiar afflictions. In a sport which requires such mental strength it's truly remarkable that anyone with an anxiety disorder (of all things) could rise to the top echelon.
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jmar
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jmar 2/4/2009 11:17am
2/4/2009 11:17am
A lot of people have no idea what kind of pressure these kids are under when racing at the pro level of this sport.

It can be really tuff.
Salsa811
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Salsa811 2/4/2009 11:46am
2/4/2009 11:46am
Heck, I'm not even Pro and my non-moto friends and co-workers think I have some serious issues. There is even talk of an intervention.
TG37
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TG37 2/4/2009 12:04pm
2/4/2009 12:04pm
I'm perfect.
straight^
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straight^ 2/4/2009 12:18pm
2/4/2009 12:18pm
TG37 wrote:
I'm perfect.
ya I'm perfect too, but I still have benefited from seeing a psychologist.

I'd imagine most top racers have a sports shrink, but I guess it's still a little too tabboo to mention it too much, let alone any struggle with a disorder.

Really though, it's all the more respectable if any rider can develop the ability to ride through the anxiety. Props to all those that struggle in silence.

The Shop

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-eagle-
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-eagle- 2/4/2009 12:22pm
2/4/2009 12:22pm
Ralph Shaheen said that of all the racing he has been around, mx guys are the biggest head cases.
straight^
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straight^ 2/4/2009 12:45pm
2/4/2009 12:45pm
I don't like Ralph either, but it makes sense that mx is more mental than other racing sports. And that's partly why it should be more respected too.
BobbyM
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BobbyM 2/4/2009 1:12pm
2/4/2009 1:12pm
for one thing...to even entertain the thought of straddling a scooter that goes over 40mph with nothing more than a little protection on yer melon then trying to traverse man made and/or natural obstacles at speed just fucking screams nuttiness and buffoonery. what the fuck do you expect?
Foster576
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Foster576 2/4/2009 1:14pm
2/4/2009 1:14pm
BobbyM wrote:
for one thing...to even entertain the thought of straddling a scooter that goes over 40mph with nothing more than a little protection on yer melon then...
for one thing...to even entertain the thought of straddling a scooter that goes over 40mph with nothing more than a little protection on yer melon then trying to traverse man made and/or natural obstacles at speed just fucking screams nuttiness and buffoonery. what the fuck do you expect?
well said.
Camp332
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Camp332 2/4/2009 1:31pm
2/4/2009 1:31pm
BobbyM wrote:
for one thing...to even entertain the thought of straddling a scooter that goes over 40mph with nothing more than a little protection on yer melon then...
for one thing...to even entertain the thought of straddling a scooter that goes over 40mph with nothing more than a little protection on yer melon then trying to traverse man made and/or natural obstacles at speed just fucking screams nuttiness and buffoonery. what the fuck do you expect?
I'm a crazy sumbitch!
Brent
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Brent 2/4/2009 1:34pm
2/4/2009 1:34pm
Someone tell me Pastrana's level of sanity?
jtomasik
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jtomasik 2/4/2009 1:34pm
2/4/2009 1:34pm
What the hell are you guys talking about? How much more sane can a person be who repeatedly wants to throw a leg over a machine that's capable of lawn-darting them into the ground at speeds which could easily kill them?

Mental illnesses in our ranks my ass...
over the hill 2/4/2009 1:43pm
2/4/2009 1:43pm
Brent wrote:
Someone tell me Pastrana's level of sanity?
Before or after the numerous concussions?
gar47mx
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gar47mx 2/4/2009 1:43pm
2/4/2009 1:43pm
I was just kidding. MX is very mental. Have you ever just got up to the line and had a feeling of confidence that no matter what,
your going to get this holeshot....I know I've done that before. Its all about believing in yourself and rising above. Confidence does wonders for ones speed. I went to aloot of Gary Semics schools as a kid and he taught me a ton about confidence and your subliminal concience and thought process. It did wonders for my speed once I became more mentally prepared. More than anything you could ever buy for your bike thats for sure
DirtyFilter75 2/4/2009 1:49pm
2/4/2009 1:49pm
Every track I have ever ridden has a jump, corner, or section that gets in my head. It has to be the most mental sport there is. I would think RODEO would run a close second.
mosslander
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mosslander 2/4/2009 1:52pm
2/4/2009 1:52pm
Well ask Mr JEFF WARD about it.
v1rus99
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v1rus99 2/4/2009 2:31pm
2/4/2009 2:31pm
My wife agrees with Ralph on this one....

MX racers are special breed....

Drive 2 hours to an MX spot, ride for 4 hours, drive back home for another 2 hours. Unload the bike... Wash it... Wash all the gear.... And still be 100% stoked that you got to ride.

We are a special breed.

I have been involved in many other sports and nothing comes close to MX.
KAWboy14
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KAWboy14 2/4/2009 2:32pm
2/4/2009 2:32pm Edited Date/Time 2/4/2009 2:33pm
most guys will never admit to mental issues, so they never get the help they need.....but they will self medicate!
v1rus99
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v1rus99 2/4/2009 2:33pm
2/4/2009 2:33pm
DirtyFilter75 wrote:
Every track I have ever ridden has a jump, corner, or section that gets in my head. It has to be the most mental sport there...
Every track I have ever ridden has a jump, corner, or section that gets in my head. It has to be the most mental sport there is. I would think RODEO would run a close second.
Somehow... I think I am not the only one that visualizes a section I am having trouble with over and over while taking a shit....

Its good prep time... Smile

Pit Row

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Tiki
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Tiki 2/4/2009 2:37pm
2/4/2009 2:37pm
Salsa811 wrote:
Heck, I'm not even Pro and my non-moto friends and co-workers think I have some serious issues. There is even talk of an intervention.
What a bunch of sheep you hang out with. Time to upgrade. Dont get caught riding half ass around the wife during a race. She will come down on you with the wrath of Ms. Carmichael and Gary Bailey. "If you're gonna trail ride out there, just come on in and do some house work."


Broke my arm that day. True Story.
rallendude
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rallendude 2/4/2009 3:05pm
2/4/2009 3:05pm
Aside from mental issues motocrossers are also very prone to addiction. I'm glad my addiction turned out to be mx instead of alcohol, weed, crack, clepto, or whatever other addictions people struggle with.

I think most serious racers have some level of OCD as well. Most of their manifestations though have to do with placing things where they go, organization, perfection, and such. Also, these lead them to be distracted easily, mainly from other important things to the ones I listed.

Oldmotoguy
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Oldmotoguy 2/4/2009 3:09pm
2/4/2009 3:09pm
after watching 199lives,TP has some serious problems with night mares and sleep walking..but a smile on his face when he's awake
Phlapjax
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Phlapjax 2/4/2009 3:12pm
2/4/2009 3:12pm
I find it hard to ride with a straight jacket on.
Ing
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Ing 2/4/2009 3:21pm
2/4/2009 3:21pm
rallendude wrote:
Aside from mental issues motocrossers are also very prone to addiction. I'm glad my addiction turned out to be mx instead of alcohol, weed, crack, clepto...
Aside from mental issues motocrossers are also very prone to addiction. I'm glad my addiction turned out to be mx instead of alcohol, weed, crack, clepto, or whatever other addictions people struggle with.

I think most serious racers have some level of OCD as well. Most of their manifestations though have to do with placing things where they go, organization, perfection, and such. Also, these lead them to be distracted easily, mainly from other important things to the ones I listed.

I'm addicted to everything. Seriously. Everything I do I get addicted to. Everything. Well, except message boards. LOL.
straight^
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straight^ 2/4/2009 4:28pm
2/4/2009 4:28pm
KAWboy14 wrote:
most guys will never admit to mental issues, so they never get the help they need.....but they will self medicate!
precisely why we need to erase the stigma!
gar47mx
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gar47mx 2/4/2009 4:32pm
2/4/2009 4:32pm Edited Date/Time 4/16/2016 10:20pm
I have been told many times that I'm a "few sandwiches short of a picnic". Does this mean anything?
J.Saunders144 2/4/2009 4:32pm
2/4/2009 4:32pm
Brent wrote:
Someone tell me Pastrana's level of sanity?
well ive heard this discription for pain 1 might be a scrape and 10 equals torturous pain.

pastranas sanity rating would be a 10 using this scale for sanity mabey even an 11
Rooster
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Rooster 2/4/2009 6:11pm
2/4/2009 6:11pm
Most people who lead normal lives think we're all nuts.

Imagine how crazy you have to be to stand out in a crowd like us?
Craze
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Craze 2/4/2009 6:17pm
2/4/2009 6:17pm Edited Date/Time 2/4/2009 6:19pm
I remember a guy who raced AME at the Dunes...Joe Root.....People stayed away from him...Both on & off the track............He was 5 cans short of a 6 pack.

Oh, Jeff Vidic, I don't know who was nuttier...Him or His dad.....The guy would have arguments with himself!!!!!
Blackopsrider7 2/4/2009 6:24pm
2/4/2009 6:24pm
A lot of people don't realize, that if most of us that do "extreme sports/activities" didn't do it, we would be or have the potential to be criminals! It is our type "A" personality similar to fighter pilots etc!
Larry
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Larry 2/4/2009 6:45pm
2/4/2009 6:45pm
Don't know about pro MX'ers and mental issues but there are a lot of mini kids who are going to have issues. Especially if they raced Cobras.

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