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Episode 15: Ben Gordon + Bipolar

This episode of the Grim Drive Podcast, where we explore mental health through the lens of professional sports and athletes, takes a look at Ben Gordon + Bipolar.

Ben Gordon was as stoic as they come on the basketball court.  Rarely did he show emotion, stealthily taking down his opponents, never seeming to care if they talked smack or got in his face or bumped him physically.  While it was impossible to tell from the outside, on the inside, Gordon was a flurry of activity.  For a long time, he had dealt with the challenges of life by throwing himself into the game of basketball, obsessing over every last detail on an endless loop, so that come game time, he could dismantle his opponent with surgical accuracy.

With an eventual diagnosis of Bipolar Disorder, Ben Gordon realized that while obsession in a sport can propel one to greatness, it doesn’t translate well to everyday life and healthy wellbeing.  Through numerous challenges, Gordon was pushed to extremes with his mental health.  Luckily, he got an accurate diagnosis and began to learn how to live with Bipolar after basketball.

*The Grim Drive Podcast is a way for people to learn about mental fitness, mental health, and mental illness, through the lens of sports. We want to do our part to further reduce the stigma associated with mental health by highlighting the athletes who have shown strength through vulnerability, spoken up, and spoken out.  We want to provide listeners with mental health education, to raise awareness and reduce risk, maximizing the path to mental fitness.

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