Playing hurt: my journey from despair to hope

Description

In Playing Hurt, a leading figure in the sports world -- the quintessential "man's man," who seems to have it all -- confesses his constant battle with depression and how it nearly cost him his life. John Saunders -- stellar athlete and respected sportscaster -- welcomes readers into the heart of his desperate struggle against depression: from insights into the illness's root causes to the nature of modern treatments, from both a medical and cultural perspective. His story unfolds as so many of our lives do -- among family, friends, and colleagues -- but it also peers into places we don't often discuss openly -- psych wards and hospitals. Here is the honest story of a public figure facing his own mental illness head on, and emerging far better off for his effort.;Preface: Looking over the edge -- Introduction -- An oasis of love -- An indecent proposal -- Playing with fire -- He ain't heavy -- The salvation of sports -- Looking for a little relief -- My two selves -- The drug business -- Hurting myself -- Moving out, moving on, moving back -- Falling in love -- Go west -- Getting married -- Country John Saunders -- Chasing a new dream -- Making it in Moncton -- Bright lights, big city -- Big man in Baltimore -- A family of my own -- The worldwide leader -- Our sister -- Livin' in America -- The psych ward -- Dr. Dangerous -- Falling backward -- Scaling Mt. Sinai -- Learning to walk -- A high-stakes stroll in the park -- Ready for prime time? -- Testing, testing -- The damage of Doctor Dangerous revealed -- Let the bad times roll -- Stumbling toward unhappiness -- A day in the doldrums -- Peering over the Tappan Zee Bridge -- Back to the bridge -- Crunch time -- You've got to admit it's getting better -- Jimmy V, Dickie V, and cardio V -- Learning the best lesson. Preface: Looking over the edge -- Introduction -- An oasis of love -- An indecent proposal -- Playing with fire -- He ain't heavy -- The salvation of sports -- Looking for a little relief -- My two selves -- The drug business -- Hurting myself -- Moving out, moving on, moving back -- Falling in love -- Go west -- Getting married -- Country John Saunders -- Chasing a new dream -- Making it in Moncton -- Bright lights, big city -- Big man in Baltimore -- A family of my own -- The worldwide leader -- Our sister -- Livin' in America -- The psych ward -- Dr. Dangerous -- Falling backward -- Scaling Mt. Sinai -- Learning to walk -- A high-stakes stroll in the park -- Ready for prime time? -- Testing, testing -- The damage of Doctor Dangerous revealed -- Let the bad times roll -- Stumbling toward unhappiness -- A day in the doldrums -- Peering over the Tappan Zee Bridge -- Back to the bridge -- Crunch time -- You've got to admit it's getting better -- Jimmy V, Dickie V, and cardio V -- Learning the best lesson.