Robin Lehner on Coronavirus: Now everyone understands what anxiety is like

[Theana745]

Thought this was an interesting interview. Thoughts

 

Now the coronavirus has created chaos all around the world, how are you affected by what's going on right now?

Yeah, right now there's a lot of anxiety in the world, but I'm used to this *****. Please don't get me wrong [TN: "understand me right", idiomatic] - [but] now the world gets [to know] what anxiety and depression is all about. I'm well-equipped to live my life in a good way. I've learned to do well in poor environments. For me this isn't as big a shock as I'm sure it is for many others who suffer, not knowing what will happen to them.

It's gonna get better, but it'll take a while. Eight million people around the world die each year from mental illness - and if we'd helped one another to take care of those afflicted in the same way we're now trying to save lives in the wake of the coronavirus -- we'd have solved it.

[the number of] Corona cases won't be even close to the number of people who fall victim to mental illness. Which confounds me - why can't we just solve the problem? Had we done only five percent of what we now do after the corona alarm, we'd have solved this.

If we stick to hockey, since you wrote that article in The Athletic in fall 2019 many other players and sports stars have begun to speak openly about how they have fought in silence with their mental provblems. Tyler Motte of the Vancouver Canucks is one of them. What does this mean to you?

Some of the people who have now come out I've spoken to before. It makes me happy to see that more and more players are coming out. It's nice to see. I can't recommend others to come out [as sufferes of mental illness], as there are consequences once you take that step. Many have privately contacted me to seek advice. They know I'm here, I'm open about my struggles and my pads display the hashtag #SameHere, says Robin.

Does it weigh on you that so many seek your help?

Yes, definitely. I get calls and texts all the time, but I can't really help everyone nor focus on individuals. I'm not a psychiatrist and cannot tell people what they should do.

All I can do is let them know what I've done myself and what's worked for me. I get difficult texts all the time, but I cannot take the time to help everyone. I too have a family.

You got to play three games between the deadline trade to the Golden Knights, and you won all of them. How has the transition from Chicago been?

It was a bit difficult in the beginning as this is the first time I've changed teams in the middle of a season. It took me a week to get into things and ground myself. Vegas is a good team with a good coach. Good guys in the locker room, who made me feel welcome. As a goaltender you're quite vulnerable when your environment suddently changes, but there's a group of more veteran-like players here and I think that's made things easier for me.

Will you and your family stick to Vegas during the stoppage in play?

Yes, I've got my family here and we've rented a house in the suburbs where we like it a lot. We're staying here now.

You were at the top of the pacific division and was one of the favourites to win the cup when the league closed. [does this make you feel] Bitter?

Yeah, of course it's bitter. I love to play hockey and this team is so good that we would have had a chance to go all the way. For myself I got into things and played well. As a whole I think I've once again had a good season in the league even though things got a bit weird in Chicago during my last month there.

Do you think the NHL season will start again in the summer, so that the season can be finished and there can be a playoff for the title?

No, I don't think it's possible to close down and then restart when you'll have hundreds of thousands of cases of coronavirus. Safety first. You can't make a 180 degre turn and start playing again. To me there's zero percent chance that this season can be saved. Now I hope that the next season can start as expected in October.

 

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[Weave]

Its a cold thing to say, but he’s not wrong.

[Theana745]

1 hour ago, Weave said:

Its a cold thing to say, but he’s not wrong.

Agreed. Never felt like this organization (and others) treated him well. 

Edited March 29, 2020 by Theana745

[Huckleberry]

2 hours ago, Theana745 said:

Agreed. Never felt like this organization (and others) treated him well. 

I think JBOTT did treat him very well.

[bunomatic]

The fans turned on him but the guy couldn’t make a save in the skills competition after the tie. Turns out he’s an o.k. Goalie but in hindsight before we knew of the mental problems a goalie that couldn’t make a save in the skills competition doesn’t do your team any good. I’m glad he’s gotten the help he needed.

[Wyldnwoody44]

I find him to be insufferable as a person. I know many people with mental health issues, I also know alcoholics. They aren't all *****, he is. 

Still, I'm glad he got help. 

[Stoner]

You know what's worse than being anxious and depressed? Being dead. His claim, resentment almost, that something like the Covid-19 response (5% of it actually) could solve mental illness is dubious. Very wishful thinking.

[Taro T]

12 minutes ago, PASabreFan said:

You know what's worse than being anxious and depressed? Being dead. His claim, resentment almost, that something like the Covid-19 response (5% of it actually) could solve mental illness is dubious. Very wishful thinking.

Wonder which 5% of the response?  Probably the little brush through your nose until it reaches the back of your throat, right?  

[SwampD]

22 minutes ago, PASabreFan said:

You know what's worse than being anxious and depressed? Being dead. His claim, resentment almost, that something like the Covid-19 response (5% of it actually) could solve mental illness is dubious. Very wishful thinking.

Not for around 40,000 people a year in this country.

The stimulus package alone is $2 trillion. 5 percent of that is $100 billion. Do you really not think that $100 billion dollars could solve a lot of mental health issues? 

 

[Eleven]

1 hour ago, PASabreFan said:

You know what's worse than being anxious and depressed? Being dead.

I'm not trying to start an argument, but I don't think you understand the anxiety/depression thing from the patient's angle.  To many of these people, being dead is preferable.  It's a problem.  

1 hour ago, PASabreFan said:

You know what's worse than being anxious and depressed? Being dead. His claim, resentment almost, that something like the Covid-19 response (5% of it actually) could solve mental illness is dubious. Very wishful thinking.

I think that's a fair interpretation of what he said, but I can't be certain--there are translations, and he's an athlete and not a mental health professional.  But I think he's saying that if we would spend 5% of the attention and resources, that we have spent on COVID, on depression instead, that depression would be eliminated.  And if I understand you correctly, I agree with you:  he's wrong.

[Thorner]

It's an interesting observation from Lehner, but I'm not sure I agree with much of it. He seems to be speaking to his familiarity with personal uncertainty. I suffer from an anxiety disorder,  and while I understand the parallels he draws, to me they are different in essence. One, for me, is exceptionally personal - but my worry and fear that comes with Coronavirus - that stems from its potential threat to those I love. 

That worry presents itself in regular day to day life occasionally,  regarding others, fed upon by anxiety, but there's definitely a feeling of a more tangible, immediate threat and worry when it comes to this virus.

I obviously agree with the need to do more for those with mental illness, but I guess I'm just trying to say my experience with such has not provided me with anything resembling the "used to it"  sentiment he's putting forth. 

Edited March 30, 2020 by Thorny

[Theana745]

On 3/29/2020 at 7:20 PM, bunomatic said:

The fans turned on him but the guy couldn’t make a save in the skills competition after the tie. Turns out he’s an o.k. Goalie but in hindsight before we knew of the mental problems a goalie that couldn’t make a save in the skills competition doesn’t do your team any good. I’m glad he’s gotten the help he needed.

Agreed. Looking at the board, so many people here called him slow, weak etc. Fans can be vicious toward their own