How A Former NFL Player Overcame Anxiety

We are proud to offer this guest post from former NFL Running back Joe Martinek

 

Health and fitness have been apart of my life since I can remember. My Name is Joe Martinek and here is a glimpse into how health & fitness has helped me overcome anxiety. At a very young age people saw that I could run fast, was athletic, and that I had a natural talent for the game of football. Having to wear a big, heavy helmet didn’t stop my little feet from running past defenders into the end zone. Everyone praised me and I became very popular. I would just smile and stay silent. What those people did not know, (nor did I at the age of 5), was that I have severe social anxiety and would develop depression throughout my life. There were times growing up where I would be having a great first half of a game, and yet I couldn’t take my eyes away from the clock on the scoreboard waiting patiently for it to say 0:00 so I could go home and the pressure would be off. As I grew up and moved on to high school, the pressure got more intense.

Now, I loved playing football and being with my friends, but I just could not shake this anxiety I was experiencing. It would take over and control me during games, and sometimes randomly off the field. The pressure was enormous. Everyone’s eyes were always on me, I couldn’t let my teammates, the fans, and my family down. In high school I have broken many records, town, county and state. My most prestigious record, the one I am most proud of, is being the leading career rusher in New Jersey High School Football history. (editors note: Franco Harris, Ron Dayne, Knowshon Moreno all have come out of New Jersey) This earned me a D1 scholarship to Rutgers University.

Being from a small town, everyone knows your name and they all pay close attention to the newspaper and online to see how you are doing. This is something I loved because I wanted to make them all proud of me. The downside is that it made my anxiety worse. In college I struggled the most with it. Going into the building already upset and waiting to leave. The pressures of doing everything you can, working as hard as you can and still not getting playing time. I worked and worked and worked and became a 4-year starter and team captain. My anxiety would come and go, still watching the clock during games but I was a starter, captain and on the road to the NFL, my dream. My anxiety was getting manageable.

I had a short stint in the NFL (1 year with the Giants) and then was cut. Something that I had worked my whole life for, since I was 5, was taken away from me and I did not know how to handle it. I had time and money on my hands and a mind all over the place. I did not adjust well into the real world at first. All I had to do was workout and the rest of the day was mine. That was a lot of time on my hands to think and ponder about life and things. My thoughts were negative and would bring my moods down which heightened my anxiety. I spent money and time on useless things and did not know where to turn.

I read some self-help books and did my research on how to be happy again. I was at a point were I did not want to get out of bed and do the one thing I had to do daily, workout. One day when I felt well and somewhat motivated, I built myself a plan. I would use my time and be as productive as possible. First thing I would do was workout in my room, something quick to wake me up and make my mind feel productive. I would then go to the gym and workout again, a heavier, harder lift. Now, with these lifts it wasn’t football training. I  was creating workout plans that would help me mentally by being an escape for my mind. Something that would give me a good pump, would also be tough but at the same time giving me a great sense of accomplishment. Doing this changed my life, I still do a version of this routine daily and I am proud to say that I am in control of my anxiety because of it.

 

Joe Martinek Jr.

Creator & Founder of JerseyJoe Fitness

www.JerseyJoeFitness.com

 

• 25 Years of athletic experience.
• Retired New York Football Giants player.
• New Jerseys All Time HS career rushing leader (7,589 yards, 38th Nationally).
• 4 Year starter for Rutgers Football.
• Co-Captain at Rutgers University.
• Former Runningback for the Parma Panthers of the Italian Football League.