Colorado Rapids and U.S. men’s national team goalkeeper Tim Howard is among those professional athletes who have struggled with mental health issues in his life. This Mental Health Awareness Month, Howard has taken advantage of the opportunity to fight stigmas attached to mental illness by participating in a campaign for the Child Mind Institute.
Howard recorded a video talking to his younger self about his struggles with Tourettes Syndrome. For those unfamiliar with the syndrome, it manifests as sudden, rapid motor movements or verbal emissions which are generally experienced as involuntary.
Among the advice Howard would give to his younger self: “Stay the course, surround yourself with great people — people who believe in you, love you for who you are and allow you to express yourself in whatever way you feel fit.