Former Toronto Blue Jays player opens up about PTSD diagnosis
A former Toronto Blue Jays player has revealed he's been diagnosed with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder after years of "burying pain deep down."
Travis Snider, who played for the Jays until 2012, took to X, formerly Twitter, on Tuesday, sharing his struggles with trauma and anger.
- Download our app to get local alerts on your device
- Get the latest local updates right to your inbox
“About a year ago, I was diagnosed with Complex Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (CPTSD),” Snider wrote. “At the time, I had no idea what that even meant. I only knew PTSD as something soldiers experience after surviving the horrible realities of war.”
Snider went on to say that he has spent “most of [his] time on earth convincing the people around me I have it figured out.”
“In reality, I have been burying the pain deep down. I have felt lost, scared, and alone like I am fighting for my life” he said.
Snider wrote that, during childhood, he underwent “multiple stints” in anger management and behavioural therapy, and that, as an adult, he has continued seeing professionals for mental health, including various therapists and sports psychologists.
“All of these efforts are to better understand the hand I have been dealt, [to] make sense of the anger that [courses] through my veins on a daily basis, [to] figure out why I can hyper-focus on some things but will also disassociate with the best of them,” Snider wrote.
READ MORE: Mental health in Canada: How to find help
Toronto Blue Jays Travis Snider (left) and J.P. Arencibia joke around as they shag fly balls in Dunedin, Fla. on Monday February 20, 2012. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Frank Gunn
“These experiences have provided me with moments of clarity to a deeper understanding as to the generational trauma I was born into,” he continued. “It’s also taught me a lot about the choices I make on a daily basis and how those can fuel (and mitigate) the highs and lows I experience.”
The former professional athlete said he’s sharing his story now because there are “millions” of others who have experienced worse – many of whom lack a platform to raise awareness.
“If you are struggling with something, please find a way to get help,” Snider urged others.
“You don’t have to do it alone.”
Snider spent 15 years in the MLB, playing in more than 600 games for three different teams. He announced his retirement from the sport in January 2022.
Background
If you or someone you know is in crisis, here are some resources that are available:
- Canada Suicide Prevention Helpline (1-833-456-4566)
- Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (1 800 463-2338)
- Crisis Services Canada (1-833-456-4566 or text 45645)
- Kids Help Phone (1-800-668-6868)
If you need immediate assistance call 911 or go to the nearest hospital.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Robert Pickton to remain in medically induced coma until later this week: police
Serial killer Robert Pickton will remain in a medically induced coma for at least the next few days following an attack in a Quebec prison Sunday, according to police spokesperson Hugues Beaulieu.
Charlie Colin, founding member of the pop-rock band Train, dies at 58
Charlie Colin, bassist and founding member of the American pop-rock band Train, best known for their early-aughts hits like 'Drops of Jupiter' and 'Meet Virginia,' has died. He was 58.
'Five feet nothing': Pickton's safety likely behind Quebec transfer, says ex-prison judge
When serial killer Robert Pickton was transferred from British Columbia's Kent Institution to a maximum security prison in Quebec about six years ago, correctional authorities gave no public explanation or confirmation at the time, citing privacy.
'I feel betrayed': Ottawa-area customers out thousands of dollars warn of bad faith contractor
A group of people from eastern Ontario and western Quebec is issuing a warning about Dennis Walker and his company Vue Windows.
Fancy pigeon outfitted in custom diaper has free rein in B.C. family home
When Chrissy Chin volunteered to take in a fancy pigeon abandoned on a park bench, she never imagined she would one day be ordering custom-made diapers for the bird – who lives in her house and has become a member of the family.
'We'll need all hands on deck': Details emerge after deadly boat crash near Kingston
Police say they have wrapped up their on-scene investigation into a deadly boat crash in eastern Ontario as details of the incident begin to emerge.
WestJet planning new fare category for travellers willing to forgo carry-on bag
WestJet Airlines plans to launch a new cheaper fare category that would be available to travellers willing to fly without a carry-on bag.
5 dead and at least 35 hurt in Iowa tornado: officials
Five people died and at least 35 were hurt as powerful tornadoes ripped through Iowa Tuesday, with one carving a path of destruction through the town of Greenfield, officials said.
Woman found dead in Lake Ontario in 2017 matches identity of missing person in Switzerland
Genetic genealogy has helped Toronto police identify a woman who was found dead in Lake Ontario in 2017.