Football Player Braden Smith from the Colts Team Attends Training Camp Following Unexpected Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder Diagnosis
Braden Smith, a talented offensive tackle for the Indianapolis Colts, has returned to the football field after a challenging battle with OCD, specifically religious scrupulosity, which affected his mental health and performance last season.
Religious scrupulosity is a form of OCD that causes individuals to experience significant doubt, anxiety, and distress about their moral beliefs or religious practices. For Smith, this translated into intense obsessive thoughts about his religious practices, leading him to question whether he was fulfilling his religious obligations correctly. These thoughts were so troublesome that he contemplated taking his own life.
After being diagnosed, Smith missed the final five games of the previous season, being placed on the non-football injury list to focus on managing his condition. Over the offseason, he sought help through therapy, visiting a health clinic, and trying various medications.
His efforts have paid off, as Smith has reported that he no longer obsesses over religion or uncontrollable factors as intensely as before. He is now participating in the Colts’ 2025 training camp, a significant step towards his return to the sport.
Smith's ongoing treatment appears to involve a combination of cognitive-behavioral therapy (ERP), medication, and ongoing mental health care tailored to his specific OCD diagnosis. This approach seems to have been effective, as Smith is projected to start at right tackle for the Colts, a position he has occupied for the majority of his career.
For those with scrupulosity, worries about performing religious rites, observations, prayers, or other obligations correctly can lead to a never-ending sense of doubt. Smith's story serves as a testament to the importance of seeking help and the potential for improvement and recovery.
- Braden Smith's struggle with religious scrupulosity, a form of OCD typically causing distress about religious practices, underscores the critical intersection between mental health and sports in the NFL.
- In addressing his mental health challenges, Smith sought help through a combination of methods, including cognitive-behavioral therapy (ERP), medication, and regular mental health care, which seems to have positively impacted his performance in American football.
- As Smith's ongoing treatment progresses, his success in managing his mental health and returning to the football field highlights the importance of health-and-wellness in sports, encompassing not just physical fitness but mental well-being as well.
