Colts' Braden Smith opens up about his struggle with OCD of a religious nature
Braden Smith, the right tackle for the Indianapolis Colts, is set to return to the team this season following a challenging battle with religious scrupulosity, a specific form of Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD). This condition, which causes intrusive fears and obsessions related to religion and morality, affected Smith's personal life and football career during the 2020 regular season, causing him to miss the final five games.
Religious scrupulosity is an anxiety-driven OCD subtype characterized by intrusive religious fears and compulsions. People with this condition often experience persistent, unwanted thoughts about sinning or moral wrongdoing, excessive guilt over minor or imagined infractions, and repetitive rituals aimed at preventing sin or seeking reassurance. These obsessions create severe distress and disrupt daily life, relationships, and religious practice because they are intrusive and irrational, not reflective of genuine faith or belief.
Smith's OCD manifested as an imagined "condemning deity" that he feared would punish him for every mistake. This led him to engage in compulsive prayers and mental acts to alleviate intense guilt and anxiety. The condition went beyond normal religious devotion, causing significant distress and disruption in his life.
However, Smith has made remarkable progress and is now in a better place. He has undergone treatment, which he referred to as a "last-ditch effort" that helped him recover. He no longer replaces good thoughts with bad ones, engages in compulsive prayers, or lets bad thoughts affect him. Smith feels he has something to offer the people around him and expresses a desire to be himself again in the team after his personal struggles.
Smith sought treatment in various ways, including attending a mental health facility in Colorado and using the psychedelic drug ibogaine, which is illegal in the United States, in Mexico. Despite these efforts, he returned home quickly from practice, prompted by his wife, Courtney, who insisted he seek help.
The new deal Smith signed for the 2025 season with the Indianapolis Colts not only lowers his base salary and cap hit but also marks a new chapter in his career. Smith is focused on being back on the football field in 2025, ready to contribute to the team after his personal struggles.
It is essential to understand that scrupulosity is a medical condition, not a reflection of weak faith or spiritual failure. Treatment aims to restore balance and allow healthy religious expression without the paralyzing anxiety of OCD. Therapy, medication, and possibly Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS) are effective treatment approaches for religious scrupulosity, helping individuals achieve relief and maintain their spiritual life in a balanced way.
Smith's story serves as a testament to the power of seeking help and perseverance in the face of adversity. His return to the football field and openness about his battle with religious scrupulosity may inspire others facing similar challenges to seek help and work towards recovery.
- Braden Smith, recovering from a challenging battle with religious scrupulosity - a specific form of Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) - is set to return to the Indianapolis Colts' sports team this season.
- Smith's mental health struggles during the 2020 regular season caused him to miss the final five games due to the intrusive fears and obsessions related to religion and morality associated with religious scrupulosity.
- To overcome his condition, Smith underwent treatment that includes therapy, medication, and even unconventional methods like attending a mental health facility in Colorado and using the psychedelic drug ibogaine in Mexico.
- In the future, influenced by his personal experiences, Smith may contribute to the team's fitness-and-exercise, health-and-wellness, and mental-health initiatives, promoting awareness and support for those dealing with similar challenges in their own lives.
