Maurer Instagram Post

[Zues1]

Wow, be strong Brian. You're going to be great.

 

[BadgerVol!]

For someone who’s struggled with both and had a dear friend who committed suicide this message he posted brought tears to my eyes.

 

[Volbackhomefromtx]

Brian was indeed brave to share his story. There are many young people and people of all ages out there struggling with depression and Brian's story may well help save lives. As for Brian, I was deeply touched by the magnitude of his struggle. Brian is one of the Vol family who we gladly and strongly support. I thank God he is with us today. I know I am one of the legions of Vol faithful who will follow his career and wish for his success, not just on the football field but wherever life may take him.

 

[RockyTopWorld]

Thoughts and prayers go out to this young man. Let's support him and all of our guys all the time. Heck, let do that with everyone. You never know what someone is going through.

 

[ptcarter]

I lost my little brother to suicide back in '85. Good kid, valedictorian of a high school class that was over 500 students. 2nd in the state of Alabama in wrestling. Went to UT on a national merit scholarship. Everything in the world to live for. The fallout from a suicide is a tremendous amount of guilt to those left. Even if there wasn't anything you could have done, it's Shoulda,Coulda, Woulda. I've heard it said "suicide is a permanent solution to a temporary problem". I sure hope this kid gets the mental health guidance he needs, and perhaps the meds. Lithium is supposed to do quite well in some situations, but I'm no doctor.

That's him down on the field. I was the middle kid. Older brother at Freshman orientation and us left to wander campus with my camera. Summer of '74

 

[Electric Orange]

Not easy to pick up the pieces for those left afterwards. I hope he's doing better. One day at a time. Keep swimming.

 

[LA vol7]

Dang son, thanks for sharing. Just be you, we don't need you to be a sports hero to validate us, we just need you to be you! I don't care if you ever start another game, or throw another pass, we just need you to be a Vol!! And no matter what, you always will be. Again, thanks for sharing!!

 

[VolsFan-TX]

That was a powerful post by Brian. I hope he is getting the help he needs.

Brian made a great point in his post about the power of reaching out to your loved ones. Had his mom not called him, he might have followed through with his plans. Reach out to your family and friends and let them know you love them and are thinking about them. If you need help, reach out to those you trust.

 

[BondJamesBond]

We should all remember these are 18 year olds before we get the urge to anonymously get behind a keyboard and bash them nonstop...

Amen, my friend. All humans have their challenges and I hate to think I was part of making someone's life so miserable that they made such a choice.

 

[peaygolf]

My prayers BM.
Being in that kind of mental state is no joking matter.

 

[ksgovols]

Thanks for sharing Brian. Your family's lives are better with you in it! Stay strong and get the help you need.

 

[TAF]

God is GOOD!

 

[OldVolMan]

God is GOOD!

EXACTLY!
I would never have guessed just by watching Brian on TV, he always was pumping up other players, seeming positive through his injuries. He seemed to already be a role model and leader to me.
God may have bigger plans for Brian than just football someday.

 

[ClockworkOrange]

TO ANYONE WITH MAJOR DEPRESSION OR A LOVED ONE SUFFERING - PLEASE READ!!

There is a new drug therapy called ketamine that I believe saved my son's life when nothing -- absolutely NOTHING -- else had worked. Here's a link (there's a lot out there).

(A lot of prayer too. That's always my number one go-to. But I just have to spread the word about this. It's not a cure-all, and some folks go back for more infusions, etc. But it changed our lives).

Feels like a miracle

 

[Alto1]

You are GREAT now Brian!
Thank you for sharing your story and for being a VFL!
The state of Tennessee and Vol fans all over the world have nothing but for you!!!!!!

 

[BigBadVol]

Thanks Brian for this. I’ve almost taken my own life on three occasions. If my wife wasn’t so supportive, I certainly wouldn’t be here. I still struggle at times but the thought of hurting those close to me is too much to bear. I’ve had a wonderful life both personally and professionally but I still feel like a loser at times. Why? I don’t know. Broken thoughts are just that and simply can’t be explained away with reasonable thinking. It has made me more compassionate to those struggling.

 

[tennrich1]

TO ANYONE WITH MAJOR DEPRESSION OR A LOVED ONE SUFFERING - PLEASE READ!!

There is a new drug therapy called ketamine that I believe saved my son's life when nothing -- absolutely NOTHING -- else had worked. Here's a link (there's a lot out there).

(A lot of prayer too. That's always my number one go-to. But I just have to spread the word about this. It's not a cure-all, and some folks go back for more infusions, etc. But it changed our lives).

Feels like a miracle

That was an interesting article. For your family it was the miracle you were praying for. Hopefully great strides will be made pharmaceutically soon and this horrible plague can be more adequately treated. Thanks for sharing!

 

[The Original Fade]

My daughter competed in the Miss Arkansas pageant last year and her platform was recognizing the signs of major depression and suicide after losing 2 friends to suicide in high school. It’s very real and people you think have it all together are sometimes drowning internally. Best of luck to Mauer, I hope and pray he finds the help and support system to move forward to a healthier place.

 

[UnkieVol]

Never been to that level, but I know what depression and anxiety are all about. Praise God that it’s 15 months without having to be on any medication for it. But I also understand that not everyone can function that way. To anyone struggling with this (especially men): it’s ok to not be ok and to not have it all together. There is help available, and seeking it out does not make you less of a man. You aren’t alone. There is a God who loves you unconditionally, and millions of people out there who face the same struggles you do.

BM, that was solid. Good for you for coming to that realization and doing something about it. You just earned a place as one of my favorite VFLs, even if you never play another snap at Tennessee.

 

[IndianaVol]

Crazy, crazy, crazy how we as a society are fast to place people that are ultra-talented up on a pedestal with unobtainable expectations.
You would be surprised if we were allowed to peel back the layers to whom deals with anxiety and depression on a daily basis...I'm talking people that on the outside seem like the funniest, brightest, successful, and most amicable ever.
Folks like Robin Williams, Terry Bradshaw (YES - if you haven;t heard him speak about his struggle while winning a record number of Super Bowls, it will bring you to tears), and many, many others both in and out of the limelight.

Bottom line, if you Mr. Mauer or anyone else that struggles everyday - know that WE are right here to listen, to talk, or just sit and let time go by...we are here.

 

[zaqhhh]

Good for Brian to feel open enough to share. Glad to see he has come through the tough times and is helping others as well.

Also, good on VN for being supportive. I thought for sure I'd see some "Mental Health doesn't exist, suck it up, anxiety is for losers" from some of our old-timers.

 

[Tarkus]

So many things that are so much more important than football. Many people struggle with problems that they keep well hidden. It's important to keep things in the proper perspective and cut people some slack. We never know what they may be dealing with.

 

[Tnphil]

Best of luck to BM.

 

[Remy]

Best to this youngster and hope he gets the best treatment available. Suicide is a permanent solution to temporary problems. My best friend in Cali had just purchased a new dream house for his wife and adult daughter in Corona, CA. His daughter worked at Disneyland and that always sort of bothered him as he thought she should have been doing more substantial. Any way his beloved wife shortly after they moved in to their home had a return bout of breast cancer and died from it. He was devastated and drove himself at work and told us comrades he really preferred staying busy as to keep his attention off his troubles. Based on some of us asking him to, he began to see a therapist for his grief. He had a prescription and seemed to be doing better. One night he called and told me he was having trouble sleeping and we talked about it and I gave him a list of things I do when having insomnia. O hung up the phone and wifey asked me about it. I relayed the story to her and she being an RN said we need to check on him as he'll be found hanging from a chandelier. That never crossed my mind. It should have two days later after my boss went to his house and had the cops enter, he was found dead from a self inflicted gunshot wound to the head which occurred after he had shot his daughter as well. To make a long story short, hardly a day goes by I don't think about it and why I didn't recognize his cry for help that night. Suicide is serious business and if any one even seems to be close much less like this youngster mentions they've thought about it, get them serious help and make sure if they're taking RXs that those RXs are not influencing them toward suicide as well.

 

[Hunerwadel]

Brian, I don't know the exact number but last count there are about a gazillion Big Orange fans. We really care about our guys. You're one of them. Thanks for sharing your story and best wishes for a great future.