NFL Insider Talks Anxiety and ADHD Journey

Jay Glazer is a contributor for The Athletic NFL, currently serving as the NFL Insider for FOX Sports' award-winning NFL pregame show, FOX NFL Sunday. But he wasn’t always so successful. He was challenged by mental health issues with ADHD and anxiety starting at a young age. Since getting treatment, he’s working to help other men to get help and reduce the stigma of talking about these issues. He talked with Men’s Journal to do a Q&A.

How did your diagnosis of ADHD as a teen come about?

I was first diagnosed with ADHD back in 1989 when I was in college, but I struggled with the symptoms since I was a kid. Back then, most of the people I hung out with had no clue what ADHD even was. I was always trying to explain it to people, and honestly, I think some people thought I was just using it as an excuse to skip class. I felt like I was really on my own trying to figure it out. When I got the ADHD diagnosis, it felt validating to know that I wasn’t just “hyper” or “inattentive” for no reason — I was experiencing symptoms of ADHD. But at the same time, I still didn’t have any idea how to manage my symptoms, and it took many years before I was able to feel in control of my ADHD.

Now in adulthood, I’m grateful to have the information and tools to help manage my symptoms, including a treatment that works well for me. I take Qelbree, a once-a-day nonstimulant medication for adults and children 6 years and older, and that’s really helped me.

Anxiety can be crippling, but have you found ways to harness it to help you creatively or with work? 

What has made me a strong journalist is my ability to establish trust and connect with people. Being as open as I am about mental health has allowed me to have conversations with coaches and players about my experiences to connect with them on a deeper level. I want to show people that there’s hope, and that they’re not alone in what they’re going through.

How are you helping others, like military veterans with anxiety and depression?

I co-founded my organization, Merging Vets & Players (MVP), in 2015 to bring together veterans and former football players, those who have had different life-changing experiences, to give them a new team to support them as they transition back into everyday life once the uniforms come off. Through our programs, these people find others like them who are at the top of their game and create a space for healthy and positive change through honest conversations. The journey to healing comes from community, and I hope that helps people.

How are you feeling these days?

I’m feeling great. I'm in an incredibly fulfilling relationship with someone who truly understands me. My wife Rosie and I are soulmates; we’re a team. Her support has been instrumental in my journey with my ADHD.

Mental health can be challenging to talk about, and I understand you want to erase the stigma around these topics.

I know that a lot of guys — myself included — have been taught to shrug off mental health and not take it seriously. If you broke your arm, you'd go right away to a doctor to try to get it fixed. If you have a toothache, you’d go right away to the dentist. But when it comes to mental health topics, like ADHD, men are often afraid to seek help. They’re afraid to go talk to someone. It can be incredibly comforting when you realize that you’re not alone in what you’re going through, and that people can be understanding when you give them that context.