Taylor Buchholz Battling Depression

According to The New York Times, Mets reliever Taylor Buchholz — who is already on the DL with shoulder discomfort — is also struggling with depression and anxiety.

Apparently, Buchholz experienced problems with the medication he was taking to control his mental issues. From the Times:

Buchholz found that the mild medication he was taking had become increasingly ineffective, but the symptoms became worse when he switched medications. The situation was so difficult that several Mets officials who wanted to check on his condition after he left the team, including Manager Terry Collins, were told not to by Buchholz’s doctor, who said it would only make matters worse.

“Last season, with the Rockies, I experienced some depression and anxiety before returning from Tommy John surgery,” Buchholz said in a statement released by the Mets. “I thought I had it under control, but recently, at the end of May of this year, the depression and anxiety began to resurface. After counseling with my doctor, I agreed to try different medications, and it was recommended that I not pitch while I adjust to the new medications. I am in regular contact with the Mets and have kept them informed of my progress. I am extremely grateful for the way the Mets have cared for me and my family.”

Tough break for Buchholz. Mental problems are generally much more complex than physical ones, and getting the right medication / treatment can be tricky. Hopefully he can get this figured out and get back to feeling better soon — not only so he can get on the field but simply so he can get his life back to some semblance of normalcy. There’s a lot more to life than playing baseball, and a mental “injury” can affect a person — and their family and friends — 24 hours a day, on and off the field