Before becoming a standout returner for the New York Jets, Isaiah Williams was struggling with anxiety and depression during his college career at Illinois. Williams described reaching a point where he was nervous to talk to people and struggled to perform skills he knew he was capable of. On the field, he said it could feel like his body was “paralyzed.” Off the field, he was battling thoughts that told him he wasn’t good enough. He tried meditation, reading, and even drinking to ease the pain, but said everything felt like a “band-aid.” Eventually, Williams began to find a different perspective through his faith and the people who helped guide him. “I stopped listening to the lies, and I stopped listening to what everybody else thought I was…” Williams’ experience is a powerful reminder that an athlete can know exactly what they are capable of and still struggle to access it when their mental health is suffering.💚 #nfl #athletementalhealth #mentalhealth