Dirty Habits Co-founder Graham Howes touches on a taboo topic in our industry – mental health in extreme sports with some great visuals:
As a professional athlete, artist & brand owner; depression, insecurities, anxiety, self doubt, ADD, ADHD, epilepsy, has played a huge role in where/who I am today. It's given me strength and courage to push through boundaries, but it has also plagued my road to success, competitions, relationships and ultimately; happiness. I see it in people/friends/professional athletes and successful people all around me, and most of them won't dare open up when I try starting a conversion, for their fear of crying, looking weak, feeling ‘uncool'. This year has led me to very dark places from past traumas which I buried. This year has also made it obvious I can no longer pretend life is perfect as I show on social media and Dirty Habits. It's time to get real. Don't worry I'm not gonna start posting vids of me crying. And I am also not looking for attention or kind words of encouragement. All I want is for you to know, that you are not alone in your fight, no matter how small or big it may seem. Dirty Habits Inspires an extreme lifestyle of ‘Living your best life', though extreme sports, community, crazy video's etc. But It's time to acknowledge that ‘Living your best life' means treating your mind injuries, just as you would treat a knee injury or any other injury. A lot of people have to accept that psychological and physical injuries are at the same level of intensity. They can do the same level of damage to somebody’s self confidence and their ability to perform.
We won't stop posting ‘cool shit', and not much will change, we will continue to #keepitdirty as usual. But along the way, we want to break down the walls and stigma in the extreme sports community.
How? you ask? Well we have no idea yet… but sometimes ALL YOU NEED TO DO IS START.
There's a Place – Words By Graham Howes
a place i come to leave my thoughts
a place i come to clear my mind
a place i come to not be judged
a place i come to not be kind
I leave my thoughts here to rest
i leave my thoughts here at their best
i don't care what you think of me
i don't care how you look at me
i'm tired of being judged
i'm tired of the eyes that look down
i'm scared to fail, to disappoint
i'm scared to be me
i'm scared, of me
it's not those who judge me
its just that, i don't know how to be
it's not them, who judge me
it's me, who judges me I JUST WANT TO BE FREE.
———————–
Dirty Habits Founder – Graham Howes
