Chiefs’ Clyde Edwards-Helaire opens up about PTSD prognosis

Kansas City Chiefs running back Clyde Edwards-Helaire revealed over social media that he has experienced symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder for over 5 1/2 years.

On Thursday, Edwards-Helaire shed light on the dark times he has experienced by going through PTSD — such as flashbacks, nightmares and severe anxiety.

“Sometimes I’m admitted into the hospital, something like I can’t stop throwing up and it’s just, I (don’t) know (anything) pretty much to stop it,” Edwards-Helaire said.

“… Real bad dehydration … but it’s really just mentally just not being there. It is one of those things where early on guys who kind of pay attention like Travis (Kelce) and Kadarius (Toney) at times, they can even, they’ll know ahead of time like, ‘OK, Clyde’s not laughing, he’s not giggling, he’s not himself.'”

Edwards’ words came three days after he opened up about his condition on social media.

“Living With PTSD is no small feat, its hard and very overwhelming,” he wrote on Twitter. “Within the last month I’ve Had many flare ups and the Amazing staff here at the Chiefs have been helping me get through some tough times.”

Living With PTSD is no small feat, its hard and very overwhelming . Within the last month Ive Had many flare ups and the Amazing staff here at the #Chiefs have been helping me get through some tough times.
I’ll be back rolling next Practice! All Love , Glydro ????

— GLYDE (@Clydro_22) July 29, 2024

Edwards, 25, has missed multiple practices thus far during his four-year NFL career, with the team often listing his absences as illness-related.

As for when his PTSD started, Edwards-Helaire was quick to pinpoint the date: Dec. 22, 2018, one month after he and LSU teammate Jared Hall thwarted a robbery.

“My best friend and I got into a self-defense situation,” Edwards-Helaire said. “That’s probably where the majority of things stem from.

“I wouldn’t necessarily say everything stemmed from that. I have best friends that passed away at young ages from gun violence and just not being in the right places at the right time and just knowing that I have people that are close to me or around me who … could be in the same spots that I am.”

Edwards-Helaire noted how his view of PTSD has changed over time.

“My first couple of years, you just try to block everything out and it’s like, ‘Oh, at some point I’m going to get over it,'” he said. “And you start to realize that that just doesn’t happen. You get older and you realize, ‘Hey, no matter the age, no matter the person, no matter the situation, everyone needs help at some point.’ It takes courage to talk about it and having PTSD and dealing with it once people kind of bring it up, it is not something that I’d always want to talk about. I never really know how my body will react or my mind, it is just something that I can’t really pinpoint or know exactly what’s going to happen.

“I feel like talking is a big thing, but it is just getting over that hump personally, being able to know that honestly, just everybody goes through things good (and) bad … It’s a steppingstone. I’m just 25 years old and trying to live the rest of my life healthy.”

Edwards-Helaire was the Chiefs’ first-round draft pick (No. 32 overall) in 2020. He lost his starting job to Isiah Pacheco during the 2022 campaign, and 2023 saw his lowest production yet.

In 15 games (three starts) last season, Edwards-Helaire had 70 carries for 223 rushing yards and one touchdown. He also had 17 receptions for 188 yards and a touchdown.

Over 48 career games (32 starts), Edwards-Helaire has amassed 1,845 rushing yards, caught 89 passes for 765 yards and totaled 19 touchdowns (12 rushing, seven receiving).

–Field Level Media