In the eyes of the people, athletes are these God-sent superhumans who are supposed to remain unfazed. But the point that many seem to miss is that, no matter who, we are all deeply flawed in some form or another. That’s what makes us human. In NASCAR, the grind of competition, and the expectations placed by the people can be sometimes overwhelming, which often goes unchecked. The deep impact that mental health can have on an athlete’s performance, both on and off the field is severe. Which is why it’s essential to express these raw emotions and talk about them.

That is what seems to be the case for 7x NASCAR World champion Jimmie Johnson, who recently opened up about seeking professional help in the darkest times of his life.

“It’s just hard”: How Jimmie Johnson coped in the aftermath of the tragedy

No matter who what when and where, challenges regarding mental health are present in all walks of life. Even someone of the stature of NASCAR legend Jimmie Johnson, who has always been known for being stoic and indifferent has had struggles with mental contentment.

Johnson while talking to High Performance, confessed about getting therapy in an effort to deal with the loss of his brother-in-law in a skydiving accident, followed by a devastating double homicide-suicide. “It’s just hard for us to even process what’s happened on my wife’s side of the family… the loss of her brother in a skydiving accident, the tragedy that happened last summer (double homicide-suicide). But the thing that’s been most impressive is the power of love and the love and support of our friends and the ‘professional help’.” Johnson shared emotionally.

The incident Johnson referred to first was from 10 years ago. Jordan Janway, his brother-in-law, was a veteran sky-diving instructor, with over 1000 jumps to his name. Following a collision with another sky-diver mid-air, Janway fell unconscious and couldn’t open his parachute in time. What was a joyous occasion of Johnson winning the Martinsville race earlier in the day would turn sour as news of the accident came out.

Nearly a decade later, when Johnson marked his return to the Cup Series in 2023, another tragedy befell the family. While Jimmie Johnson prepared to participate in the inaugural Chicago Street Race, news broke that his nephew and in-laws died in an apparent murder-suicide. Johnson withdrew from the race. At the time, he emphasized the love his family, friends, and fans showed was important in grieving the loss.

It’s also important to note the willingness of Johnson in speaking about the tragedies he went through. It started to take a toll on his life and his family started to get affected as well, which is why Johnson highlighted the importance of seeking therapy. Johnson said, “We’ve been able to um not only for my wife and myself, but also our children be able to have a support system to help us really work through this”. Therapy was a continuing theme of the conversation. Through implication, Johnson made it pretty clear that mental health isn’t something that can be just swept under the rug. It may take time, but it can change a lot about you as a person.

Johnson’s post-retirement life and the lessons he has learned

At a time when the 49-year-old has been away from racing full-time, Johnson has picked up a whole new purpose for his life going forward. He shared vividly about his new duties being the “comforter” for everyone surrounding him. “I’ve always been a fixer and want to help,” he explained.

The emotional toll of tragedies his family endured made him learn an important lesson of being more expressive and open your vulnerable feelings. “Being in my shoes and what my family needed, I was able to really have a purpose in such a tough time, and that was helpful.” As much as it’s physicality, the ability to put up your 100% every single time also depends on mental well-being. Therefore the stigma around confronting grief and receiving professional help should not be there.

Mental health should never be the first casualty in pursuit of glory. That is why Jimmie Johnson’s reflections on the power of therapy offer valuable lessons for both athletes and common people. No one’s perfect. Everyone is broken inside somewhat, waiting to be fixed, but sleeping on it won’t help, seeking support should be the first step towards healing. His advice is loud and clear: ‘Don’t go at it alone’.