Colts OT Braden Smith Opens Up About Struggling with OCD

INDIANAPOLIS –-Last season, the Colts placed veteran offensive tackle Braden Smith on the reserve/non-football illness list due to a personal issue, but they didn’t share any details.

Months later, Braden and his wife, Courtney, revealed he had been battling a severe form of obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) that made him feel so hopeless he considered suicide. He couldn’t focus on football or his family, and his mind was constantly overwhelmed.

Braden’s OCD revolved around his Christian faith. He became obsessed with the idea of sin and felt like he was being punished for every mistake. He described the feeling as having a “god” in his head who was always condemning him.

After their baptism last May, Braden’s condition worsened. He struggled to focus on football or family and considered retiring. The Colts provided support, but things got so bad that Courtney changed the gun safe combination and didn’t leave him alone with their son.

Braden eventually sought treatment in Colorado and later in Mexico, where he tried a banned drug called ibogaine. The treatment helped reset his brain, and he began to feel better. He started therapy for his OCD and saw improvements, with his OCD symptoms now much less severe.

Braden plans to return to the Colts, who supported him financially through this difficult time and restructured his contract with a lower salary but more incentives. He’s been with the team since 2018.

If you or someone you know is experiencing a mental health crisis, call or text 988 for immediate support.

Colts OT Braden Smith Opens Up About Struggling with OCD  was originally published on wibc.com