"Crazy courage manifests itself in different ways, whether it's asking a dentist to take your wisdom teeth without Novocain or taking a gun to your hand and playing Russian Roulette.

Herschel Walker was sharing his conflicted life journey to caregivers for the U.S. Army Wounded Warrior program recently, but the message was equally appropriate to athletes, accountants, lawyers busboys and star NFL wide receivers who face daily struggles with mental disorders in this country. About 60 million Americans experience some sort of mental health problem every year.

Brandon Marshall, you are not alone.

He recently went public with a mental disorder marked by broken relationships and self-image issues, coupled with mood swings. It marks the significant first step in getting help, as Walker did more than a decade ago trying to shake his personal demons.

"Brandon admitted it," Walker said after addressing the Army group at the Rosen Centre Hotel last week. "He will be better. He will be freer. It is empowering. It will make him better."

Walker could have inserted himself into every one of those sentences to prove his point.

Walker overcame significant esteem issues — he used to stutter and get beaten up in school every day — to become one of the greatest running backs in the history of college football, and a star in the pros. But somewhere along the line, he lost himself.

And other personalities popped up. As many as a dozen. He described them by names: The Hero. The Warrior. The Counselor. The Daredevil. Walker was eventually diagnosed with dissociative identity disorder, or DID, formerly known as multiple personality disorder.

Now 49, Walker gladly shares his story nationwide. Cynics may have once labeled him part of the lunatic fringe, but he has broken through the dark side to tell anyone who is suffering that there is hope. He is living proof."