From age 5, Marcus Smith’s identity was wrapped up in football. He loved watching Monday Night Football with his dad, and because he loved the game so much, Marcus’ father started coaching him around age 6. He played high school football and went on to attend the University of Louisville, where he made a name for himself as a promising NFL athlete while achieving a bachelor’s degree in communications.
Marcus was drafted to the Philadelphia Eagles’ first round, 26th overall pick, playing linebacker from 2014-2016. He then played two years for the Seattle Seahawks. He played for the Commanders (formerly the Washington Redskins) from 2018-2019. During that time, he was tired, not sleeping and suffering from anxiety and depression. He contemplated suicide, and walked away from the game mid-season in 2018 to get help. He returned to finish out his career in 2019, but even two years later, he was still suffering and, after looking into different options, decided that APN would be the best choice for his mental health recovery and well-being.
About APN
All Points North (APN) helps people find total, sustainable mind and body health. Colorado-based APN has locations around the country, including Dallas-Fort Worth. APN is a one-stop location for mental health, physical health, and substance use disorder treatment, as well as trauma therapy programs. +PLUS by APN offers Deep TMS (treatment resistant depression, anxiety, OCD, insomnia and PTSD ), hyperbaric oxygen therapy, and ketamine-assisted therapy. Mind-body fitness offerings through 9X by APN include sauna and steam, open gym, cold plunge, stretch/massage/cupping, group fitness classes, personal training and nutritional guidance. APN also offers a Revive Executive Retreat, a seven-day mental, physical and spiritual health restoration therapy program supporting wellness and peace of mind. The Executive Retreat is available for individuals, groups or teams.
APN exists to inspire health and enrich lives through innovative treatment for the mind, body and soul. No matter the past, there is hope for the future through APN. APN is a place of new beginnings.
A solution
The solution for Marcus began in 2021 when he confided in a former NFL “brother” who recommended APN. Marcus liked that the facility “had a locker room feel” where he met others on their own journeys toward mental and physical well-being.
“I found that, whatever our profession or our reasons for being there, we all had some of the same issues and were getting through these things together,” he said. “APN was a solution for me, and now I try to help others find their solution as well.”
Marcus was married with children, yet he deeply needed to find his identity and self-worth outside the game of football. He had been retired for a little over a year when he entered a 30-day treatment program with APN.
“Being in the NFL for six years, I was focused on being the best football player I could be. What was missing was ‘me,’” he said.
This was during the COVID pandemic, when “what we knew to be normal wasn’t normal anymore,” Marcus said.
“COVID forced people to sit with themselves. You couldn’t just bury yourself in your work - you had to deal with yourself as a person, and some people didn’t like who they saw,” he added.
“For most of the world, not being able to do what they loved, not having the resources or knowing who to talk to, caused a breakdown in well-being. We saw a dramatic rise in mental health concerns, substance use, depression, anxiety and feelings of emptiness.”
“Now that we’ve gotten past COVID, we’ve made big strides,” Marcus said. “People are better able to recognize and articulate when they need help.”
Today, Marcus serves as an APN ambassador. He has the lived experience and has come through the other side. People feel comfortable talking with Marcus, and he travels across the U.S. speaking at conferences, groups and meetings. He’s appeared on CNN and is considered a subject matter expert on mental health in sports. He’s addressed Congress on behalf of APN and the NFL Players Association, stressing the importance of mental health support for all people in need. He speaks at colleges and partners with the Athletes.org college sports organization. And he has built “The Circle of M,” a partner with APN, to break the mental health stigma and unmask the feelings that cause anxiety and depression.
“The general public looks up to athletes and holds them to a certain standard. If they are open and honest about their own issues, they can be a big influence and help many people,” he said.
“I hope to be the bridge, helping people find the help and hope they need, just as APN helped bring me back.”
APN offers personalized care tailored to each client’s individual needs. APN’s multifaceted approach addresses not only the symptoms but also the underlying causes of substance use and mental health disorders, paving the way for long-term healing. The dedicated team at APN understands that achieving optimal health requires a comprehensive approach. There’s no silver bullet, and no one-size-fits-all treatment. Total health requires a custom approach for the mind and body. By offering so many mental health services under one roof, APN makes it easier for clients to prioritize their health and well-being. https://apn.com/locations/apn-dfw/