Ricky Williams - Personal Life

Personal Life

Williams has admitted being very shy and was diagnosed with social anxiety disorder, avoidance disorder, and borderline personality disorder, with which he struggled to cope during his football career. Williams was treated with therapy and medication.

Williams was briefly a spokesperson for the drug Paxil as treatment. He worked with the drug company GlaxoSmithKline to educate the public about the disorder. Williams later quit Paxil saying the drug did not agree with his diet.

Williams said that his marijuana use was a type of "psychotherapy," has been a better treatment since it produced fewer side effects than Paxil. In an interview with ESPN, Williams stated, "Marijuana is 10 times better for me than Paxil."

Williams admitted in a 60 Minutes interview that one of the reasons for his retirement was to avoid the humiliation of his marijuana use being made public with his third failed drug test. After his retirement he quickly went to California to get a prescription for medical marijuana. In 2006 he claimed he no longer needs marijuana but does not criticize others' choices on the matter. In April 2007, he reportedly tested positive for marijuana.

Williams is a qualified yoga instructor. He has stated that one of his main reasons for joining the Canadian Football League's Toronto Argonauts was for the opportunity to teach free yoga lessons at a local Toronto yoga facility. It has been reported that Williams uses a Hindu-based pranic healing similar to therapeutic touch to recover from injuries.

The son of a minister, Williams was raised Southern Baptist and attended church twice a week during his childhood. He still self-identifies as a Christian, but his yoga study opened his mind to other religions, and his exact views on religion are difficult to label. He believes religions are cultural, and his beliefs are inclusive of at least some Christian, Buddhist, and Hindu philosophies.

Williams is vegan or at least has a meat-free diet. Tim Graham has reported that Greek yogurt is the only non-vegan food in Williams' diet. PETA has used video of him praising meatless alternatives to popular chicken dishes.

Williams is reportedly the father of six children by three different women. Three of these children are by his longtime girlfriend turned wife, Kristin Barnes, whom he married on September 4, 2009.