Many athletes in the recent past have opened up about their own battles with mental wellness. Ryan Reynolds, Selena Gomez, Demi Lovato, Virat Kohli, Marcus Trescothick, Amanda Beard, Andrew Flintoff, etc are amongst those who have done exactly. With the current situation, it’s normal that professional players get mentally disturbed. If any player is going through a rough patch, the media and fans go after them. No matter how professional you are, it does affect your mental health sometimes.
Let us look at What these athletes have shared about their mental health journeys.
1. Michael Phelps
One of the most decorated Olympians in the world with 28 medals to his name, Michael Phelps, has been very vocal about his struggles with depression, substance abuse, and suicidal thoughts in the past. The legendary swimmer, who has spoken openly about his struggles with depression and suicidal thoughts, says he’s seen “too many articles” about suicide during the pandemic.
In 2019, reflecting on his journey, he tweeted: “I struggled with anxiety and depression and questioned whether or not I wanted to be alive anymore. It was when I hit this low that I decided to reach out and ask for the help of a licensed therapist. This decision ultimately helped save my life. You don’t have to wait for things.”
Recently, Phelps spoke out about how the COVID-19 pandemic has affected his mental health. “I’ll be the first to admit my mental health has been scarier than it’s ever been throughout all of this, so I can’t even imagine what other people are going through,” he said.
“For those who are struggling with mental health, know you’re not alone: There are days where I want to curl up into a ball and sit in the corner. But it’s just taking a little step forward, taking a deep breath from time to time. It really helps,” he added.
2. Virat Kohli
India captain Virat Kohli has revealed that he battled depression during a horrifying tour of England in 2014. He said he felt like the ‘loneliest guy in the world’ after a very poor outing with the bat.
Virat said: “For me, it was a revelation personally, that you could feel that lonely, even though you’re a part of a big group. I wouldn’t say I didn’t have people that I could speak to but not having a professional to speak to who could understand what I was going through completely, I think is a huge factor. “
“And I think I would like to see a change, someone that you can go to at any stage, have a conversation around ‘Listen, this is what I’m feeling, I’m finding it hard to even go to sleep, I feel like I don’t even want to wake up in the morning, I have no confidence in myself, what do I do?” he added.
Kohli had a disastrous tour of England in 2014, registering scores of 1, 8, 25, 0, 39, 28, 0,7, 6, and 20 in five Tests, averaging 13.50 in his 10 innings. He roared back to form in the tour of Australia after that, accumulating 692 runs in the Test series.
3. Glenn Maxwell
Maxwell on his mental health issues: “A lot of people suffered from that feeling for longer periods of time, having seen a lot of people through the sport that we play. In the team environment, day after day on tour, maybe it carries on for months, maybe it carries on for a whole cricket season where people are not able to get out of it.”
“The only alternative left after then is ’the guy didn’t do well, if he doesn’t do well for six more months, okay fine he’s out of the team, get a new guy. But that doesn’t solve the issue. Also, I think that’s a very serious condition that should be dealt with in absolute detail and very carefully, and I strongly feel the need for professional help there to be very honest. Otherwise, you’re just left to figure things out on your own and more so you’re expected to toughen up and just get over it. Sometimes people are not able to,” he added.
Maxwell’s performance during that time
Having just scored a 28-ball 62 in the first of three T20Is against Sri Lanka at home, Maxwell took an abrupt break from the game in late 2019. The swashbuckling Australian all-rounder had been battling mild depression and anxiety.
In an interview with ESPNcricinfo, he said, “I was pretty cooked when I decided to take the time off. A big reason why I did take that time away is I was pretty mentally and physically ruined. I think it was eight months on the road, living out of a suitcase and that probably had been going on for four or five years, just constantly on the road and it all just caught up with me at that time.”
He also revealed that he was so exhausted that during the 2019 World Cup he hoped he had broken his arm so he could get a break from international cricket.
“When I got hit, I was angry and a part of me was hoping [my arm] was broken. I was like ‘this is it, I just need a break’… I was thinking about things I could do on the way back to snap it.”
After seeking professional help, Maxwell returned to playing cricket in about a couple of months. He has admitted that the battle with mental health is a difficult one but if you take the right steps, and be honest then you will overcome it easily.
“I’m a lot more open in the way I communicate with people, I don’t beat around the bush and make sure I’m 100 percent honest with everyone. I want people to know exactly how I’m feeling and that’s not being brash, that’s not being over the top. It’s just being honest, so they can be honest back to me as well,” he added.
4. Serena Williams
The 23-times Grand Slam-winning tennis player battled feelings of depression after winning Wimbledon in 2010, following injuries and health difficulties.
“I definitely have not been happy. Especially when I had that second [foot] surgery, I was definitely depressed. I cried all the time. I was miserable to be around,” Williams had said.
Serena also suffered postnatal depression after the birth of her daughter Olympia in 2017. A year later, she took to social media to share her experience.
“Mostly, I felt like I was not a good mom. I read several articles that said postpartum emotions can last up to 3 years if not dealt with. I like communication best. Talking things through with my mom, my sisters, my friends let me know that my feelings are totally normal. I’m here to say: if you are having a rough day or week–it’s ok–I am, too!!! There’s always tomm!” she wrote in an Instagram post.
5. Rio Ferdinand
The ex-Manchester United defender was regularly praised for his mental toughness and his determination on the field. However, after his wife’s death post a traumatic battle with cancer, Ferdinand found himself in a dark place.
“At the beginning, I was drinking a lot at night. I’d come down in the middle of the night and drink too much in the first three or four months. It was a car crash. I was just lucky I had my kids if I’m honest,” he told The Sun.
Ferdinand said: “Initially when I tried to get help and was offered counseling. I just thought ‘yeah but has this happened to you personally?’ and thought if you had not lost your own spouse… I thought it was like someone who has not passed their driving test-taking you for a driving lesson. But that was my own ignorance.”
When asked if he feels guilty about being the parent left alive, a visibly emotional Ferdinand said: “Yes, probably, yes. Because mums are different.”
A single parent to three children, Rio regularly found himself suffering from anxiety. He has now become a spokesman for mental health awareness. Also, a huge believer in speaking to others rather than bottling up emotions. He has also worked with Heads Together and Prince Harry to raise awareness about mental health.