New Delhi: In today's athletics, worries about athletes' mental health and wellbeing are growing more and more common. In an industry that may be extremely draining, both athletes and specialists are working to de-stigmatize the actions necessary to maintain one's health.
Athletes like English footballer Dele Alli and Australian cricketer Steve Smith have recently opened up about their battles with anxiety and nervousness and how those unpleasant feelings might affect their decision-making.
The talks about the welfare of superstars on the greatest platforms are gradually turning more positive as more leagues and clubs around the world adopt mental health days and start to offer significant support for athletes.
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The most recent athlete to discuss worry and anxieties is the former South African batsman AB de Villiers, who also admitted that during his career he became dependent on sleeping medications to keep him sharp.
Following the comments made by Smith and Dele, de Villiers discussed his personal challenges, particularly the nights before crucial games.
Speaking on his Youtube channel, de Villiers spoke in reference to sleeping cycles and tablets. “I can relate to this because I had similar issues before big games, really struggling to sleep,” said the South African.
“Sleeping tablets helped me fall asleep and it can become a problem after a while because the tablet only doesn’t make you sleep, it makes you feel really relaxed, takes a bit of anxiety away and you just feel in a very good space.”
De Villiers recited one incident he remembers of needing medical care, ahead of his brutal innings of 162(66) against West Indies in Sydney during the 2015 World Cup. “I very clearly remember the game in the 2015 World Cup. It was the night before we played the West Indies. I actually ended up scoring a hundred which was very surprising - one of the best knocks of my life. But that night, I literally slept for 2-3 hours maximum.”
“At 3 am, I got the doctor over to my room, got an injection and I just couldn’t sleep. I had stomach cramps and it was purely based around anxiety, stress and pressure, thinking about the next big game, which was a must-win for us.”
De Villiers, often known as "Mr 360," was fairly frank about the benefits sleeping pills might have in urgent situations if sportsmen were having trouble the night before a big game. He was keen to point out the risks of being overly dependent on medical treatment for a mental illness, though.
“It was just those lonely times in the hotel room, thinking, ‘I have to do this again tomorrow, I have to do it again’. It just never stopped, ultimately creating a bit of anxiety within myself. Sleeping tablets can be so addictive that sometimes you start taking them when you don’t really need them. That’s where it becomes the problem. Luckily for me, I stabilized the last 5-7 years, got a little bit better, but it’s very dangerous.”
De Villiers advised young aspiring athletes to share their fears with experts who can help them manage their nerves and mental health rather than trying to find a quick fix for what is frequently a deeply-rooted and harmful problem.
“When it happens to you, you need to communicate to someone about it. That’s what I sort of got wrong during my career. I was too proud to talk about it, didn’t want to show weakness to the coach or the captain. But it’s important to talk, communicate to someone and then nutrition - you’ve got to drink a lot of water, got to eat well and exercise. A good night’s rest gives you success the next day,” concluded the South African legend.
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