Anxiety and panic attacks can affect anyone, including famous sports players. NBA star Kevin Love has recently opened about his own experiences with anxiety and panic attacks; on November 5th right after halftime, Love had his first panic attack. On The Player’s Tribune he stated that he physically couldn’t bring himself to finish the game because his heart was racing, his mouth felt “chalky”, and everything was spinning. It wasn’t until this incident that Love decided he needed to share his experience with others, because he realized just how important mental health discussions truly are.
There’s no doubt that American society makes it more difficult for males to open about their mental health. Just last year, the Center for Disease Control (CDC) announced that men take up 76.92% of all deaths by suicide – this is the equivalent to almost four out of every five suicides. Many males are taught at an early age that they shouldn’t talk about their problems – that they should keep it in and get over their issues in silence. Kevin Love certainly lived his life by this mentality, and he believes it is what led him to the panic attack he experienced in that game against the Hawks.
Previous research has shown that rather than men expressing their concerns through talking, signs of increased fatigue, irritability, anger, loss of interest in work or hobbies, and sleep disturbances may occur. Love expressed that after speaking with a therapist, he was able to dig deeper into the concerns that really bothered him – such as the fact that when his grandmother passed away, he couldn’t properly say goodbye and that sincerely bothered him. He went on to explain that he’s trying to better cope with life by addressing everything that comes with it to himself – sometimes our anxieties and fear creep in when we are no longer aware of how we feel. He stated,
“I’m just starting to do the hard work of knowing myself. For 29 years, I avoided that…I’m trying to face the uncomfortable stuff in life while also enjoying, and being grateful for, the good stuff. I’m trying to embrace it all, the good, the bad, and the ugly.”
We can’t escape pain in life. It will always occur in one way or another. What we can do is take control over how we manage that pain through seeking help, talking about it, and relying on people who love and support us. Don’t wait any longer to seek the help you need today.
If you’re seeking a mental health and/or substance abuse recovery treatment center, call us today at 855-412-2426. Avalon Malibu is a world-renowned, California state-licensed treatment center with licensed, experienced professionals who care about your recovery. We have a variety of methods that we can try with you to see what works and will help you develop a customized treatment plan to best suit your needs. Make the decision to place your health and happiness as top priority and call us for a consultation.
