AB de Villiers Reveals How He Handled Anxiety Before Big Games: The world of professional sports, despite its glitz and glamour, is rife with psychological pressures. South African cricket legend AB de Villiers recently shared his struggles with anxiety, particularly preceding significant matches. His candid revelations highlight the often underplayed mental health aspects within the realm of professional cricket.
De Villiers, esteemed for his batting prowess and celebrated as a former Proteas skipper, confessed to experiencing anxiety during his playing days. To cope with his stress, he resorted to sleeping tablets. While they provided him with temporary relief, he was quick to caution other athletes against this routine, stressing its potential to evolve into an addiction.
In a discussion on his YouTube channel, De Villiers opened up about his battles with sleep, particularly before momentous games. He shared, “I had similar issues before big games, really struggling to sleep. Sleeping tablets helped me fall asleep and it can become a problem after a while.” He further elucidated that the tablets served not only as a sleep aid but also as a mechanism to alleviate anxiety, providing him a semblance of calm.
AB de Villiers opened up about his battles with sleep
He further shared an episode from his past, reflecting on a night before the 2015 World Cup match against the West Indies. Despite his anxiety-laden sleepless night, De Villiers surprised himself by scoring a hundred in the match, one of his finest performances. He shared, “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.”
The cricket legend expressed the psychological toll of the continuous cycle of performance pressure. He described, “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.” He reiterated the perils of relying on sleeping tablets, especially their addictive nature.
However, De Villiers ended on a positive note, revealing that his condition had improved over the last 5-7 years. His experience serves as a valuable lesson for upcoming athletes about the potential mental health issues in professional sports.
In conclusion, AB de Villiers’ candid admission of his anxiety issues serves as a stark reminder of the mental health struggles that professional athletes often face. As he wisely cautioned, it’s crucial to seek appropriate help rather than resort to temporary fixes. His story underscores the urgent need to address mental health proactively in the realm of professional sports, creating an environment where athletes feel supported and understood.
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