Monty Panesar: England spinner opens up about his mental illness

[Abdullah719]

England's Monty Panesar says he has learned to accept he needs medication to help him deal with mental illness.

The 34-year-old spinner sought medical advice to cope with feelings of anxiety and paranoia which stemmed from a loss of confidence and self-esteem.

He was prescribed medication but now admits his reluctance to take this contributed to his problem.

"I went on medication and it calmed things down in my mind and took way the symptoms of being paranoid," he said.

"I didn't believe in medication. I have been brought up to say it isn't good for you. There are always side effects to every medication you take.'

Northamptonshire's Panesar is targeting an England recall after three years out of the Test side.

He was released by Essex at the end of the 2015 season after off-field "issues", and later admitted to mental health issues.

Panesar added: "The people who were helping me did see a change. They said to me it would it take three to six months to get back to where I need to be.

"You have got to take one step at a time and be patient with the whole process and eventually have the faith that things will get better."

'It is important to open up'​

Panesar, who has taken 167 wickets in 50 Tests, the last in Melbourne during the Ashes in 2013, is now trying to use his experiences to work as a mental health ambassador for the Professional Cricketers Association (PCA).

"The signs that you can spot in other people in a dressing room is if they are very isolated and don't engage with the whole team," he told BBC Sport.

"On away trips if you are going for team meals are they just going back to their room and ordering room service?

"It's really important when you feel down that you engage with other human beings and you speak to other people about it.

"Once a cricketer gets isolated they are signs that you really should look after that person.

"As sportspeople you pride yourself on being mentally strong and ruthless, all the attributes that lead to competitive performance.

"But when you have a weakness in you, you don't really want to open up to it. You always want to show that you are strong.

"The quicker you open up the quicker you will get the support and the help."

'Better people equals better cricketers'​

The PCA believes more cricketers are taking issues of personal welfare and development seriously.

It says there has been a vast increase in the number of players using the programme it offers over the past decade, but issues are especially apparent when cricketers retire.

According to a new survey, nearly all cricketers say they struggle when their careers finish with some 16 per cent experiencing feelings of depression and despair in the first year after retiring.

The survey also found that almost a third of past players said they did not feel in control of their lives two years after playing.

The PCA would like to see more cricket welfare managers in the country to deal with these kinds of issues.

Jason Ratcliffe, assistant chief executive at the PCA, says: "We have a duty to create more resilient and confident people, something which should also ensure better performing cricketers.

"In turn this should lead to a better product to sell to broadcasters and spectators, ultimately creating more income for the game. Better people equals better cricketers.''

http://www.bbc.com/sport/cricket/36381370

 

[LastManstanding]

Feel for him, his marriage broke down and it took a toll on his career, liked his energy and passion on the field. Get well soon Monty.

 

[JaDed]

I'm sorry for him but is it the land of England that produces mental problems for its cricketers?Or is it something to do with first world and its issues?

I seriously want to understand these mental issues(God forbid i get one) but I'm not able to put myself in their shoes and think what could be about these English players which makes them mentally brittle or problem prone.

I have huge respect for Broad because he came back as a top ranked test bowler inspite of a drubbing by Yuvi

 

[#GreenRoars]

That's sad

 

[gazza619]

I'm sorry for him but is it the land of England that produces mental problems for its cricketers?Or is it something to do with first world and its issues?

I seriously want to understand these mental issues(God forbid i get one) but I'm not able to put myself in their shoes and think what could be about these English players which makes them mentally brittle or problem prone.

I have huge respect for Broad because he came back as a top ranked test bowler inspite of a drubbing by Yuvi

I think mental health issues are common in every part of the world. The only difference is that in the subcontinent someone suffering from it is classed as not good enough for international cricket. As if it is a weakness rather than a problem or an illness..

 

[JaDed]

I think mental health issues are common in every part of the world. The only difference is that in the subcontinent someone suffering from it is classed as not good enough for international cricket. As if it is a weakness rather than a problem or an illness..

Fair point but i wonder if such things also make the SC cricketers to work mentally on their game a guy like Yuvi went through cancer and came back to play cricket,

Imran-Sachin-Kohli played immediately inspite of their parents' death.

 

[pakistani pride]

Fair point but i wonder if such things also make the SC cricketers to work mentally on their game a guy like Yuvi went through cancer and came back to play cricket,

Imran-Sachin-Kohli played immediately inspite of their parents' death.

Indeed. There is a huge difference with people. Even here in the netherlands you see people with different backgrounds being mentally much stronger.

 

[Havok]

Good luck monty, stay strong

 

[Arham_PakFan]

Sad story,but the good thing is that he's back on his feet and playing cricket.

 

[Hasan123]

Very sad story

 

[Robert]

I'm sorry for him but is it the land of England that produces mental problems for its cricketers?Or is it something to do with first world and its issues?

1. Britons are highly individualistic so this means that paranoia and depression are more likely to occur than in societies which are more collectivist and family oriented. But Monty has a strong family background to protect him.

2. Mental health problems are more likely to be diagnosed here. Elsewhere they get ignored or called something else such as "mental weakness".

 

[Robert]

3. English people are encouraged to bottle everything up rather than express their emotions.

 

[MenInG]

Careful guys - this is a sensitive topic.

 

[JaDed]

1. Britons are highly individualistic so this means that paranoia and depression are more likely to occur than in societies which are more collectivist and family oriented. But Monty has a strong family background to protect him.

2. Mental health problems are more likely to be diagnosed here. Elsewhere they get ignored or called something else such as "mental weakness".

I do see those points but feel that because every mental problem has a diagnose,people don't even try, i know that you work with people and probably have first hand experience but if a person isn't taking any mental effort himself(not that of going to a shrink) then surely there might be something missing.

 

[JaDed]

3. English people are encouraged to bottle everything up rather than express their emotions.

This probably could be the reason,to be proper all the time ,well behaved and i guess its more with Cricketers than footballers.

 

[MenInG]

http://www.thepca.co.uk/flintoff-and-panesar-launch-new-wave-of-mental-health-education.html

Former England players Andrew Flintoff and Monty Panesar, two of the PCA’s new team of Mental Health Ambassadors, have appeared in new films for the Association’s pioneering Mind Matters personal wellbeing series.

Former England all-rounder Flintoff, the PCA President, and Northamptonshire slow left-armer Panesar appear in the refreshed films along with Marcus Trescothick, the Somerset and former England batsman, and Jason Ratcliffe, the PCA Assistant Chief Executive, discussing anxiety, depression, alcohol, addictive behaviours, gambling addiction, self-harm and importantly about how to get help.

The contributions of Flintoff and Panesar, who have both spoken openly about their own battles with depression and anxiety, provide a refreshed introduction to the original Mind Matters tutorial, which was launched in 2012.

Anxiety & Depression – https://kvgo.com/TheHall/2016_MM_Anxiety_and_Depression
Addictive Behaviours – https://kvgo.com/TheHall/2016_MM_Introduction
Self Harm & Suicide – https://kvgo.com/TheHall/2016_MM_Self_Harm_and_Suicide
Getting Help – https://kvgo.com/TheHall/2016_MM_Getting_Help
Alcohol & Drugs – https://kvgo.com/TheHall/2016_MM_Alcohol_and_Drugs
Gambling – https://kvgo.com/TheHall/2016_MM_Gambling

Although the Mind Matters series is aimed primarily at PCA members – past, present and future first-class cricketers in England and Wales – Ratcliffe hopes the new tutorial will also help the wider public.

“In line with the announcement that Andrew and Monty are among our Mental Health Ambassadors, we have refreshed our Mind Matters tutorial,” Ratcliffe said.

“It’s fantastic resource to raise awareness and understanding of these key issues. We hope the tutorials will be hugely beneficial, first and foremost to our members, but also to the general public.”

Flintoff, who was elected only the seventh President in the PCA’s history earlier this year, said: “We feel this tutorial is relevant to all of our members partly due to some recent high profile instances of addiction in professional sportsmen but, primarily, because the primary objective of the PCA is to protect and improve the welfare of our members.”

In addition to Flintoff and Panesar the PCA have also appointed four more England internationals, Graeme Fowler, Marcus Trescothick, Tim Ambrose and Mike Yardy and Iain O’Brien, the former New Zealand seamer, as Mental Health Ambassadors.

All have appeared in the PCA’s Mind Matters series talking frankly about their own experiences of depression or anxiety and Fowler recently took part in the PCA’s pre-season visits to the 18 first-class counties and MCC Young Cricketers where he spoke to current professional cricketers.

Full details of the PCA Mental Health Ambassadors can be found – http://www.thepca.co.uk/7909.html

The PCA provide a dedicated confidential helpline to all members in their hour of need. Follow this link for full information – http://www.thepca.co.uk/confidential-helpline.html

Full Health and Well-being information – http://www.thepca.co.uk/health-and-wellbeing.html

Graeme and Sarah Fowler and Iain O’Brien tell their story – http://www.thepca.co.uk/7231.html

Phil Mawer author of ‘Overcoming Gambling’ tells his story – http://www.thepca.co.uk/gamblingvid.html

Kevin Saxelby tells the story of his brother Mark – http://www.thepca.co.uk/7232.html

For more information please contact Jason Ratcliffe: 07768 558050 or email jratcliffe@thepca.co.uk

 

[Robert]

I've heard it said that depression is the curse if the strong - sufferers carry on coping and coping and seeming fine on the outside, while inwardly imploding.

 

[Gabbar Singh]

'I was told I had paranoid schizophrenia... it shocked me massively': Monty Panesar opens up to Nasser Hussain on battling his demons

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/c...-Hussain-battling-demons.html#article-7064303


Bit worrying that he doesn’t take his medication - most people with his condition have to be on it for life.

 

[Markhor]

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/c...-Hussain-battling-demons.html#article-7064303


Bit worrying that he doesn’t take his medication - most people with his condition have to be on it for life.

Wow. An incredible interview.

Interesting to note Nasser wished he could've been there for Monty who thought given their Indian backgrounds he could approach.

 

[Markhor]

You won't get many sportsmen let alone cricketers open up like that.