Kevin Love’s Revelation
This week NBA star, Kevin Love revealed in an open essay in The Player’s Tribune, that he has recently suffered from panic attacks. Something few people knew. He didn’t intend to go public with this information. However, after another NBA player, DeMar DeRozan shared publicly that he was dealing with depression, Love decided to reveal his truth. The response, according to Love, has been overwhelmingly positive. People have been sharing their own personal stories with him. Love said that sharing this message may be “his life’s work.” DeRozan has seemingly taken on his new role as well to help increase awareness of mental health issues.
Revealing your truth
It is amazing that when we decide to move ahead and share our truths, how freeing that can be. And how it can open the flood gates for others to do the same. Mental health issues have historically been kept very secretive and discreet. Usually for fear of being judged or deemed “unstable or crazy”. As we have come to learn over the last five to ten years, mental health is a broad spectrum and expanse. It amazes me as I speak to others about anxiety and depression, how so many people are dealing with these issues. Most don’t talk openly about it, but I feel the culture today is changing that. With celebrities and other high profile people being willing to be open about their struggles, it often helps the rest of us feel comfortable to do so.
We are all in this world together. Being less judgmental and more understanding can go a long way. As Kevin Love stated in the recent article, “Everybody has things that you can’t see, that you can’t touch that they’re walking around with every day.” We just don’t know what someone else is dealing with. They don’t know what you are dealing with. There are two statements that come to mind when we consider that.
- Be kind to one another.
- Sharing your truth can help to set you and others free.
If you are dealing with any mental health issues, do seek help. A trusted family member or friend, pastor, doctor or therapist. You don’t have to deal with this alone. There are tools to help you get through and overcome.
I thank Kevin Love and DeMar DeRozan for inspiring others to speak their own truth.
One thought on “Kevin Love Revealing Panic Attacks is Helpful for Others : Everyone’s Going Through Something”