Kevin Love is speaking about his mental health battle
Kevin Love penned a letter to The Players Tribune about a panic attack during the Cleveland Cavaliers Nov. 5 game against the Atlanta Hawks. Love also spoke about his mental health.
In life, mental health is an issue for many of our close friends and family. It’s important to make sure that our friends are well taken care of, and that they feel comfortable talking about an issue. With millionaire professional athletes it’s usually expected that with fame and wealth, they have escaped the issues of the everyday person. But Cleveland Cavaliers star Kevin Love is letting us know this is far from the case. In a candid letter to The Players Tribune, Love opened up about a panic attack that occurred in November in a matchup with the Atlanta Hawks.
"I knew something was wrong almost right after tip-off.I was winded within the first few possessions. That was strange. And my game was just off. I played 15 minutes of the first half and made one basket and two free throws.After halftime, it all hit the fan. Coach Lue called a timeout in the third quarter. When I got to the bench, I felt my heart racing faster than usual. Then I was having trouble catching my breath. It’s hard to describe, but everything was spinning, like my brain was trying to climb out of my head. The air felt thick and heavy. My mouth was like chalk"
Love then elaborated on how the Cavaliers helped him find a therapist.
"So I did one seemingly little thing that turned out to be a big thing. The Cavs helped me find a therapist, and I set up an appointment. I gotta stop right here and just say: I’m the last person who’d have thought I’d be seeing a therapist."
Next: LeBron James wants to win an Oscar
Love speaking out on his mental health is a huge step forward for athletes. We may think that athletes don’t suffer from everyday issues, but money doesn’t change the human psyche. We all get anxious, sad, mad and happy: those are basic human emotions. So, if DeMar DeRozan can speak out and Kevin Love, too, don’t hesitate to talk to a friend, or even speak to a therapist. Everyone needs a little help sometimes.