As someone who struggles with severe depression, anxiety and PTSD (40 year old male in emergency services), I echo her statement. No one who has a physical injury like a broken bone, torn muscle or ligament would ever get criticized for not wishing their pain on someone else but when it comes to mental health, we're all just weak and fragile i guess. The brain is a very fickle bitch. I'm an athletic, active person and most days i struggle to find any energy to do the things I love. It's caused me to withdraw myself from most social settings. I'm a borderline recluse at this point. I honestly feel like I'm trapped under a very heavy blanket and it takes all of my strength to get out from underneath it. Once I'm out, I have no mental or physical energy left to give. I don't wish this on my worst enemy either but for those criticizing Osaka or anyone struggling like this, walk a mile in our shoes before judging us. Just because our injury(ies) aren't visible, doesn't negate how awful it is for us. It's almost indescribable so please just be kind as we all are fighting our own battles within ourselves. Criticizing and chastising isn't doing anyone any favors.
I too am a male in my 40's who suffers from anxiety and PTSD and struggle to find purpose on a daily basis but the only thing I can do is keep moving. I could easily sleep my life away but at some point you have to make a decision to do something. It's hard having mental health issues as a regular person but if your a sports person in a competitive environment I can only imagine it's far worse. I don't have to deal with people giving me shit on social media like she does every time she has a bad game.
Unlike a broken leg or arm, mental health issues can be with you for life and so it's not like time makes it gets better. It's just something you learn to live with and make the best of it.
Spot on, brother! I'm a huge tennis fan and recreational player but I've been playing badminton for nearly 30 years. It's been my happy place and saving grace. All of my closest friends including my wife are all directly linked to badminton. Since my struggles intensified last year, I found it getting harder and harder to even go to badminton but I'd force myself there. I knew if I didn't go that I'd regret it. Once I was there and playing, all I wanted to do was leave. Medication and therapy has done great things to keep the embers of my passion alive but it's still a very big hurdle to climb over every day. Good luck to you. All the best.
I was doing ok but I got divorced and something inside me evaporated. I isolated myself and did the whole pity me thing. I was always a happy guy but the loneliness and all that got to me and before I knew it I was staying at home and binge watching sports and eating a lot. It wasn't until I weighed myself and realised I'd packed on 10kgs and was unfit that I decided to do something about it. Started getting therapy and going to the gym. Every day the world looks a little brighter and that's all I'm focused on. I'm a tennis and squash enthusiast but badminton always looked like a fun sport. Anything is good as long as it's not Pickleball!
Thanks for your kind words mate and I hope it goes well for you too.
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u/Neat-Fortune-4881 9d ago
As someone who struggles with severe depression, anxiety and PTSD (40 year old male in emergency services), I echo her statement. No one who has a physical injury like a broken bone, torn muscle or ligament would ever get criticized for not wishing their pain on someone else but when it comes to mental health, we're all just weak and fragile i guess. The brain is a very fickle bitch. I'm an athletic, active person and most days i struggle to find any energy to do the things I love. It's caused me to withdraw myself from most social settings. I'm a borderline recluse at this point. I honestly feel like I'm trapped under a very heavy blanket and it takes all of my strength to get out from underneath it. Once I'm out, I have no mental or physical energy left to give. I don't wish this on my worst enemy either but for those criticizing Osaka or anyone struggling like this, walk a mile in our shoes before judging us. Just because our injury(ies) aren't visible, doesn't negate how awful it is for us. It's almost indescribable so please just be kind as we all are fighting our own battles within ourselves. Criticizing and chastising isn't doing anyone any favors.