What do you need?
“Being depressed is exhausting,” NBA All-Star, Olympic Gold medalist, and NBA Champion Kevin Love. Depression, anxiety, and a panic attack did not care about his professional accomplishments or the wealth it brought him. Mental health is unbiased, and an equal opportunist since depression or anxiety will not check a resumé. Yes, wealth and status will provide more resources for treatment at his disposal. Still, Kevin’s panic attack in 2018 did not care that it came on during a professional basketball game to a professional basketball player. https://www.theplayerstribune.com/articles/kevin-love-mental-health
What clicked for Kevin was asking the question, “What do you need?” and finding the space within himself to stay present in considering the question. Ultimately, the conclusion that he came to was to speak to someone. That through speaking with a professional, he began to consider himself and his needs, which helped him feel connected. As he states, he is “…not trying to sell you some happy ending… I can’t tell you that this is going to be easy. But I can tell you that it does get better.” For him, it took 29 years to consider the question of “What do you need?”. That the therapeutic work that came from considering this question provided “…the deepest sense of joy and peace that I’ve gained in my life…” rather than from money, fame, or achievement.
Finally, for Kevin Love, it took someone else speaking out about their struggles to help open the door for him to feel comfortable speaking about his struggles. Maybe Kevin telling his story can help someone feel comfortable reaching out to talk about theirs. If you, or someone you care about, would like to speak with a psychologist, please contact us here.
