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Get HelpHere at Sad Runner, we want to celebrate those who manage to overcome their depression long enough to thrive. These men and women prove that there is sunlight on the other side of the clouds, and we just have to keep going.
It’s hard enough work to fight our depression, so to achieve some level of success in addition to that struggle seems beyond belief to many of us. But it is doable; you just have to keep going.
Sheffield Wednesday defender, Sam Hutchinson, has had a lot of ups and downs in his career. Most notably, a knee condition forced him to retire early at the young age of 21.
Sam’s a tough guy, though. He refused to let the injury hold him back and, a year later, he mounted a comeback to the sport he loved. Sam’s knee isn’t the only wound dealt him. Sam also struggled with deep depression throughout his injury and time away from football.
1 in 4 people in the UK will experience a mental health problem this year. Many, just like Sam, suffer from crippling insomnia. The pain keeps you awake, and all you want to do is fall asleep to escape the pain.
“It was horrific, and I wouldn’t wish it on anyone. You have to get through that and to be fair my wife Jennifer got me through it.”
Now, feeling healthier, he’s felt more comfortable talking about his condition and the struggles he’s endured.
He recently opened up about his depression to the Sun and followed it up with a brief interview on BBC Radio.
Though you can tell he’s understandably shy about it on the radio, he wants to share his story and let others know what’s going on because depression is common among ex-footballers and nobody is talking about it.
“I don’t think enough is done. There are campaigns to deal with depression after football, but I think a lot more could be done. It takes players and people who have experienced it to speak about it and speak to people about it for it to get solved.”
You don’t have to be a football fan to learn something from Sam’s story. In fact, he gives all of us this fantastic piece of advice:
“I pushed people away for a little bit, but you need people around you, even if you don’t want to see them, and you’re horrible to them, you need them because they are the ones that care.”
Our illness wants us to isolate. It seeks to choke off all our relationships and force us to live out our pain alone. We have to fight that urge with all our might. It’s difficult beyond words, but we have to attempt at least to be around the people in our lives. We can’t isolate and push our friends and family away.
You can check out Sam’s story in the Sun, and hop over to BBC Radio to listen to his brief interview there.
Please join us in celebrating another Depression Fighter, who didn’t let his condition hold him back.
Adam Weitz is a multi-discipline designer, business owner, and founder of Sad Runner. He is passionate about encouraging people with depression and works through Sad Runner to positively impact their lives.
