Jessica Belmosto

I had a very different blog planned for today. In fact, it was a very lighthearted blog. I was half way through it when I stumbled upon Kevin Love’s article for The Player Tribune. He discussed his experience with a panic attack. It wasn’t a panic attack he had at home or after a bad loss. It was a panic attack during a game.

After reading the article, I felt a new appreciation for Love. Anxiety has different ways of presenting itself. You could be silent and bouncing your leg or hyperventilating with tears running down your face. It made me think. He was deemed a problem before his injury. Kevin didn’t want to be in Cleveland. If it weren’t for the broken hand, I’m sure he would’ve been gone at the deadline. Was his anxiety ramping up and he was lashing out? Did his not wanting to be there play into his anxiety?

It came out of nowhere. I’d never had one before. I didn’t even know if they were real. But it was real — as real a broken hand or a sprained ankle. Since that day, almost everything about the way I think about my mental health has changed.

I’m not Kevin Love. I can’t explain what he felt or explain his actions. However, I can give him the utmost respect. Opening up about your struggles isn’t easy. I can’t imagine being a professional basketball player and letting your guard down like that. There’s the stigma around mental health. You’re crazy if you have anxiety or depression. If you struggle with anything more severe, you’re sick. No, it’s not like that at all. There’s nothing wrong battling anxiety or anything other mental illness. I don’t want to go all psychotherapist on you guys. I’m sure you get my point.

If anyone gives Kevin a hard time for this they’re actual scum. It takes a lot of courage and strength to speak up. He even mentions how concerned he was about people finding out. Like I said before, there’s a stigma around mental health. People don’t take it seriously. It’s as serious as a physical injury. Sometimes you need to take days off to take care of yourself. You aren’t selfish or weak for that. You’re taking care of yourself. Love used his platform to raise awareness. He’s using his voice to let people know they’re not alone. Who knows, maybe a fan of his will seek help after reading the article. Respect it.

Mental illness doesn’t discriminate. It doesn’t matter if you’re a high school student or a professional athlete. We saw Michael Phelps open up about his depression and suicidal thoughts. You aren’t invincible. If you are struggling, please do everything you can to seek help. You’re not alone in this fight. If you know someone struggling, talk to them… Please know you’re never alone.

I have nothing but respect for Kevin Love. I hope he finds healthy coping mechanisms and ways to deal with his anxiety. This was an important move to make. I hope he knows how many people are touched and impacted by his story.

NATIONAL SUICIDE HOTLINE: 1-800-273-8255