Former UConn star Katie Lou Samuelson displays mental health struggles in ESPN essay

The postgame tears instructed a narrative of intense grief and heartache. however all the whereas, Katie Lou Samuelson kept denying her emotions, telling herself that she become being too dramatic. In a private essay published Wednesday on ESPN.com, the previous UConn girls’s basketball famous person spread out about her struggles with nervousness and depression. “I all the time used to make excuses about why I felt a undeniable way,” noted Samuelson, who graduated remaining yr. “I’m challenging on myself and have become accustomed to a lot of bad self-talk. I used to tear myself down in ways that I didn’t understand i used to be doing. i used to be in denial about how I felt. whatever in the again of my head satisfied me that … nothing turned into basically wrong. “i wished to be viewed as professional, tough and resilient.” Samuelson changed into the top-ranked recruit coming out of Mater Dei high faculty (Calif.) in 2015. She won an NCAA title as a freshman, then earned All-American awareness in every of her ultimate three seasons. She left Storrs as the fifth-leading scorer in program heritage (2,342 aspects) and become selected fourth ordinary by the Chicago Sky within the 2019 WNBA Draft. however all over her time at UConn, Samuelson additionally handled a collection of serious injuries â€" a broken foot in 2016, sidelining her for the national championship video game, and diverse torn ankle ligaments all over the 2017-18 season â€" that simplest sank her deeper into distress. She every so often cried in the locker room after games, but wouldn’t inform her family unit and chums, fearing that they would believe careworn or feel she changed into making excuses. “now and then I felt very remoted within the experience that I didn’t have anything I truly felt inspired to do â€" or related to â€" off the court docket,” she wrote. “It’s particularly hard as an athlete and also you’re still figuring the leisure out. “every thing is connected in one method or one other. searching lower back now, I wasn’t taking care of myself as well as I should have. I wasn’t ingesting appropriate. I had times the place i used to be sound asleep for 13-15 hours a day. I’d stand up to head to follow and sophistication, then come again to my room, and that’s about it.” Katie Lou Samuelson of the Chicago Sky warms up before a video game in opposition t the Minnesota Lynx at goal center in 2019 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Katie Lou Samuelson of the Chicago Sky warms up earlier than a video game towards the Minnesota Lynx at goal core in 2019 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. photo: Sam Wasson / Getty pictures picture: Sam Wasson / Getty photos photo 1 of three Katie Lou Samuelson of the Chicago Sky warms up earlier than a game in opposition t the Minnesota Lynx at goal middle in 2019 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Katie Lou Samuelson of the Chicago Sky warms up earlier than a video game in opposition t the Minnesota Lynx at target middle in 2019 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. photograph: Sam Wasson / Getty photos Former UConn superstar Katie Lou Samuelson reveals mental health struggles in ESPN essay 1 / 3 again to Gallery Samuelson instructed herself she’d delivery feeling greater as soon as she began her career within the WNBA. but she didn’t, and closing yr she sought aid from a mental surgeon. “and i felt this weight lifted from me,” she explained. The 22-12 months-old is now with the Dallas Wings, received in February after one season in Chicago. Her older sister, Karlie, is on the crew too. Samuelson referred to they’ve been practising together in California, getting ready for a season that might also or may also no longer ever start as a result of the coronavirus pandemic. relocating ahead, Samuelson, intends to make use of her connection with PUMA to bring more cognizance to the Trevor project, a crisis intervention and suicide prevention firm for LGBTQ youth. “There isn't any hiding from mental fitness concerns based on what you have got, or how a hit you're, or what individuals see of you on the outdoor,” Samuelson said. “any one may also be affected, so learn what you can and ask for help if you want it. everyone’s journeys are diverse, but more than ever we see how we’re all interconnected. So let’s be form to ourselves and look out for each and every different.” dbonjour@ctpost.com; @DougBonjour