Drummond eloquently addresses mental well being break initially appeared on NBC Sports Chicago

Andre Drummond addressed reporters at length Sunday evening for the 1st time considering the fact that taking a one particular-game break to address mental well being challenges that he 1st publicly acknowledged by way of his social media accounts earlier this week.

Drummond has considering the fact that taken a break from these accounts as he addresses individual challenges, function the Chicago Bulls’ reserve center acknowledged will be an ongoing approach.

“We’re looked at as superheroes, that nothing at all actually bothers us and we do not have a life outdoors the game,” Drummond mentioned. “That’s what people today fail to have an understanding of, that we do have individual lives outdoors of the game. And it becomes taxing at occasions. And that superhero cape we have on has to come off at some point.

“It’s OK to ask for enable. It is OK to really feel. It is OK to be emotional. We’re all guys, but we have to be OK with getting feelings.”

Drummond played in his second straight game considering the fact that missing Wednesday’s house game against the Los Angeles Lakers. He mentioned he’s thankful for the assistance he received from outdoors and inside the organization.

“Everybody was there for me,” he mentioned. “Nobody actually knew what was going on. I was dealing with a lot mentally and I had to take some time away to actually clear my thoughts and address some items that I’d been neglecting for awhile. And I really feel OK.

“I certainly nevertheless have a lot of function to do with my mental. But we have a job to do. And that is to win basketball games and get to the playoffs. So I’m back and prepared to play. The stuff personally I can take care of when the time comes. But I nevertheless have a job to do.”

It has come to be a lot more commonplace for skilled athletes to publicly acknowledge mental well being challenges. Drummond’s teammate, DeMar DeRozan, was one particular of the 1st to do so in the NBA, detailing lifelong battles with depression and anxiousness through a 2018 interview the Toronto Star.

Drummond addressed his scenario in similarly transparent style.

“We’re recognized to be the masculine ones. Absolutely nothing bothers us. We have to be the protector, the provider, the one particular that does every thing. I consider more than the previous couple years guys have been expressing it is OK to shed light on mental traumas and the items we go by means of,” he mentioned. “It’s OK to share with other people today for the reason that other people today have the similar sort of journey that we’re going down also. It is OK to bring them along to let everyone know that they’re not alone.”

Drummond answered “definitely” when asked if becoming about his teammates and coaches and playing basketball has served as a haven for him.

“Being about people today who care about me has been actually effective for me,” he mentioned. “Obviously, becoming about my teammates have been a excellent enable for me also. It is excellent to be back and to play the game of basketball. I’m grateful to be right here.”

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