Jonathan Trott returns home with stress related ilness

[Deleted_User_1]

been there' date=' dont want anyone to go that far.[/quote'] That's precisely my point. I have been there too. Any self respecting cricketer, that too one with the calibre of Trott would not fake mental illness and get out of a tour jeopardizing his career. His career as an England test player may be over for all we know. Maybe his lack of form was because he a was struggling with it for a while now and this was the last straw that broke the camel's back. He could not take it anymore. To equate mental illness to be mentally weak is such an ignorant statement and I am talking from personal experience and experiences from around me. Mike Wallace was one of the toughest journalist that ever was and he suffered from chronic depression all his life. He had to take meds continuously to fight it. Mental illness is no different that heart disease, arthritis, etc. Would people doubt his departure if he was suffering from cancer, or had a heart attack?

[Old guy]

been there' date=' dont want anyone to go that far.[/quote'] +1 also people saying how he was well few days ago..now i am sure that you people have no clue at all about mental illness . one day you can be happy and be perfect and next you can be completely depressed for no reason at all even if everything is going well and you are on top of everything. like i said before stressful situation trigger it even more but i can safely say no international cricketer will act like this after just one failure for no reason. how many times have we seen people struggle in one game and play well in next he reached test level so he should be good enough to deal with these type of failures . more over he is some one who is known to be tough by people who have played with him so forget about running away theory its just you people trying to be funny with bad taste or just pure ignorance .

[rkt.india]

Fun turns to fear for Jonathan Trott A couple of weeks after Jonathan Trott's Test debut, he remarked that the experience of playing in the game, even before his match-defining century, had been "the most fun" he had ever had. But somewhere in the intervening years the fun has disappeared. Instead of fun, there is fear. Instead of joy there is anxiety. It was telling that Alastair Cook spoke of the Ashes as being like "a war". No one enjoys wars. Trott might seem, at first glance anyway, an unlikely candidate for a stress-related illness. He took to international cricket with apparent ease. Having scored that century at The Oval against an attack similar to that which he came up against in Brisbane over the last few days, Mitchell Johnson and all, he moved to the upper echelons of the world rankings in both ODI and Test cricket and made a habit of producing nerveless innings when they were most required. It all looked as if it came so easily. But stress does not discriminate. Perhaps you can care too much. Perhaps, if you try too hard, you are more likely to fail. Perhaps a period of success can build not just confidence, but expectation and pressure. Cricket means a great deal to Trott. With a cricket coach for a father and a cricket player (Kenny Jackson) as a big brother, he was steeped in the game from the start. It seemed natural when he breezed through the age group teams in South Africa and moved to England to pursue his career full time. He flourished. With nothing to lose, he made a habit of producing match-turning contributions and seemed to have the perfect temperament. As he explained, when he was batting well, he hardly thought at all. He just played each ball on its merits and had the hunger to do so all day. He made a century on debut in 2003 and soon became a fixture in a strong Warwickshire side. But then came the first of the serious setbacks. In the summer of 2007 he lost form so completely that he barely managed 20 and, at times, looked unrecognisable from the Jacques Kallis-like batsman who had previously dominated. It is not easy for a perfectionist to accept failure. He reacted the only way he knew how. He worked harder; he pushed himself more. He could be seen in the nets as early as 7am on the day of games. And the more he pushed, the more he failed. Even on nights away from the game, he could be seen practising his trigger movements and back lift in the glass of restaurant windows, in bathroom mirrors on holiday, in clothes shops and coffee bars. He talked of the absurdity of a game in which, when in the best of form, you can play and edge a ball to slip but in the worst of form you can miss and survive. He talked of "worms in his head" that were eating away at his confidence and forcing him to overthink something that had once been so natural. He talked about giving up the game and pursuing a different career. But he found a way through all that. Partly through the support of Ashley Giles and partly through the support of his wife, he found the stability to deal with the inevitable setbacks that occur in a career as a batsman. He learned to accept that, as long as he had prepared well, he had to accept the occasional failure. To prevent those intrusive thoughts entering his head, he settled upon a formula. He would make that famous trench in the pitch between deliveries; he would fiddle with his pads; bend his knees; check his boots and gloves. Anything it took to ensure there was no time to let those thoughts creep back. He was mocked by some. They found him compulsive and robotic, missing the point that it was a tactic to deal with an excess of emotion. It was a tactic to avoid the dark thoughts that have always circulated but have only now settled upon him. It worked, too. He produced some magnificent innings for England. Innings that shaped matches and series; innings that earned him respect from opponents around the world. Great innings. "You should talk to me after I've failed," he said, one day after making a century. "There's no point talking to me after I've got runs. You won't learn anything that way. I don't think anything when I'm scoring runs. It's when I'm not scoring them that you could learn something." There were some setbacks along the way. They were always away from home; nearly always towards the end of a long tour. Without his normal routine and without the comforting influence of family and home, there was no one to tell him it was one bad innings or one bad game; no one to limit the scale of the failure or remind him of the perspective. No one to tell him to turn off the TV and get some sleep. The England management knew this and managed it well. While there are times the England camp can be somewhat cliquey, there is no more anyone could have done - players and support staff - to be supportive and sympathetic in the last few days. Why has the situation now peaked? The struggle against Mitchell Johnson in Brisbane may have been a catalyst but it is not the cause. It may have unmasked the problem, but it is not the underlying issue. It is more likely that this has been an accumulative issue which has been building and subsiding for many months. Maybe this Ashes series, coming so soon after a high-pressure tour to India, a Champions Trophy campaign that meant more to this England team than many realise and then back-to-back Ashes series have taken their toll. When he should have been relaxing, ahead of this tour, he returned to the nets for extra sessions to ready himself for the challenge he knew lay around the corner. When he should have been sleeping, he was worrying. He simply needs down time. Time not to think about batting. Time not to think. It would be simplistic to blame David Warner for this. But, in time, perhaps we should reflect on whether there is anything about the England set-up - its intensity and its relentless schedule - that contributes to this problem. The fact that Trott, Marcus Trescothick and Michael Yardy have all suffered a broadly similar issue within seven years is remarkably coincidental. Several others, including Andrew Flintoff and Matthew Hoggard, have struggled to up hold the pretence when all they wanted to do was stop. Perhaps those of us in the media should reflect, too. Some of the comments following Trott's second innings were disproportionately harsh. They questioned not just Trott's ability and technique, but his bravery and his masculinity. There is always pressure on journalists to find the most memorable description and it often seems as if the Devil has the best lines. But we do need to remind ourselves that sports personalities - usually young people with their dreams and livelihoods at stake - are as fragile and flawed as the rest of us. For a man of Trott's background - raised in a macho environment where fears and insecurities are to be denied - to ask for help is a major undertaking. There is a certain bravery in doing so. He knows some will mock him and accuse him of weakness and that will hurt him. But there's a certain selflessness in his actions, too. He could have battled on, living on reputation and not allowed anyone else an opportunity in his place. But he knew he wasn't in the mood to help the team as much as he would have liked. He knows there is no guarantee of a return to the side. In time, Trott will come to realise he is a lucky man. Whatever happens in the rest of his career - and it would be disingenuous to pretend that this may not be the end of his international career - he has touched heights that few manage. He has played some great innings; he has won games for his country; he has been part of a team that reached No. 1 in the world in all formats and he has won the ICC Player of the Year award, arguably the highest accolade in cricket. He has achieved a great deal. More importantly, he has a healthy, happy family who love and value him. In the weeks ahead, he will have time to spend with them and the "worms in his head" will gradually fade away. There will be regrets and there will be pain, but there will also be a realisation that he has handled a horrible situation as well as he could and that his blessings far outweigh his problems.

http://www.espncricinfo.com/the-ashes-2013-14/content/story/692537.html

[Detonator]

That's precisely my point. I have been there too. Any self respecting cricketer, that too one with the calibre of Trott would not fake mental illness and get out of a tour jeopardizing his career. His career as an England test player may be over for all we know. Maybe his lack of form was because he a was struggling with it for a while now and this was the last straw that broke the camel's back. He could not take it anymore. To equate mental illness to be mentally weak is such an ignorant statement and I am talking from personal experience and experiences from around me. Mike Wallace was one of the toughest journalist that ever was and he suffered from chronic depression all his life. He had to take meds continuously to fight it. Mental illness is no different that heart disease, arthritis, etc. Would people doubt his departure if he was suffering from cancer, or had a heart attack?

Completely agree. Nobody would ve complained had england won the test and Trott had left. As I said already, no international player of any sport will get scared of opponents and quit. Heck, even a collage team won't quit that easily. The problem is most Indians will grasp just the word "mental", not the complications behind it. If someone visits a psychiatrist, mostly called as "mental doctors", then people label them as "he is gone mad". Most aren't aware of psychogeriatrics or neuro disorders. "Trott chickened out" phrase is just the lack of knowledge. One can forgive that, as ignorance is curable. :two_thumbs_up:

[akshayxyz]

That's precisely my point. I have been there too. Any self respecting cricketer' date= that too one with the calibre of Trott would not fake mental illness and get out of a tour jeopardizing his career. His career as an England test player may be over for all we know. Maybe his lack of form was because he a was struggling with it for a while now and this was the last straw that broke the camel's back. He could not take it anymore. To equate mental illness to be mentally weak is such an ignorant statement and I am talking from personal experience and experiences from around me. Mike Wallace was one of the toughest journalist that ever was and he suffered from chronic depression all his life. He had to take meds continuously to fight it. Mental illness is no different that heart disease, arthritis, etc. Would people doubt his departure if he was suffering from cancer, or had a heart attack?

That too coming out in public knowing the risk of insensitive/ignorant comments to follow from press and public. I would call it brave, and hope that this is the first step in improvement/cure for him, from here.

[Detonator]

+1 also people saying how he was well few days ago..now i am sure that you people have no clue at all about mental illness . one day you can be happy and be perfect and next you can be completely depressed for no reason at all even if everything is going well and you are on top of everything. like i said before stressful situation trigger it even more but i can safely say no international cricketer will act like this after just one failure for no reason. how many times have we seen people struggle in one game and play well in next he reached test level so he should be good enough to deal with these type of failures . more over he is some one who is known to be tough by people who have played with him so forget about running away theory its just you people trying to be funny with bad taste or just pure ignorance .

This. I really wish Trott's problem is not too malignant , and hope he comes back in this series itself.

[maniac]

As an Indian living in the west I am inclined to say the politically correct thing that I sympathise with Trott but culturally I find it impossible....If trott's depression was related to Educational pressure,Financial pressure,Fear of rejection(Strictly love related only) or Failing health I would sympathise but the depression due to the fear of not being able to drive oneself to perform at the highest level does not just cater to me. If you think otherwise you are just trying to B.S yourself trying to say the politically correct thing /Rant

[akshayxyz]

As an Indian living in the west I am inclined to say the politically correct thing that I sympathise with Trott but culturally I find it impossible....If trott's depression was related to Educational pressure' date='Financial pressure,Fear of rejection(Strictly love related only) or Failing health I would sympathise [b']but the depression due to the fear of not being able to drive oneself to perform at the highest level does not just cater to me. If you think otherwise you are just trying to B.S yourself trying to say the politically correct thing /Rant

Good point. But w/o knowing root cause of his stress/depression, we cant do anything but give benefit of doubt.

[vvvslaxman]

http://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/cricket/jonathan-trott-flies-home-crickets-2851412 Jonathan Trott flies home: Cricket's punishing workload 'will claim more stress victims' says union chief 25 Nov 2013 22:30 Professional Cricketers Association chief executive Angus Porter says the schedule is too heavy over the next seven years By Mike Walters Comments Jonathan Trott flies home: Cricket's punishing workload 'will claim more stress victims' says union chief 25 Nov 2013 22:30 Professional Cricketers Association chief executive Angus Porter says the schedule is too heavy over the next seven years On his knees: Jonathan Trott struggled to cope with back-to-back Ashes series On his knees: Jonathan Trott struggled to cope with back-to-back Ashes series Scott Barbour More England players will be hit by depression because their punishing workload is pushing them to breaking point. That was the stark warning from the players’ union in the wake of Jonathan Trott’s departure from the Ashes tour. Trott followed Marcus *Trescothick (in 2006) and Michael Yardy (two years ago) in flying home from England duty overseas with stress-related illness. And Professional Cricketers Association chief executive Angus Porter last night predicted more casualties due to the heavy schedule over the next seven years. England are in a run of 19 Tests in 15 months – seven at home, 12 away – and Porter does not envisage the schedule becoming any lighter. He said: “Do we expect the schedule to change or to be scaled down? Not in the short term. The future tours programme is pretty much set in stone until 2020, so if possible over the next six or seven years we need to make sure *individuals are not exposed to the same risks as Jonathan Trott. “But this isn’t a one-off. Sadly, it is the third time in seven years an England player has returned from a tour early for stress-related illnesses, and there were others who could have come home early in the past as well. “We would be foolish to pretend there will not be more cases like because cricket reflects what is going on in society as a whole. According to medical research, one in five of us will be treated for some form of mental illness during our lifetime. "Our own research at the PCA suggests cricketers are susceptible along those numerical lines. “I wouldn’t like to think Jonathan Trott will be the tip of the iceberg, but for every England player who has struggled with depression there will be several others in country cricket who also need help. “We’re doing a much better job in that we have a bigger backroom staff to look after the players, than we did four years ago. “And we’re doing a much better job, in terms of resting players and using an enlarged squad than previously. Ashes series are uniquely challenging and back-to-back series with Australia are a particular concern. "In fairness, this is a one-off attempt to restructure the four-year cycle, and to distance the Ashes from the World Cup, but we need to be very careful – and not just from a commercial point of view – that we don’t kill the golden goose. “As a union we’re very conscious of burnout in all its forms in the modern game, whether it’s a fast bowler at breaking point physically or a batsman getting close to the limit in a mental capacity. “One of the small mercies with Jonathan is he made this brave call earlier in the process than might have been the case a few years ago. "The players owe a debt of gratitude to Marcus *Trescothick, who was the first person to put his head above the parapet when he was struggling with depression on tour, and he has been a powerful influence in our improved *understanding of the issues since then.” Four more players who suffered Sadly Jonathan Trott is only the latest in a long line of England cricketers to have suffered mental health issues linked to the rigours of touring. Phil Tufnell: The famously chirpy captain on TV quiz show Question of Sport spent a night on a psychiatric ward in Perth on the 1994-5 Ashes tour. Graham Thorpe: With his marriage disintegrating and soon to become a public soap opera, became another tormented tour refugee when he flew home from India in 2001. Marcus Trescothick: Now the ‘poster boy’ for cricketers forced to manage depression, Tresco was evacuated from Australia on the 2006-7 Ashes trip and never played for England again. Michael Yardy: Stressed to breaking point by the sleeplessness and psychological torture of spending only four days at home with his wife and kids in five months, bailed out of the World Cup in 2011. Interesting lot more English players than other country. I know Tait. is there anyone from other coutnries/ Any new zealanders?

[Chandan]

http://goo.gl/9aM4WR Sports is not war Mike Atherton From: The Times November 26, 2013 WHEN the England captain refers to an Ashes series as a "war", which Alastair Cook did after his team's brutalising defeat in the first Test at the Gabba, you can be sure that there has been a startling loss of perspective somewhere along the line. Its first casualty has been Jonathan Trott, who has flown home with a stress-related illness that he has been managing for some time. There will be enormous sympathy for Trott, as an England cricketer of great ability and someone who has played a central role in the team's success over the past five years, while he takes the first steps in recovery. Back with his family and given the utmost help by a professional support network, the hope is that he will be able to play international cricket again, although that must be in doubt. The most immediate concern is for his wellbeing, and the recent examples of Marcus Trescothick and Michael Yardy should encourage him that his illness will be reflected upon in the most sympathetic manner. As with every other England cricketer who has recently confessed to a stress-related illness, those charged with a duty of care were keen to emphasise that Trott's illness is not specific to cricket, or to sport, but is a part of a wider societal trend. It is true that there are any number of plumbers, teachers, electricians, doctors and lawyers, as well as members of every other profession, who suffer from depression. It is also true that there is a blurred distinction between depression, as a serious mental illness, and feeling depressed. It is absurd to suggest, as members of the management team did when they discussed the implications of Trott's withdrawal, that the match at the Gabba had nothing to do with the sudden descent into a state whereby the only solution was the first flight home. Trott has been suffering from this illness for some time and, knowing that, they would have been observing him closely. They were convinced before the match that Trott was in a fit state of mind to play. By the third evening, when the decision was made to fly him home, the situation had changed. So, clearly, the pressure - perceived, real or imagined - of playing for England in Australia played its part. Clearly, the immense pressure to succeed as a batsman, whether perceived, real or imagined, played its part as well. Clearly, the ramifications of facing a bowler who had his measure were difficult to comprehend and cope with. Andy Flower, the England team director, admitted that it was unlikely the situation would have arisen had Trott scored a double hundred in Brisbane. As every observer noted, he played like a man who was not thinking clearly; whether his illness contributed to his bizarre second innings, or his second innings precipitated the crisis can only be conjecture, but this is a cricket-related issue. What is not of issue, or should not be, are the comments made by David Warner in the middle of the Test. Warner's accusation that Trott was fearful was a straight-shooting comment to a straight question, and he made them in ignorance (as he does most things, you could add). England insist that the remarks did not send Trott over the edge, but they are incandescent and believe Warner to have been disrespectful and out of order. Not even they, however, have drawn a link between Warner's words and Trott's subsequent departure. England, by the way, should be careful of being too pious. In reflecting on Warner's comments, Flower indicated that his team had standards and were careful not to disparage opponents. Observers may remember Graeme Swann accusing Dilruwan Perera, the Sri Lanka batsman, of blatant "cheating" and admitting that he wanted to "kill" him. No action was taken, although Flower reiterated then, rightly, the need to respect opponents. Given England's reluctance to blame Warner for Trott's difficulties, hopefully there will be no further escalation in acrimony between the teams. In fact, Trott's situation may help; neither team will take a backward step, but his departure may be a gentle reminder that the objective of the exercise is to play a sport, not engage in a kind of faux warfare. It may be a reminder, too, to newspaper editors in Brisbane who routinely rubbish individuals in the most caustic way that their targets are human beings with feelings and families. In Trott's departure, and in the stress suffered by other high-profile sportsmen, there is an interesting question for those involved in managing players. It may be crass to link England's 82-page dietary demands to the mental illness of a batsman, but when sport is regarded with such import as to require such absurd attention to detail, it is certainly taking itself too seriously. Flower has always strived to help his players to find a balance and retain a proper perspective. A trip to the battlefields of Flanders, encouraging his players to donate to a burns unit in Dhaka, helping the orphans of Kolkata and the recent visit to a recovery unit for injured servicemen in Surrey have been designed to remind his players of the ultimately frivolous nature of what they do. Yet it is also true that his players are pandered to and cosseted to an extraordinary degree. They are told what to say in press conferences by hovering liaison officers and every whim is catered for. The impression is of a closed, institutionalised and claustrophobic world. At Sir Ian Botham's 58th birthday party on Sunday evening, generations of former England and Australia players mingled happily; Allan Border, Mark Taylor, Michael Slater, Ian Healy and others joined their former opponents in laughter and merriment. Will the present generation do the same in years to come? I hope so. On a day when the other cricket news concerned the disciplining of the Australia captain for abusing an opponent, the reaction to Trott's departure was almost uniformly supportive. This was particularly true of former players. Dean Jones, the former Australia batsman, said that he admired Trott for seeking help; Healy, the great former Australia wicketkeeper, said that Ashes cricket was important but health and life more so. It is easy for former players to be so insouciant, harder for those in the maelstrom, but Ashes or no Ashes, it is just a game. If Trott's sad departure helps those involved in the next four Tests to remember that, it may serve some purpose. Sport is not war; not even war minus the shooting. It is just sport. The hope is that Trott can find a way to enjoy it again. The Times ------------------------------------ Wonderful article!

[vvvslaxman]

^ Good one Chandan. Sadly we have highly polarized opinon on this subject. Nothing in between. I think Mike has succintly put.

[Deleted_User_1]

As an Indian living in the west I am inclined to say the politically correct thing that I sympathise with Trott but culturally I find it impossible....If trott's depression was related to Educational pressure,Financial pressure,Fear of rejection(Strictly love related only) or Failing health I would sympathise but the depression due to the fear of not being able to drive oneself to perform at the highest level does not just cater to me. If you think otherwise you are just trying to B.S yourself trying to say the politically correct thing /Rant

Oh so fear of failing is somehow a forbidden zone. It is fear....in essence no different that fear of relationships, fear of financial performance. All the fears that you highlight are fear of performance in different areas. HA!

[Raghav_12]

That's precisely my point. I have been there too. Any self respecting cricketer, that too one with the calibre of Trott would not fake mental illness and get out of a tour jeopardizing his career. His career as an England test player may be over for all we know. Maybe his lack of form was because he a was struggling with it for a while now and this was the last straw that broke the camel's back. He could not take it anymore. To equate mental illness to be mentally weak is such an ignorant statement and I am talking from personal experience and experiences from around me. Mike Wallace was one of the toughest journalist that ever was and he suffered from chronic depression all his life. He had to take meds continuously to fight it. Mental illness is no different that heart disease, arthritis, etc. Would people doubt his departure if he was suffering from cancer, or had a heart attack?

Though I don't fully agree with all the content of this post but most part of this is spot on. No way mental illness can be equated with mental weakness.

[rkt.india]

Though I don't fully agree with all the content of this post but most part of this is spot on. No way mental illness can be equated with mental weakness.

I think they are certainly related. Mental illness is always a consequence of not handling pressure and stresses at any aspect in life. Such circumstances lead to mental illness when your mental fortitude weakens. Everyone goes through such phases in life. Some go through it and come out winners, some do not and commit things like suicide.

[bulbul]

^ How?

[ganeshran]

I think they are certainly related. Mental illness is always a consequence of not handling pressure and stresses at any aspect in life. Such circumstances lead to mental illness when your mental fortitude weakens. Everyone goes through such phases in life. Some go through it and come out winners' date= some do not and commit things like suicide.

Can you cite a medical source for this?

[Raghav_12]

I think they are certainly related.

Really don't know. I have seen many amazingly mentally strong people falling for depression and other such illnesses. Again it would be an ignorant view to club all mental illnesses in single category and saying if they are symptom of mental weakness. In particular cases, as one of Trott, I would say it is not entirely because of medical conditions. In my opinion such conditions need more of courage than medication. If he had fought it hard and had decided to play next test and scored a 50 or any decent score, his rehabilitation would have been much quicker then rehabilitation through medication and therapy. Now it would always haunt him that he had run away from tour and it would prolong his recovery.

[vvvslaxman]

I think they are certainly related. Mental illness is always a consequence of not handling pressure and stresses at any aspect in life. Such circumstances lead to mental illness when your mental fortitude weakens. Everyone goes through such phases in life. Some go through it and come out winners' date=' some do not and commit things like suicide.[/quote'] Most companies have stress management counselling. Even a software guy can be overloaded and he can be stressed out when there is a struggle to maintain work life balance. It is stress related illness. Work related stress pretty much all walks life would have had it at some point. Reading most of the articles, his case is more related to work than personal life. I think he will come back after a break unlike Trescothik who had different issue of home sickness. Probably workload got to him.

[vvvslaxman]

Really don't know. I have seen many amazingly mentally strong people falling for depression and other such illnesses. Again it would be an ignorant view to club all mental illnesses in single category and saying if they are symptom of mental weakness. In particular cases, as one of Trott, I would say it is not entirely because of medical conditions. In my opinion such conditions need more of courage than medication. If he had fought it hard and had decided to play next test and scored a 50 or any decent score, his rehabilitation would have been much quicker then rehabilitation through medication and therapy. Now it would always haunt him that he had run away from tour and it would prolong his recovery.

Gulam Bodi already sent out a nasty tweet and retracted later . http://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/cricket/south-african-gulam-bodi-makes-light-of-jonathan-trotts-decision-to-leave-ashes/story-fni2usfi-1226768179515

[ganeshran]

Would people doubt his departure if he was suffering from cancer, or had a heart attack?

+1 This is the exact point I have been trying to make. No one would have doubted a physical condition, but when it comes to a mental condition, suddenly everyone is passing off their own prejudices as medical facts.