Nick Kontes

“Without therapy, I might be one of those names that make people go, ‘Ah yeah, Diego Luna … What happened to him?’” USMNT and Real Salt Lake star Diego Luna opened up about how much therapy is helping his battle with mental health issues and anxiety 🗣️ “I’m sad to admit this, but I only began to consider therapy when my mental health started to affect my soccer,” Luna wrote. “At the start of 2024, I wasn’t scoring goals. I wasn’t even starting regularly. I had also just become a father.” “Having a son at 19 was a huge challenge, especially mentally, and I felt like the walls were closing in on me.” “Growing up in a Latino family, you were supposed to handle your emotions by doing something, like playing soccer. Out on the pitch, I was always a fighter, ‘a dog,’ as Pablo Mastroeni likes to say. As a ‘real man,’ I wanted to figure things out on my own.” “I felt like the walls were closing in on me. One day, I simply caved in. When I left [my first therapy session], I still had tears in my eyes. I felt blessed that I had found such a good therapist right away.” “Six days later, I scored my first goal of the season. I could feel the difference. The air was fresher. My feet were lighter. My mind was clearer.” “Seven months later, I won the MLS Young Player of the Year. Gradually, I became the father I wanted to be. As a dad, you can’t be angry all the time. You can’t lock yourself in your room all day. Your highs and lows can’t be extreme. You have to be the rock for your family,” “The more therapy I’ve done, the more I’ve realized I can’t be the only one who would benefit from this kind of help.” “I’ve played for three clubs in four states. I’ve had a son at 19. I can honestly say that, without help, I’d be a lost cause.” “Without therapy, I might be one of those names that make people go, ‘Ah yeah, Diego Luna … What happened to him?’” “If you can relate to what I’m telling you here, please try it out. Don’t wait. Too many people suffer in silence until their 40s and 50s. It’s not cool to be depressed and ‘tough.’” “Getting help is the brave thing to do. I’m telling you that as a friend. Open the door. Get out of the darkness. You don’t have to do this alone.” [via The Players’ Tribune]