Ronnie O’Sullivan describes his battle with addiction and depression as the worst time of his life.
Ronnie O’Sullivan, who lost his 1998 Irish Masters crown due to cannabis testing, has been struggling with depression and drug and alcohol addiction since his inception.
Ronnie O’Sullivan, a renowned snooker player, has faced depression and substance abuse, describing it as the worst time of his life. Despite his success, O’Sullivan has struggled with mental health issues, including alcohol and drug abuse. He holds 21 Triple Crown titles and seven World Snooker Championship titles.
World No 1 O’Sullivan discusses his mental health struggles and struggles with maintaining his top-tier status, citing a six-year spiral of drug and alcohol abuse as a result of his unhealthy obsession with maintaining his performance.
O’Sullivan, a snooker player, has struggled with addiction due to his obsession with perfection. He has struggled to find happiness outside the sport, leading to addiction battles. Football legends Jamie Carragher and Roy Keane also shared similar sentiments, highlighting the importance of balancing healthy obsession with overdoing it. O’Sullivan has been working to manage his addictions and find a balance between snooker and happiness.
The author explains how keeping a diary and practicing for 120 days away from home can help manage obsessiveness in sports. They set small limits and stick to them, avoiding distractions like phones during tournaments. This helps avoid burnout and over-practice, which can lead to blisters on fingers and difficulty in playing at tournaments. The author emphasizes the importance of finding the optimum level of practice and not getting out of control, as it can lead to better performance and overall well-being.
O’Sullivan, working with sports psychologist Steve Peters, improved his self-confidence and mentality by reducing overtraining and practicing out of guilt, focusing on financial gains rather than feeling guilty about insufficient performance.
