"It was an accumulation of things. I had not been well for a while. I had anxiety for 18 months and it became depression. You try to be strong, maybe because of the roots you have, where you come from, to move forward, but I did not feel good. It was not just related to sport, it was also on a family and personal level. I didn't feel myself and that moment [the red card at Chelsea] served as a click to say: 'Something is happening, I need to ask for help.' I am the type of person that usually keeps everything to myself, but you have to understand there are professionals that can help you, that can give you the tools to manage certain situations. I needed to ask for help and explain what I was going through to be able to recover."
"I have learned a lot in this time. I feel different, happier. I can enjoy what I do, which is play football, and that helps a lot. You see things from another point of view. I feel that the worst has now passed."
Araújo experienced anxiety for 18 months that developed into depression, affecting his sporting, family and personal life. After being sent off at Stamford Bridge he recognised he needed help and asked Barcelona for a mental health break. He sought professional support, visited religious sites in Bethlehem and Jerusalem, and spent time with family in Uruguay during the break. He returned to training in January, made substitute appearances, and scored on his first start after the break in a Copa del Rey quarterfinal. He reports learning from the experience, feeling happier, and enjoying football again.
Read at ESPN.com
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