The England Test captain talks to Ali Martin about a new documentary, panic attacks, coping with grief and wanting to walk away from cricket
In an arresting early scene in Ben Stokes: Phoenix from the Ashes, which is released this week on Prime Video, a gaunt Stokes, eyes red and sunken, is seen biting his bottom lip nervously. He is two weeks into what became a four-month break from the sport and telling, the renowned director and the interviewer/narrator for this project, about the spate of anxiety attacks that made him consider retiring.
“I didn’t know what was happening,” he says. “The best way to explain it is, not a two-week thing but a huge buildup of multiple things over time. It’s like you’re a glass bottle, you keep putting things in there and eventually over time there’s no more room and it smashes. That’s what happened in Nottingham – the bottle smashed. But it’s hard to remember what happened, I can’t really explain it.”
His eventual route out? “It was a case of completely stepping away from sport. And speaking to a clinical psychologist, someone who could understand what I was feeling and tell me what my brain is doing, why it’s happening.“But it’s not done just because I’m back playing. I still speak to the doc, not as regularly, and I’m still taking medication every day. It’s an ongoing process.”
Australia Latest News, Australia Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
‘Remarkable’ $13 million mansion where J-Lo married Ben Affleck - realestate.com.auIt’s the home that reminds of one of the most famous Hollywood movies of all time and a property gone full circle like the relationship between J-Lo and Ben Affleck. Look around the grounds 👉
Read more »
Brendon McCullum suggests England not hard enough against South AfricaCoach’s assessment of innings defeat at Lord’s at odds with Ben Stokes but minimal changes expected for Old Trafford
Read more »
David Warner ends months of speculation with bombshell BBL call.davidwarner31 is returning to the bbl with the ThunderBBL in CricketAus' biggest coup for the competition in years. 7NEWS
Read more »
Calls growing for return of iconic Supercars raceIs it time Supercars brought back the Bathurst 1000 curtain raiser? 🤔 9WWOS Supercars
Read more »
Skills investment a ‘priority’ for Albanese governmentEmployment Minister Brendan O’Connor says it’s a “priority” of the Albanese government to invest in skills and Australia’s workforce. “It’s really important for employers to get the skills they’re crying out for, it’s very important that working people have the skills in demand so they have secure jobs and career progression,” he said. “And it’s also important for consumers because a skilled labour market is a productive labour market, and a productive labour market means downward pressure on prices.”
Read more »
Qantas Frequent Flyers to get discount vouchers today after CEO's apologyAlan Joyce says it's 'not good enough' that Qantas customers have been been dealing with flight delays, cancellations and lost baggage over the past few months.
Read more »