I got the daggers in my back. Some of the powers-that-be in my sport wanted to screw me into the ground and show me up. They came after me politically. During that period, I went into a dark, depressive hole, which I had never experienced in my life.

I couldn't sleep at night and when I did fall asleep I couldn't get up in the mornings. I literally cried in the bed. The doctor told me, "You're like a guy coming back from the war where you need to be put asleep for a long time and give your brain a rest. You've come off your career high and you're now dealing with these various issues and you're mentally burnt out. But don't let these people drag you down any more."

100 Voices was published in the Hot Press Mental Health Special in conjunction with Lyons Tea and Pieta House as part of the Now We're Talking Campaign. For more please visit hotpress.com/now-were-talking/