Wales star speaks on depression

David Cotterill, a former Wales international and Swansea star has revealed a long battle against depression and anxiety.

The 30-year old reveals that he never lacked anything in life but lack of mental peace almost made him fear to face the world.

“When you’re around others the conversations are flowing and you tend to not have time to think about it, you’re looking forward to going out to train. But there would be times when I finished training and I couldn’t wait to go and lie in bed. I’d be there for hours.” Cotterill revealed in an interview with BBC Sports.

“Particularly in the off-season, I’d just spend three or four days at a time not even eating, just thinking the worst things you can imagine and not actually sleeping at all. You’d stay there because you didn’t want to face the world,” he added.

He moved to the Premier league in 2005 in a 2 million pounds deal to Wigan from Bristol City.

“I had an Aston Martin, the big house, anything a person could want – but you can’t help what’s in the brain. It’s the most powerful tool you have and what you feel can block out everything you have. And when you’re fighting that battle every day, it takes its toll.” he admitted.

“When I didn’t have that, it would double, triple what you’d have in your head,” he says.

Cotterill enjoyed a career that spanned over 400 matches for Doncaster Rovers, Birmingham, Swansea, Wigan and Sheffield United.