"I was dying inside" - DeMar DeRozan continues opening up about dealing with depression in latest series of tweets
Newly signed Sacramento Kings star forward DeMar DeRozan continued opening up about his mental health struggles Sunday. In a series of social media posts, the six-time All-Star outlined the emotional volatility associated with suffering from depression.
DeRozan has been one of the NBA's biggest mental health advocates since 2018 when he first made his struggles public. His outspokenness regarding his ongoing battle with depression has consistently brought attention to the importance of athletes prioritizing their mental well-being.
On Tuesday, DeRozan released his autobiography "Above the Noise: My Story of Chasing Calm," chronicling his off-court journey to help others "not suffer alone." His memoir covers everything from his gang-surrounded childhood in Compton, California, to the devastating loss of his father, Frank DeRozan, in 2021.
Less than a week after his book release, DeRozan continued a similar dialogue on X/Twitter, publishing three consecutive poignant tweets.
"My heart's so big my scars won’t heal. I get so sick and tired even trying to fix it," DeRozan began.
"I was dying inside, dealing with depression, really lying to myself," he continued.
"Intelligence overrides ill intent. Now I gotta fall back, disappear," DeRozan concluded.
It's unclear if DeRozan was referencing his past struggles outlined in his autobiography or dealing with a new bout of depression. Nevertheless, fans on X quickly encouraged him in droves.
"Hang in there, DeMar. You are the man," @JOSHofLA said.
"We all feel bad at times. Life isn't always gonna be that way. Sunny days are near," @whatdoy18483481 wrote.
"You help a lot of people struggling with mental health, DeMar. We love you, brother. God bless you," @tottihoops said.
"Praying for you, brother. It’s a hard thing to work through. But you aren’t alone," @EjsDad wrote.
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DeMar DeRozan hopes more athletes will showcase vulnerability to fans
DeMar DeRozan has seemingly paved the way for more athletes, like Miami Heat veteran forward Kevin Love, to open up about their mental health struggles. However, according to the three-time All-NBA selectee, he desires to see additional players showcase vulnerability to fans.
During an interview with The Athletic's Sam Amick Wednesday, DeRozan touched on the difficulty of living up to expectations as a star athlete. Afterward, he highlighted the importance of players being as transparent as possible with their fanbases to humanize themselves.
"[Vulnerability] goes a long way, especially for us as athletes being looked at like we’re superheroes at times," DeRozan said. "You never really get to see the Clark Kent side. Everybody always sees us saving the day, doing something heroic and not knowing that at the end of the day when you take off that suit, there’s a lot of things that you carry."
DeMar DeRozan is entering his 16th NBA season and first with Sacramento after joining the franchise via a three-year, $73.9 million sign-and-trade deal this offseason. While DeRozan appears to be approaching his career's stretch run, he should continue being a prominent mental health advocate well past his eventual retirement.
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