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AB de Villiers Reveals Struggles with Anxiety and Sleeping Pills
Former South African cricket captain AB de Villiers has opened up about his experience with anxiety and using sleeping pills before high-pressure games. This revelation came after Australian cricketer Steve Smith discussed his own sleep struggles, and footballer Dele Alli shared his problems with sleeping pills.
A Stellar Career
De Villiers, known as one of the greatest cricketers of his time, represented South Africa in 228 ODIs, 114 Tests, and 78 T20Is. He scored a total of 8765 runs in ODIs, 9577 runs in Tests, and 1672 runs in T20Is. Additionally, he achieved the impressive feat of scoring over 5000 runs in the Indian Premier League (IPL) while playing for the Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) franchise.
Mental Pressure and Sleeping Pills
Discussing Smith and Alli’s experiences on his official YouTube channel, De Villiers admitted to facing significant mental pressure during his playing days and relying on sleeping pills. However, he cautioned other athletes against making sleeping tablets a regular habit.
De Villiers shared, “I can relate to this because I had similar issues before big games, really struggling to sleep. Sleeping tablets helped me fall asleep, and it can become a problem after a while because the tablet not only helps you sleep but also makes you feel relaxed and less anxious.”
The 2015 World Cup Match
De Villiers recalled a specific incident before a crucial match against the West Indies in the 2015 World Cup. Despite only getting 2-3 hours of sleep and experiencing stomach cramps due to anxiety, he managed to score a century in one of the best performances of his career. He even had to seek medical assistance and receive an injection to alleviate his symptoms.
He shared, “It was just those lonely times in the hotel room, thinking, ‘I have to do this again tomorrow, I have to do it again.’ It just never stopped, ultimately creating a bit of anxiety within myself. I also used sleeping tablets from time to time, especially before big games. Sleeping tablets can be so addictive that sometimes you start taking them when you don’t really need them. That’s where it becomes the problem.”
De Villiers concluded by emphasizing the importance of finding healthier ways to manage anxiety and stress, rather than relying on sleeping pills.
