Dele Alli ‘overwhelmed’ by support after revealing mental health struggles

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Dele Alli has acknowledged that he was taken aback by the reaction he received after giving an interview where he discussed his struggles with mental health due to his tumultuous upbringing.

During the summer, the 28-year-old made it known that he had experienced sexual abuse at the age of six. Consequently, at just eight years old, he began vending drugs, which eventually caused mental health challenges in his later years. Furthermore, he spoke about his reliance on sleeping pills, which caused him to seek treatment at a rehab facility.

During her appearance on Monday Night Football on Sky Sports, Alli spoke publicly for the first time since her interview and mentioned that she had mentioned that if she had aided just one person, that would have been enough.

I had a personal motive for doing it, but my goal was simply to assist even just a single person, and the reception and assistance I received from others was absolutely astounding.

"It was truly remarkable to witness how many individuals it assisted, and I feel extremely proud of its success."

According to Alli, sharing his issues with the public was a significant part of the journey that allowed him to gain valuable insights about himself. As a result, he was able to face a difficult time of injury with greater resilience.

The attacking player from Everton hasn't been on the field since he had to end his loan period at Besiktas in February last year because of issues with his hip. Furthermore, a problem with his groin has caused him to be unable to return to the team as of yet.

He remarked, "During the interview, I expressed how good I was feeling after coming out of rehab and how I was preparing myself for the game."

I've had to go through a lengthy process of learning how to be patient due to my injury. There have been many times where I've felt both positive and negative, but it was necessary for me to grasp this skill.

If you would have questioned me earlier, I would have said that injuries were the most difficult to cope with mentally. My previous injury lasted eight weeks which felt like an endless period of time.

If I had not undergone that procedure during the summer, enduring this for more than a year would have been very challenging for me.

I have sustained an injury, but fortunately, it appears to be nearing its conclusion. The discomfort associated with the injury serves as a source of inspiration for me, giving me the extra push I need to further my efforts.

"I had to develop my understanding of the virtue of patience, but it has only served to increase my motivation to return."