In May 2013, Cavan goalkeeper Alan O'Mara spoke publicly about his battle with depression.
The Bailieborough Shamrocks goalkeeper spoke to Newstalk Breakfast on Tuesday morning about his new book "The Best Is Yet To Come" and how he hit his "rock bottom"
"It was a challenge game against NUIG". O'Mara told Colette Fitzpatrick. I've no idea if we won or lost the game. I dont even remember who was on the team. I was just lost in a blur. I was there, but I wasn't really there. My mind and my heart was just in different places."
"I saw my parents within a second or two of that, standing at my local church at my funeral in Bailieborough in Cavan. My mam's head was on my dad's shoulder crying... That was the moment for me where I went; 'somethings not right here and I need to get to the bottom of this'."
Pleasure to join @ColetteFitzIRL on @BreakfastNT to discuss my book 'The Best Is Yet To Come'. Great to see @AlanQuinlan1 too! @HachetteIre pic.twitter.com/JS1NYIVbkS
— Alan O'Mara (@AOMTHECAT) September 20, 2016
The 25-year-old admitted that before he was diagnosed with depression, he struggled to accept it.
"I did all the things you're not supposed to do. I kept it to myself. I hid it from friends and family. I put on a mask. I went out drinking more than I should have been. All the things that I know, now I shouldn't have been."
After coming through "rock bottom" he revealed that his relationships have become stronger with friends and family as a result of what's happened.
"Initially, I would have felt that admitting vulnerability or being honest about what I was going through would have weakened those relationships. In hindsight, it's absolutely strengthen them. That's something I'm grateful for."
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