Jacare Souza talar ut om den psykiska ohälsan

Den tidigare mellanviktsmästaren i Strikeforce tillika toppfighter i UFC, Ronaldo Jacare Souza, har nyligen brottats med problem kopplade till psykisk ohälsa. Problemen fick honom nästan att pensionera sig från MMA-sporten.

”Jag var utbränd”

I en intervju med MMA Fighting diskuterade brasilianaren om hur situationen har påverkat honom under den senaste tiden och att professionel hjälp ledde till en förbättring. Transkribering via ’MMA Fighting’

Man, I was thinking about stopping (fighting). I had a psychological problem, I was burned out. I would drive to the gym and cry in the car and say, ‘Man, what am I doing going to the gym? My wife found a psychologist for me, I’m working on that once a week, and that has helped me a lot. I’m super happy with the opportunity of going back to fighting, I’m happy and excited and training like never before. There are a lot of good things happening in my life. Three months ago, I was crying on my way to the gym, tears would come out of my eyes and I didn’t know why. ‘What am I doing, man? I’ll stop fighting, I don’t want this for my life.’ And all of a sudden things were new again. I have the opportunity to headline a card, I’m excited again, I’m training, you know? ‘Dede’ Pederneiras has been phenomenal, he’s helped me a lot as well. I have no words for him. I already admired him before and now that we’re working together I admire him even more.

”Har hittat roten till problemet”

Jacare menar att hans psykolog har kommit underfund med vad som ligger till grund för brasilianarens ohälsa. Dock vill han inte gå in närmare på vad det rör sig om.

It’s something that I won’t mention, it won’t be positive for anyone if I mention that, but we’ve identified it. Everyone has problems. Where I came from, if someone told me I was having psychological problems I would say, ‘Brother, this guy is crazy. Are you eating crap?’ I would say something like that. I have no problem talking about it, I think it’s actually good so people identify that as well. Some people think that those who kill themselves are the ones who have problems, and that’s not cool.

Jacare återvänder till buren den 16 november. För första gången i UFC kommer brasilianaren gå en match i divisionen för lätt tungvikt. En av Polens största MMA-stjärnor, Jan Blachowicz, kommer stå för motståndet och drabbningen kommer agera huvudmatch under FC Sao Paulo.