'I’ve been extremely sad, devastated, floored' - Michael Clarke's heart-wrenching account of mental health struggles

Former Australian captain Michael Clarke has made a startling revelation on the "Mental As Anyone" podcast, as he has openly admitted that he is suffering from a mental disorder. Clarke surprisingly revealed that she has never been medically diagnosed with depression, despite a lot of sadness and pain.

Clarke, known for his fiery leadership and impressive cricketing career, revealed that he has faced intense periods of sadness, including the overwhelming grief of losing loved ones and the crushing weight of personal tragedies.

Michael Clarke opens up about emotional battles

Despite these emotional battles, the former Australia Cricket Team captain has never sought medical advice or undergone a formal diagnosis of obsessive-compulsive disorder.

In an eye-opening confession, Clarke revealed that while he has experienced deep sorrow and described days when he was unable to function, he has not pursued medical treatment for depression. His revelations raised questions about the often-hidden struggles of high-profile stars.

Michael Clarke said on the Mental As Anyone podcast: “I have never been checked; I think it is a given. It is like ADD; it’s a given. Definitely, ask my parents; you don’t need to take me to a doctor. I’ve certainly been extremely sad, devastated, floored, can’t move for days, and can’t get out of bed.

Losing family members, losing a couple of my closest friends, so I think I’ve felt the deepest sadness, but I think it was sadness. I don’t know if it was depression. I’ve never gone to a doctor to be diagnosed with depression, for example, or to seek medication for depression.”

Despite being a successful cricketer, Clarke's personal life has seen its share of difficulties. His engagement to girlfriend Lara Bingle was called off under mysterious circumstances.

Additionally, Clarke and Kyly Boldy, who married in May 2012, announced their separation in February 2020. On the health front, Clarke faced a health scare when he had skin cancer surgically removed from his forehead in September 2019.

Michael Clarke admits being one of the most polarised figures

Meanwhile, the former Australian cricket captain has acknowledged that he may have deserved some of the criticism he faced during his career. He also admitted that his passion for fashion and cars, along with the intense scrutiny of his personal life, has made him one of the most polarizing figures.

Clarke signed off by saying, “I think I probably deserved a bit of what I copped, but I played a sport that tradition and history are massive parts of, and I probably didn’t abide; you know, I didn’t swim between the flags as such. I think it’s fair to say that I polarized.

Some people liked me as a person, some people didn't, and naturally, when you’re playing sport at the highest level, the judgment is made before people get to know you; those decisions that I made that probably people didn’t agree with were fair enough as well.”

Notably, Clarke had led Australia to World Cup glory in 2015. With 8,643 runs in Tests and 7,981 runs in ODIs to his name, Clarke was one of the most talented players of his generation, but his career was marred by controversies and intense public scrutiny. He smashed 28 centuries and 27 fifties in Tests and 8 centuries and 58 fifties in ODIs in his career apart from scoring 488 runs in 34 T20Is.