Shaun Murphy opens up on 'life saving' stomach surgery and battle with 'complete full depression'
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Updated 13/01/2023 at 22:08 GMT
Shaun Murphy has his confidence back heading into the second half of the 2022/23 snooker season, and he attributes his improved mental attitude to the gastric sleeve surgery he had last year. He has slimmed down and is far more confident, and playing better snooker as a result. Stream the 2023 Masters and more top snooker action live and on-demand on discovery+ and eurosport.co.uk
'Changed my life from top to bottom' - Murphy talks depression and stomach surgery
Shaun Murphy feels the stomach operation he had last year saved his life.
The 2005 world champion underwent a gastric sleeve operation after his weight ballooned and he was left feeling depressed.
Murphy feels he would have been signed off with depression had he visited a doctor to talk through his problems.
But he elected for an operation in a bid to combat issues with his weight, and he feels it was the best thing he could have done.
“The surgery that I had in May last year has changed my life from top to bottom,” Murphy told Eurosport. “I think whilst I did not go to see a doctor, had I have done I think someone would have signed me off with complete full depression.
“I was in a very, very bad state mentally.”
Murphy said he was so down he did not want to go outdoors, and it resulted in him piling on weight.
“My self esteem was through the floor and I did not want to go out and play,” he said. “I did not want to leave the house and that spiralled into feeling miserable and eating more.
“I don't think it is too extreme to say it was life saving for me.
“I was in a very dark place mentally and did not really speak about it.”
Murphy feels his upbringing prevented him from seeking help earlier in life.
“As a kid you are taught, certainly the way I was brought up, you don’t really talk about these things," he said. “It is the way now of course, everyone is encouraged to speak up, but it was not the way I was raised.
“Fighting against that DNA of chin up, push on. Sometimes you have to chin down and stop. And I wish I had done that 20 years ago.”
Murphy is in action against Stuart Bingham in the quarter-finals of the Masters on Friday.
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Stream the 2023 Masters and more top snooker action live and on-demand on discovery+ and eurosport.co.uk
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