Monty Panesar reveals fight against mental health problems

Monty Panesar, England spinner, admitted to seeking medical advice to cope with feelings of anxiety and paranoia which stemmed from a loss of confidence and self-esteem.

Panesar, 34, admitted that he was prescribed medication but his reluctance to take the same further contributed to his problem.

"I didn't believe in medication. I have been brought up to say it isn't good for you. There are always side effects to every medication you take," Panesar told Professional Cricketers' Association (PCA) in an interview, on Wednesday (May 25).

Northamptonshire's Panesar, who is eyeing national comeback after spending three years out of the Test side, was released by Essex at the end of the 2015 domestic season for off-field issues and later acknowledged mental health issues. The spinner admitted that he 'lived in denial for quite a long time' before finally realizing the need to seek professional help.

"As sportspeople, you pride yourself on being mentally strong and ruthless, all the attributes that lead to competitive performance. But when you have a weakness in you, you don't really want to open up to it. You always want to show that you are strong. The quicker you open up the quicker you will get the support and the help," he said.

"I went on medication. It calmed things down in my mind and took away the symptoms of being paranoid. The people who were helping me did see a change. They said to me it would it take three to six months to get back to where I need to be. You have got to take one step at a time and be patient with the whole process and eventually have the faith that things will get better," the left-armer added.

Panesar, a 50-Test veteran, has now switched to the other side of the table and is using his experiences to work as a mental health ambassador for the PCA.

"The signs that you can spot in other people in a dressing room is if they are very isolated and don't engage with the whole team," the spinner told BBC Sport. "Once a cricketer gets isolated, they are signs that you really should look after that person."

Panesar, who has taken 167 wickets at an average of 34.71 in 50 Tests, last played a Test during the 2013 Ashes series in Australia at the Melbourne Cricket Ground.