"Even contemplated giving up" - Luke Humphries nearly left darts amid mental health problems

Luke Humphries is the current world number one and reigning world champion. Yet his path to the top has often been difficult.

Humphries regularly struggled with mental issues early in his career. “I’m proud of the way I battled the demons in my head. Speak to the people who are closest to you the most, they’re the people who are there in the toughest moments," he said to TOYO Tires.

“My journey has not been straightforward. It’s been really tough. I went through anxiety and mental health through my career. It’s stopped me back a little bit. I went out and spoke to the right people and got it sorted. I even contemplated giving up the sport. In that moment I felt really alone.

“But I spoke to the right people and I stand here as a world champion and world No.1. For me that makes me me proud than anything, the way I battled back through the things that were going on in my head. It just proves if you put your mind to anything, you can overcome a lot.”

Open and honest

Humphries realizes that talking about it is necessary. "I was really open and honest about it. It was affecting me on the big stage. People knew there was something wrong with me.

“I wasn’t acting my normal self up there. So it was important for me to just be honest and let it out into the open. I didn’t feel ashamed by it. I think I got a lot if support from it from players and other people in general.

“I get a lot of messages on social media from people saying they admire how I was openly honest about it in my sport. In certain sports they don’t do it enough. I love being an advocate to raise awareness that it’s normal. A lot of people go through it. If you do, you’re still a normal person.

Message

Humphries therefore has a clear message for other people struggling with mental problems.

“My message is to speak to people close to you the most. Your family are the people who will be there in the tough moments more than anybody.

“If you don’t think you can do that, then your friends or professional help, maybe a doctor or someone who can guide you in the right way. I did that and it really helped me. I’m in a really good headspace now."