(Photo: JOHN A. PAVONCELLO/York Dispatch)

(Photo: JOHN A. PAVONCELLO/York Dispatch)

Physical activity is often identified as a buffer against depression.

However, even athletes suffer from the disease and at times need extra help from family, friends, coaches, therapists, and doctors in order to return to regular activity.

York College of Pennsylvania guard Kelsey Murphy opened up to new Purpose 2 Play contributor, Brittany Alvarado, about her struggle with depression midway through her college basketball career.

“For me to feel the way I did, something bad had to have happened, but that wasn’t the case,” Murphy said. “It kind of came out of nowhere. We were having a great season on the court and school was going well. Everything on paper was going well. I started lacking motivation to do anything. My focus was when can I sleep, when can I nap today? There would be nights when I would be in so much emotional pain that I didn’t even understand where it was coming from that I would be in physical pain because I was so upset.”

We’ll let Alvarado’s video tell the rest of the story.

If you are an athlete or if you know an athlete struggling with depression, please take this opportunity to learn more about the disease.