Cleveland Cavaliers forward Kevin Love said he had a panic attack during a Nov. 5 game against the Atlanta Hawks, and opened up about how the experience has changed his view on mental health. In an essay published Tuesday for The Players’ Tribune, Love detailed what happened Nov. 5: “When I got to the bench, I felt my heart racing faster than usual. Then I was having trouble catching my breath. It’s hard to describe, but everything was spinning, like my brain was trying to climb out of my head. The air felt thick and heavy. My mouth was like chalk.” Love made his way back to the locker room as he experienced the attack. Accompanied by a member of the Cavaliers staff, Love was checked out at the Cleveland Clinic, where test results showed no physical injuries. The team later helped Love set up an appointment with a therapist. Love said that it was difficult for him to open up about his situation, but he now realizes that talking about his emotions is not a sign of weakness and hopes it helps raise awareness to the importance of mental health issues.
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