\u201d[It is sometimes] demonised going to seek professional help. It\u2019s either weak or you are a fruit loop. It really helped me find help and understanding \u2026 you are not doing it alone. There are actually people to help you, be it through my family or professional help.\u201d<\/p>\n
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He admitted that after the knee injury he was partying and drinking and carrying on \u201clike an idiot\u201d, but that was his coping mechanism. He was dreading the rehabilitation process and was uncertain whether he could get back to playing. <\/p>\n
\u201cI was always one step forward two steps back in terms of my mental health since I was about 16 or 17 \u2026 I was a puppet to my emotions,\u201d Smith said.<\/p>\n
\u201c[I had] quite bad panic attacks, and really negative thoughts as well happening in my brain, and I was just being played by that.\u201d<\/p>\n
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After coming back from Europe in the second half of the 2024 season and beginning to think about the next phase of his career<\/a>, he decided he needed help to address his mental health challenges.<\/p>\n \u201cI used to think I don\u2019t want to go to speak to a psychologist and talk about my f—ing feelings [but] It\u2019s not like that. I found a really good one where it was more proactive. I\u2019m not just getting there and dumping how I feel. I used to think psychology was like that.<\/p>\n \u201cWe actually built a plan. It\u2019s similar to footy where we built a plan to work on these new skills and try to level up my emotional life and my football life.<\/p>\n \u201cThey set up a really good plan for me.\u201d<\/p>\n Smith said his move to the Surf Coast had been important for his wellbeing and his football, which he says remains the main driver in his life.<\/p>\n \u201cI chose the career of footy because I love it even though it gets a bit misconstrued now. Everyone thinks I love this off-field side, the modelling side of things, everything but the game but the game itself of football [has been] my main driver,\u201d Smith said.<\/p>\n Smith conceded that his behaviour during 2024 had tested relationships but his motivation to move was to take control of his life and career.<\/p>\n \u201cIt wasn\u2019t a flawless year last year I wasn\u2019t great in lots of areas of my life, but it takes you to not be great to be great in areas and get shit sorted,\u201d Smith said.<\/p>\n \u201dSometimes the hardest work is learning to switch off and not keep working, that\u2019s way harder,\u201d Smith said. \u201cIt\u2019s easy to get in the gym, easy to train, easy to keep locked in. It\u2019s way harder to take the foot off the gas and look inward and see it and replenish and recover mentally and physically.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI never wanted to be the pin-up boy for talking about mental health, because you\u2019re bound to cop backlash… But hopefully through some really unfortunate circumstances… now we\u2019re actually having to talk about it,\u201d Smith said.<\/p>\n \u201cReaching out and getting help \u2014 as much as your pride and that masculine nature says do it all yourself \u2014 you\u2019ll dig yourself a deeper hole if you don\u2019t. You\u2019ll be surprised how many people are willing to walk through it with you.\u201d<\/p>\n If you or someone you know needs support contact Lifeline on 13 11 14<\/a> or Beyond Blue<\/a> on 1300 22 4636. In the event of an emergency dial triple zero (000). Support is also available from MensLine<\/a> on 1300 78 99 78.<\/b><\/p>\n The Real Stuff podcast featuring Bailey Smith launches on Wednesday 28 May, and is available to listen to on stuffthatmatters.com, Spotify and Apple Podcasts.<\/strong><\/p>\n