---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I don't think I suffered with depression…"
description: "\"I don't think I suffered with depression, I don't think I'm a depressed type of person - I just think I suffered a depression to do with snooker, and I..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2e3/ronnie-o-sullivan-27279_depressed_i-don-t-think-i-suffered-with-depression_20498.jpg"
---

#  I don't think I suffered with depression, I don't think…

![“I don't think I suffered with depression, I don't think I'm a depressed type of person - I just think I suffered a depression to do with snooker, and I just couldn't handle it. I could go out and play, but take me out of there and I couldn't do life. It was a nightmare, my life just felt like a…” quote by Ronnie O'Sullivan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2e3/ronnie-o-sullivan-27279_depressed_i-don-t-think-i-suffered-with-depression_20498.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2e3/ronnie-o-sullivan-27279_depressed_i-don-t-think-i-suffered-with-depression_20498.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2e3/ronnie-o-sullivan-27279_depressed_i-don-t-think-i-suffered-with-depression_20498.jpg)

> “I don't think I suffered with depression, I don't think I'm a depressed type of person - I just think I suffered a depression to do with snooker, and I just couldn't handle it. I could go out and play, but take me out of there and I couldn't do life. It was a nightmare, my life just felt like a bit of a nightmare.”

[Ronnie O'Sullivan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronnie-o-sullivan/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

He describes a situational depression triggered by competitive pressure, not a chronic mental illness, emphasizing how intense focus on a sport can destabilize everyday functioning.

**In simple terms:** Performance anxiety can cause temporary depressive states.

Key Takeaway

High-stakes environments may induce mental distress.

Themes

mental health performance pressure sports psychology identity coping mechanisms

Mood

frustrated vulnerable reflective

Type

personal anecdote testimonial

When to use this quote

- professional tournaments
- training sessions
- post-match downtime
- media interviews
- personal reflection

Key Concepts

depression stress competition self-efficacy

Practical Applications

- mental health support for athletes
- stress management workshops

Questions to Reflect On

- How can athletes differentiate between situational distress and clinical depression?
- What support structures help maintain mental balance during high-pressure events?

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Depressed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/depressed/) [Depression](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/depression/) [Depression Snooker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/depression-snooker-395573/) [Felt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/felt/) [Handle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/handle/) [Nightmare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nightmare/) [Persons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/persons/) [Play](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/play/) [Snooker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/snooker/) [Suffered Depression](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/suffered-depression-395574/) [Think Depressed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/think-depressed-395575/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) [Type](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/type/) [Type of person](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/type-of-person/)

## Related quotes

> [It gives me Joy how haters think I'm being depressed with their actions; I think it gonna make them cry to know that, I'm…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/swag-jagar/it-gives-me-joy-how-haters-think-i-m-being-depressed-with-their/)

[Swag Jagar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/swag-jagar/)

> [Some people think they're depressed and they go to the doctor and want pills. And you just think: 'You hate where you live, you've…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/graham-norton/some-people-think-they-re-depressed-and-they-go-to-the-doctor-and/)

[Graham Norton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/graham-norton/)

> [That's a horrible thought. I guess cheese or wine. I think I might be too depressed to eat if I had to eat only…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachael-ray/that-s-a-horrible-thought-i-guess-cheese-or-wine-i-think-i-might-be/)

[Rachael Ray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachael-ray/)

> [My dad's method in his madness was to try every sport and then observe what I liked. I played football, tennis, golf, cricket but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronnie-o-sullivan/my-dad-s-method-in-his-madness-was-to-try-every-sport-and-then/)

[Ronnie O'Sullivan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronnie-o-sullivan/)

> [I've been semi-successful. I've done all right but I'm not the player I was. Who do I think will win the world championship? John…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronnie-o-sullivan/i-ve-been-semi-successful-i-ve-done-all-right-but-i-m-not-the-player/)

[Ronnie O'Sullivan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronnie-o-sullivan/)

> [The most important thing, the biggest love of my life, is my snooker. I've never been so emotionally ingrained in something - in a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronnie-o-sullivan/the-most-important-thing-the-biggest-love-of-my-life-is-my-snooker-i/)

[Ronnie O'Sullivan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronnie-o-sullivan/)

> [The most important thing, the biggest love of my life, is my snooker. Ive never been so emotionally ingrained in something - in a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronnie-o-sullivan/the-most-important-thing-the-biggest-love-of-my-life-is-my-snooker/)

[Ronnie O'Sullivan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronnie-o-sullivan/)

> [I've suffered through depression and anxiety my entire life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lady-gaga/i-ve-suffered-through-depression-and-anxiety-my-entire-life/)

[Lady Gaga](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lady-gaga/)

> [“Because I have suffered from depression and anxiety for so much of my life, it has turned into a constant manifestation that I don't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/madisyn-taylor/because-i-have-suffered-from-depression-and-anxiety-for-so-much-of-my/)

[Madisyn Taylor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/madisyn-taylor/)

> [I probably suffered with depression.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-arthur/i-probably-suffered-with-depression/)

[James Arthur](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-arthur/)

> [I suffered from depression for 50 years. But now I go to a therapist once a week, purely to have a conversation and to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brenda-fricker/i-suffered-from-depression-for-50-years-but-now-i-go-to-a-therapist/)

[Brenda Fricker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brenda-fricker/)

> [“Many will have suffered depression as teenagers or young women, so they’ll be familiar with that stigma, the way treatment involves judgement. It shouldn’t,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-hilary/many-will-have-suffered-depression-as-teenagers-or-young-women-so/)

[Sarah Hilary](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-hilary/)

> [I had suffered from depression in my childhood.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roland-orzabal/i-had-suffered-from-depression-in-my-childhood/)

[Roland Orzabal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roland-orzabal/)

> [“The off-drug patients also suffered less from depression, blunted emotions, and retarded movements. Indeed, they told Carpenter and McGlashan that they had found it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-whitaker/the-off-drug-patients-also-suffered-less-from-depression-blunted/)

[Robert Whitaker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-whitaker/)

> [Since I come from a family of mental instability, and I have suffered depression myself, I knew that living in shame is senseless and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mariel-hemingway/since-i-come-from-a-family-of-mental-instability-and-i-have-suffered/)

[Mariel Hemingway](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mariel-hemingway/)

## More by Ronnie O'Sullivan

> [The most important thing, the biggest love of my life, is my snooker. Ive never been so emotionally ingrained in something - in a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronnie-o-sullivan/the-most-important-thing-the-biggest-love-of-my-life-is-my-snooker/)

[Ronnie O'Sullivan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronnie-o-sullivan/)

> [I've been semi-successful. I've done all right but I'm not the player I was. Who do I think will win the world championship? John…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronnie-o-sullivan/i-ve-been-semi-successful-i-ve-done-all-right-but-i-m-not-the-player/)

[Ronnie O'Sullivan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronnie-o-sullivan/)

> [Looking for perfection is the only way to motivate yourself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronnie-o-sullivan/looking-for-perfection-is-the-only-way-to-motivate-yourself/)

[Ronnie O'Sullivan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronnie-o-sullivan/)

> [It's not an irrational decision, I've been thinking about this for quite a while and maybe it'll be good for me \[on his career…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronnie-o-sullivan/it-s-not-an-irrational-decision-i-ve-been-thinking-about-this-for/)

[Ronnie O'Sullivan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronnie-o-sullivan/)

> [“I just want to live for the moment. Tomorrow's not important, next month is not important, what's happened in the past is not important.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronnie-o-sullivan/i-just-want-to-live-for-the-moment-tomorrow-s-not-important-next/)

[Ronnie O'Sullivan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronnie-o-sullivan/)

> [ My hearts not been in it this year \[2005\], and I've not been playing well, but I keep on winning. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronnie-o-sullivan/my-hearts-not-been-in-it-this-year-2005-and-i-ve-not-been-playing/)

[Ronnie O'Sullivan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronnie-o-sullivan/)

> [“A champion thinks: ‘That’s going in the hole, pot the blue and get on to the pink; that’s the shot.’ Embrace the moment, I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronnie-o-sullivan/a-champion-thinks-that-s-going-in-the-hole-pot-the-blue-and-get-on-to/)

[Ronnie O'Sullivan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronnie-o-sullivan/)

> [I do entertain a lot of negative thoughts and I haven't got any self-belief. But I haven't done bad for someone without any self-belief.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronnie-o-sullivan/i-do-entertain-a-lot-of-negative-thoughts-and-i-haven-t-got-any-self/)

[Ronnie O'Sullivan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronnie-o-sullivan/)

> [The most important thing, the biggest love of my life, is my snooker. I've never been so emotionally ingrained in something - in a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronnie-o-sullivan/the-most-important-thing-the-biggest-love-of-my-life-is-my-snooker-i/)

[Ronnie O'Sullivan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronnie-o-sullivan/)

> [At this moment I am feeling disappointed with myself and I am hurt and numb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronnie-o-sullivan/at-this-moment-i-am-feeling-disappointed-with-myself-and-i-am-hurt/)

[Ronnie O'Sullivan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronnie-o-sullivan/)

> [The relentless pursuit of perfection has been my problem over the years. It's maybe held me back.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronnie-o-sullivan/the-relentless-pursuit-of-perfection-has-been-my-problem-over-the/)

[Ronnie O'Sullivan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronnie-o-sullivan/)

> [“It's so strange that the more successful you become, the more people want to give you things. And the more you can afford, the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronnie-o-sullivan/it-s-so-strange-that-the-more-successful-you-become-the-more-people/)

[Ronnie O'Sullivan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronnie-o-sullivan/)

> [“So, all in all, the whore's drawers are back up, and with any luck they'll stay that way.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronnie-o-sullivan/so-all-in-all-the-whore-s-drawers-are-back-up-and-with-any-luck-they/)

[Ronnie O'Sullivan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronnie-o-sullivan/)

> [Today I got so annoyed with myself that I lost my patience and walked away from a game that, with hindsight, I should have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronnie-o-sullivan/today-i-got-so-annoyed-with-myself-that-i-lost-my-patience-and-walked/)

[Ronnie O'Sullivan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronnie-o-sullivan/)

> [I know what I want to do and there's no point giving my secrets away.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronnie-o-sullivan/i-know-what-i-want-to-do-and-there-s-no-point-giving-my-secrets-away/)

[Ronnie O'Sullivan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronnie-o-sullivan/)

[Explore all 20 Ronnie O'Sullivan quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronnie-o-sullivan/)

## More Depressed quotes

> [I get very anti-social, depressed and irritable with people. I don't have time for them. I can't make phone calls and stuff. I just…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simon-cowell/i-get-very-anti-social-depressed-and-irritable-with-people-i-don-t/)

[Simon Cowell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simon-cowell/)

> [Most people do surprisingly poorly when dealing with a relative who is hurting, depressed, or anxious - we get defensive and try to solve…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-d-burns/most-people-do-surprisingly-poorly-when-dealing-with-a-relative-who/)

[David D. Burns](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-d-burns/)

> [Like everybody, you get nights where you feel completely depressed. You start thinking about all the bad things and think about the glass half…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lights/like-everybody-you-get-nights-where-you-feel-completely-depressed-you/)

[Lights](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lights/)

> [I was always very depressed, even when I was a youngster.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ricky-hatton/i-was-always-very-depressed-even-when-i-was-a-youngster/)

[Ricky Hatton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ricky-hatton/)

> [I'm hurt all the time. I don't want to cry for the way I feel inside. I just want someone to hold me... I'm…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-m-hurt-all-the-time-i-don-t-want-to-cry-for-the-way-i-feel-inside-i/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [For me being depressed means you can spend all day in bed, and still not get a good night's rest.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judith-guest/for-me-being-depressed-means-you-can-spend-all-day-in-bed-and-still/)

[Judith Guest](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judith-guest/)

> [Im not depressed. Just stressed and confused. Im not happy at all. I smile sometimes. And I laugh most times. I honestly dont know…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/im-not-depressed-just-stressed-and-confused-im-not-happy-at-all-i/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [Life is to short to being living with stress I'm to young to be all depressed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/life-is-to-short-to-being-living-with-stress-i-m-to-young-to-be-all/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [I've definitely had times in my life where I've been depressed and not able to do anything at all.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melanie-lynskey/i-ve-definitely-had-times-in-my-life-where-i-ve-been-depressed-and/)

[Melanie Lynskey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melanie-lynskey/)

> [I got really depressed when Sidney Moncrief lost to Larry Bird. That really depressed me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-besser/i-got-really-depressed-when-sidney-moncrief-lost-to-larry-bird-that/)

[Matt Besser](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-besser/)

> [I got into the music business thinking it was really radical, that it wasn't really a business at all, that it was a lot…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thom-yorke/i-got-into-the-music-business-thinking-it-was-really-radical-that-it/)

[Thom Yorke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thom-yorke/)

> [I was depressed. I knew I was lost, but I had no idea how to find myself again. It was as though I was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yasmina-khadra/i-was-depressed-i-knew-i-was-lost-but-i-had-no-idea-how-to-find/)

[Yasmina Khadra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yasmina-khadra/)

> [Everything that gave her pleasure was small and depressed him.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/flannery-o-connor/everything-that-gave-her-pleasure-was-small-and-depressed-him/)

[Flannery O'Connor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/flannery-o-connor/)

> [If I don't do high-intensity interval training classes for an hour every morning and yoga a few days a week, I get depressed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/davinia-taylor/if-i-don-t-do-high-intensity-interval-training-classes-for-an-hour/)

[Davinia Taylor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/davinia-taylor/)

> [The period from 2001 to 2005 was really tough. My films were not working even though there was an acceptance of a model. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arjun-rampal/the-period-from-2001-to-2005-was-really-tough-my-films-were-not/)

[Arjun Rampal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arjun-rampal/)

[Browse all 1,033 Depressed quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/depressed/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "I don't think I suffered with depression, I don't think I'm a depressed type of person - I just think I suffered a depression to do with snooker, and I just couldn't handle it. I could go out and play, but take me out of there and I couldn't do life. It was a nightmare, my life just felt like a bit of a nightmare.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Ronnie O'Sullivan"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronnie-o-sullivan/i-don-t-think-i-suffered-with-depression-i-don-t-think-i-m-a/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Depressed"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronnie-o-sullivan/i-don-t-think-i-suffered-with-depression-i-don-t-think-i-m-a/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2e3/ronnie-o-sullivan-27279_depressed_i-don-t-think-i-suffered-with-depression_20498.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2e3/ronnie-o-sullivan-27279_depressed_i-don-t-think-i-suffered-with-depression_20498.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2e3/ronnie-o-sullivan-27279_depressed_i-don-t-think-i-suffered-with-depression_20498.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“I don't think I suffered with depression, I don't think I'm a depressed type of person - I just think I…” — Ronnie O'Sullivan",
                "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
                "creator": {
                    "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
                }
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "BreadcrumbList",
            "itemListElement": [
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 1,
                    "name": "Home",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 2,
                    "name": "Quotes",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 3,
                    "name": "Ronnie O'Sullivan",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronnie-o-sullivan/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "I don't think I suffered with...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronnie-o-sullivan/i-don-t-think-i-suffered-with-depression-i-don-t-think-i-m-a/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronnie-o-sullivan/i-don-t-think-i-suffered-with-depression-i-don-t-think-i-m-a/#breadcrumb"
        },
        {
            "@type": "WebSite",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "publisher": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "Organization",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "logo": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png",
                "width": 512,
                "height": 512
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
