Ricky Hatton RIP

We all know that Ricky struggled with mental health and other issues.

In the late 80s i struggled too. I was fortunate to survive numerous suicide attempts. I used to keep it secret but then lost a friend and was left wondering, if i'd been open, would he have talked to me? would he still be here? So i decided to be very open. Nearly 40 years later i'm incredibly happy, have built a wonderful family and i'm so grateful for it all. The example of how my life has changed is my message. Plus first hand experience of how it affects those around you. Since then I've never been the miserable type, always optimistic (so i'm allowed to be a happy clapper / foc btw). And i never take things too seriously. Oh and for me, money earnt is for making memories not for hoarding.

Anyway, if you too are struggling i'd be happy to chat in private. Especially if you're young and worried about the future.
 
Lord Blue said:
We all know that Ricky struggled with mental health and other issues.

In the late 80s i struggled too. I was fortunate to survive numerous suicide attempts. I used to keep it secret but then lost a friend and was left wondering, if i'd been open, would he have talked to me? would he still be here? So i decided to be very open. Nearly 40 years later i'm incredibly happy, have built a wonderful family and i'm so grateful for it all. The example of how my life has changed is my message. Plus first hand experience of how it affects those around you. Since then I've never been the miserable type, always optimistic (so i'm allowed to be a happy clapper / foc btw). And i never take things too seriously. Oh and for me, money earnt is for making memories not for hoarding.

Anyway, if you too are struggling i'd be happy to chat in private. Especially if you're young and worried about the future.
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A great offer @LB and as one who has been through the experience, your help could be so important to somebody in a similar situation.
 
Lord Blue said:
We all know that Ricky struggled with mental health and other issues.

In the late 80s i struggled too. I was fortunate to survive numerous suicide attempts. I used to keep it secret but then lost a friend and was left wondering, if i'd been open, would he have talked to me? would he still be here? So i decided to be very open. Nearly 40 years later i'm incredibly happy, have built a wonderful family and i'm so grateful for it all. The example of how my life has changed is my message. Plus first hand experience of how it affects those around you. Since then I've never been the miserable type, always optimistic (so i'm allowed to be a happy clapper / foc btw). And i never take things too seriously. Oh and for me, money earnt is for making memories not for hoarding.

Anyway, if you too are struggling i'd be happy to chat in private. Especially if you're young and worried about the future.
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Excellent words.

I unknowingly suffered from depression from the age of around 9 or 10 but didn’t start to consider my mental health until I was mid-twenties. I woke up one morning on a sunny spring morning and realised I had always hated the dark winter months. Probably because I was brought up in damp, cold, poor housing as a child. However it was a sure sign of Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) but that wasn’t the end of it. It took me a few years to realise I was also experiencing highs and lows, the lows lasting two or three weeks at a time. I think starting so early actually helped me because I just assumed everyone was the same, so luckily for me I never got too close to even contemplating suicide but I can understand why somebody would and sadly know those that have. I was never officially diagnosed as bipolar or anything, and have control over it now (although it probably will never go away and I might need support in the future).

Somehow when I read that depression is simply a change in the chemical balance of the brain it all just seemed simple to understand and nothing to be afraid of but I know that can’t just be the fix for everyone otherwise we wouldn’t have this problem. You still need to spot those triggers.

For those that don’t understand, comedy can sometimes be a coping mechanism just as much as alcohol or substance abuse. I used to go out many a time and be sat amongst a large group having chats, making jokes but be as lonely as hell, disassociation it’s called, like you’re outside but looking in on the group.

My only advice is to live healthy and find true enjoyment in something you can enjoy on your own. For me it’s puzzles like jigsaws or DIY.
 
Still doesn't feel real to me. Just wish Ricky could have seen all the love people had for him. Truly adored by all of the public, a modern day folk hero. A shining role model of what we could all be no matter if we were scruffy little kids off the estate if we worked hard and believed in ourselves we could be Champion of the World. Not once did he let himself get too big for his boots either just a genuine humble soul who had time for everybody. Rest in Peace champ. You will be greatly missed, hope his name gets sang at every home game for the foreseeable future.
 
Lord Blue said:
We all know that Ricky struggled with mental health and other issues.

In the late 80s i struggled too. I was fortunate to survive numerous suicide attempts. I used to keep it secret but then lost a friend and was left wondering, if i'd been open, would he have talked to me? would he still be here? So i decided to be very open. Nearly 40 years later i'm incredibly happy, have built a wonderful family and i'm so grateful for it all. The example of how my life has changed is my message. Plus first hand experience of how it affects those around you. Since then I've never been the miserable type, always optimistic (so i'm allowed to be a happy clapper / foc btw). And i never take things too seriously. Oh and for me, money earnt is for making memories not for hoarding.

Anyway, if you too are struggling i'd be happy to chat in private. Especially if you're young and worried about the future.
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Great post LB, your honesty is to be applauded.

Apart from his sporting legacy, if Rickys legacy is also opening up conversations such as this, then that's a life well lived for me.

@Ric - maybe this subject deserves its own sub-forum to allow the Bluemoon family to reach out and discuss mental health issues. Personally, with a 3-year ban now confirmed by the Club, my mental health has took a turn downwards I just didn't see coming and I'm pretty sure that there will be quite a few in my shoes.

Just a thought.
 
Went and looked at the stadium rebuild before the united game and then walked to the tram stop near Asda to catch a tram to the pub.
Saw Fanzone Danny crossing the road at the same time as me coming the other way and thought he looked like he had the weight of the world on his shoulders.
At that point I didn't realise that Ricky had passed and suspect Danny had not long heard the news.

Ricky always had time for the fans. RIP.
 
Lord Blue said:
We all know that Ricky struggled with mental health and other issues.

In the late 80s i struggled too. I was fortunate to survive numerous suicide attempts. I used to keep it secret but then lost a friend and was left wondering, if i'd been open, would he have talked to me? would he still be here? So i decided to be very open. Nearly 40 years later i'm incredibly happy, have built a wonderful family and i'm so grateful for it all. The example of how my life has changed is my message. Plus first hand experience of how it affects those around you. Since then I've never been the miserable type, always optimistic (so i'm allowed to be a happy clapper / foc btw). And i never take things too seriously. Oh and for me, money earnt is for making memories not for hoarding.

Anyway, if you too are struggling i'd be happy to chat in private. Especially if you're young and worried about the future.
Click to expand...
That's a great post LB.
 
He made you sit and take notice when he was in the ring with his unique never back down fighting style. Seeing some of the highlights of his career being shown like the Tszyu fight, Mayweather and the build up to it and 30,000 people in Vegas going over there to watch it. I wasn’t lucky enough to go but remember staying awake till daft o clock in the morning to watch it. I don’t think we’ve ever seen anything like it before or since.

I was fortunate to have met him once when he turned up drinking in The Sun Inn in Failsworth many moons ago. It’s testament to how popular he was that a quiet pub at the beginning of the night ended up rammed as everyone wanted to meet him. And he had time for everyone who wanted to say hello.

It still feels surreal he has passed away - RIP Ricky
 
feedmpenzaandhewillscore said:
He made you sit and take notice when he was in the ring with his unique never back down fighting style. Seeing some of the highlights of his career being shown like the Tszyu fight, Mayweather and the build up to it and 30,000 people in Vegas going over there to watch it. I wasn’t lucky enough to go but remember staying awake till daft o clock in the morning to watch it. I don’t think we’ve ever seen anything like it before or since.

I was fortunate to have met him once when he turned up drinking in The Sun Inn in Failsworth many moons ago. It’s testament to how popular he was that a quiet pub at the beginning of the night ended up rammed as everyone wanted to meet him. And he had time for everyone who wanted to say hello.

It still feels surreal he has passed away - RIP Ricky
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What on earth drove him to Failsworth!?! :-)
 
Today i even liked an update by Terry Christian re Rickys impact , humanity, that says a lot about how a lot of people miss him who hed never expect. I hope in time his family can use all this as comfort ,right now not sure anyone comprehends it as the more we find out about his genuine nature the sadder it gets.
 
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