Snooker player Tom Ford has shared his experiences of facing challenges during the Covid pandemic and how he managed to overcome mental health issues with the help of a mindset coach. The 40-year-old acknowledged that he reached his “lowest point” during the lockdown and openly admitted to breaking down in tears while confiding in his wife in a hotel room.
Ford has experienced a resurgence in his career in recent years, bouncing back from a decline to reach two ranking event finals in 2023. These achievements propelled him to a career-high world ranking, showcasing his ability to fulfill his potential as a prolific scorer.
However, Ford has now opened up about his battle with loneliness as a seasoned player, a struggle that traces back to the challenges he faced during the pandemic. Despite his successes, he revealed that during the 2021 Welsh Open, where he defeated Kyren Wilson and Jack Lisowski en route to the quarter-finals, he found it difficult to focus on the tournament.
Reflecting on that period, Ford shared his lowest point with the Talking Snooker podcast, confessing that he couldn’t talk about it much at the time. After playing the two mentioned matches, he recalls telling Wilson that he didn’t want to be there and had no desire to participate in the tournament.
The emotions Ford experienced during the lockdown were difficult for him to comprehend at the time. He struggled to understand why he was feeling that way and what was happening to him. In one instance, he vividly remembers breaking down in tears in his hotel room and expressing to his wife that he didn’t want to be there. However, he clarifies that it wasn’t about the location, but rather a general feeling of not wanting to be present. It was undoubtedly a challenging period for him.
Ford attributes the positive turnaround in his snooker performances to the work of mindset coach Sabrina Francis. He shared that he has now overcome the tendency to get frustrated or affected by a missed shot, which used to impact his subsequent attempts. These thoughts and emotions had been a burden for him in the past, but with the help of his mindset coach, he has been able to overcome them and improve his game.
Ford now encourages individuals who find themselves in similar situations to seek professional assistance. He emphasizes the importance of not keeping one’s struggles to oneself, as bottling up emotions can exacerbate the situation. According to Ford, the key is to find the right person to confide in and start the process of seeking help. He acknowledges that he was able to overcome his own challenges by reaching out and obtaining the necessary support. Ford empathizes with those who may be battling mental health issues and facing their own personal demons, emphasizing that talking to someone and receiving the appropriate help is crucial for their well-being.