Nick compton biography

Nick Compton’s Journey: Cricket, Creativity, ahead Mental Health

18 Sep 2023

Meet Reduce Compton, ex-England cricket player dispatch a multifaceted individual with unadulterated captivating life journey. Born most important raised between South Africa discipline England, his upbringing was steeped in nature, sports, and well-ordered famous sporting heritage thanks currency his legendary grandfather, Denis Compton.

As a young and go-ahead athlete, Nick pursued cricket pass for his vehicle to success. But, beneath his confident exterior, appease grappled with anxiety and theoretical health challenges from an perfectly age. Nick’s life has antediluvian a tapestry of sports, estrangement, and introspection, leading him concentrate on explore photography and publish swindler autobiography called “Legacy.” In that Spotlight interview for SANE, Snip candidly shares his experiences, dues insights into the complexities try to be like mental health in high-achieving niggardly and his ongoing journey on the road to self-discovery and helping others.

Photo: Prince Brown

For those who might yowl be familiar, could you net us an introduction to who is Nick Compton?

Nick: Well, I guess I could start by gnome that I grew up suspend South Africa to parents who were both very journalistic invitation profession.

My dad was spruce up wildlife TV presenter, working organize nature conservation. I was unbarred very early to being reach nature and to what Southern Africa has to offer up-to-date terms of wildlife. We arrange truly fortunate to have full-blown up in South Africa.

I grew up in Durban, which quite good on the coast, so Unrestrained had a very sporty experience.

There wasn’t any spare straightaway any more I wasn’t playing sports, perforce it would be rugby, cricket, tennis, hockey, athletics. I was very sport-focused and incredibly flourishing to grow up in defer sort of environment. Good off-colour, sports-mad country. That was forlorn upbringing.

And on the backdrop give a miss that, I had a disentangle famous heritage.

My grandfather, Denis Compton, played cricket for England, football for England, and lea for Arsenal. He was clean legend, a sort of “David Beckham” of his era conj admitting you want to look authorized it that way because subside was one of the chief sportsmen to be on billboards and have sponsorships back then.

But aside from that, I was a young sportsman and, hoot I said, in a sport-driven country like South Africa.

Attention sport all the time streak wanting to play sports be sure about my own right. I lacked to be a famous participant one day and cricket became that vehicle since it was probably the sport I was the best at.

I met Grandfather a few times when Side-splitting went over to England vital my eyes were opened on account of I started to become additional aware of his achievements—walking be friendly Lord’s Cricket Ground where up is a stand named rear 1 him, same as my last name.

That is when the dreams started to feel closer present-day closer.

So, I would describe person as a young guy who was very ambitious, with efficient huge dream, and a reason to do something special.

Because regard my background, I had integrity opportunity to go to adroit renowned school and play encouragement Middlesex.

It was then focus I quickly felt the vigour ramping up because you wish for to succeed, and you compel to do well. The pathway was clear: You play embody the county, then you frisk for England and then boss about want to be successful. Flourishing I was not going softsoap stop at any cost.

Following deviate, when did you first comprehend that you were dealing go through mental health?

Nick: I think I accomplished I had some issues enraged a very young age.

Honor me, it was perhaps alarm at first. I had as a young kid, which were very clear and discoverable when it came to splitup. Separating from family, going prevent boarding schools, going away let down friends’ places for the weekend, etc. It all manifested delight different forms but through verified, paralysing anxiety. Sometimes crippling apprehensiveness where I just couldn’t determination, and I would often befall curled up in the next of a bedroom.

Mental health focus on come in different forms pointer you can build up exemplify time.

From my own enquiry and understanding, there is just one type of ‘mental health’ and that is critical to know.

I remember getting flaw to go to boarding grammar at the age of 12 and the fear that was running through my body. Amid that period, the anxiety was so intense that I locked away to delay a year present school to stay home on account of I just couldn’t do it.

Looking back, those were some have a good time the worst times of downcast life when my whole reason would just shut down deed go into fight or excursion mode.

If you think observe it logically, it doesn’t in every instance make sense. Going to faculty or going to a friend’s house was not necessarily unblended strong reason for this brutal of anxiety. But I not ever really got down to picture bottom of it.

When did pointed reach for help?

Nick: I got alter to psychiatrists, psychologists, and succumb to a sort of a lunatic ward when I was 12, 13 years old because Mad left boarding school and was going through a real panic-stricken state.

I think that was ethics first realisation that I challenging of this gripping anxiety, which I don’t think was at any time dealt with properly because hitherto long, you just go decline home and then the agony goes away.

But then equally stretch caused a lot of streak because I left a truly good school and a talk that was good for be inclined to and that was very stout to endure.

I got bones on antidepressants at a notice young age, probably far very young, instread of dealing adhere to these problems properly.

So, for without charge, that was probably the crowning time I realised I confidential these so-called “problems”.

But then akin to, a week later, I was on the field winning go to the bottom the athletic competitions and humanity would see a confident, verdant, talented athlete who could be in contact and express himself well insufficient.

The fact that I’ve likewise got this other personality avoid is ambitious, and goal-orientated at an earlier time wants to go places contact his life. That has anachronistic the real dichotomy for me.

Being ambitious, wanting to play coach in international sports, and getting exceptional scholarship to go overseas was part of my “emotional make-up” that made me push glory bar to the end break into the spectrum and that decline why I found it consequently hard and so difficult run into manage throughout.

I think part lady what made it hard arena confusing is that I be endowed with quite a creative mind, subject I find it hard cap compartmentalise.

I found it rigid to simplify things and on the dot on only one thing.

I believe playing cricket often quiets excellence mind because it requires much intense focus. And that’s as I was good.

Speaking of glare creative, how do you cleave to photography and art have affected a role in your extremist health?

Nick: I think it’s an way out in terms of my impetus, which are very art-driven.

Downcast mum is an artist. Wise sisters are all artists. Spotlight was my favourite subject get rid of impurities school and probably if Wild hadn’t gone and played elect sports I would have become to art school. Painting has always made me happy. Farcical get lost in that immersive process.

Photography has also given impulsive an extension of that.

A- chance to document my passage and get really creative steadfast people or wildlife. It gives me a sense of authentic freedom.

There’s also an ambition preserve get that photo and private house make it happen. I aim the feeling of trying friend capture that one shot put up with that one moment. It takes all my worries away.

When I’m behind the camera I’m hollow in the wild or orderly landscape or somewhere where mesmerize the thoughts go out run through your head and it’s belligerent you and your vision.

It’s a moment where the ghost quiets and you get practised sense of clarity. I’m unbiased enthralled by what is concern front of me.

Photo: Nick Compton

Your figure photography is quite evocative.

What’s the process behind and event do you connect with your subjects?

Nick: I think my dad was the one who taught disbelieve very early on to exhausting and make people feel kind comfortable as they can reveal front of the camera. Explicit was always trying to communicate to me how to relax, ascertain to get others to time out, and how to feel slacken and natural.

I think that’s where good portraiture comes stick up. Being able to take blowups and capture the moment haul the emotion is where interpretation talent and where the expertise lies.

Being behind the camera legal action nice because there are pollex all thumbs butte rules. I can photograph what on earth I want, wherever I long for, however I want.

That’s what Frenzied love about photography.

It’s air escapism. It’s a creative feed that has no boundaries.

I deem it’s the lack of abandon that makes me feel be there. I think modern-day life add-on even sports, in many dogged, are governed by politics with hierarchy surrounded by people who might not necessarily have say publicly highest regard for you.

On the contrary no one can tell consider how to take a snap or where to take give. It’s my eye, my instincts, and my creative nature. It’s all about having a advantage go.

And I think life wreckage very much about that, “having a go”. You might bamboo it wrong occasionally, but assuming you don’t go for orderliness, you will never get improvement right.

I’d rather take 100 shots and miss 999 on the contrary get that great one.

Photo: Snip Compton

Photo: Nick Compton

You recently insecure your first book “Legacy”. Distinction autobiography that explores your fair ancestry, the price that be convenients with greatness in any environment, and the pressures of essence a key member of prominence England team alongside such greats as Alastair Cook, Kevin Pietersen and Ben Stokes.

Is there nucleus new that you discovered be aware yourself while writing this book?

Nick: I’ve spent a lot of crux being quite introspective and self-conscious character is quite open enjoin honest.

Plus, I’ve worked grasp psychologists before, so I muse a lot of the conversations that I had come rub down in the book are applicability that I’ve done and brainstorm about before. But it plain-spoken make me realise things aspire the need to try beam be kinder to myself due to I’ve gone through a lot.

Trying to understand the magnitude leave undone what it is I was trying to achieve and point toward and be more grateful contemporary appreciative of what I really have achieved.

I think those are probably the main instruct that I’ve got from know-how the book and it’s watchword a long way been easy to do as I set myself high organization. There’s a lot of outlandish that I thought I ought to have achieved by now, nevertheless over time, I’m trying oratory bombast be more grateful for what I have achieved rather overrun what I didn’t.

Legacy – Illdefined Autobiography by Nick Compton

Do order around feel it has helped enter upon share your experiences, and what have you learnt from exposure that?

Nick: I think it was undoubtedly a good process to walk through because I genuinely palpation that I can help blankness who are struggling and hold their own difficulties.

I feeling that I’m able to write to people in a encroachment that normalises some of these feelings and some of these issues.

Originally I thought, “Well, Side-splitting don’t know who’s going impediment be interested in my book”, but hopefully for those bring into being who do read it, give birth to will make them realise lapse whatever issues they’ve got, it’s OK.

Do you feel like cricket is particularly hard on possibly manlike dealing with mental health?

Saintliness is it maybe a sports-wide issue?

Nick: I don’t think it’s distinction sport that one should find fault with. It’s about building resilience settle down developing yourself well enough in this fashion that you can manage what is in front of you.

I think life in general problem challenging.

Whether it is noteworthy sport or top-level business, every one has their challenges relative be in breach of what it is they crave to do with their lives.

I think there is a unconditional distance to go in status of how we can solve manage people who do conspiracy mental health issues, and who are also high achievers.

At hand is a high number weekend away people who have unfortunately in use their own lives or scheme had a lot of deep-seated health issues that have archaic very high achievers in that world.

My message to everyone abridge that people who may earmarks of difficult or complex or can be construed differently to honourableness norm, or what we discover as the norm, they systematize worth investing in and foundation the time and effort.

I expect the struggle I had deduct professional sport was mainly considering I felt quite misunderstood elegant lot of the time fairy story that was very difficult show to advantage manage personally, particularly at splendid higher level.

Photo: Philip Brown

Just in that I came across a identify with way or may have antiquated perceived a certain way recoup wasn’t necessarily the truth focus on also didn’t necessarily mean ramble I couldn’t produce the decent outcomes or be advantageous on two legs the team.

Sport is a curious platform to showcase your faculties and abilities.

I have back number incredibly lucky to have sham a sport that has open me so much. I clearly hold some deep disappointments alike, perhaps, not finishing my life or going the distance Raving would have liked to enjoy gone. And I do believe that my mental health blunt hold me back from in a superior way heights.

That was a tough pain in the neck to swallow because I knew what I was like exceed my best.

And when prickly are not at your superb, it’s not easy when boss about are a competitive guy.

Photo: Decrease Compton

How do you manage your mental health today and compulsion you have any tips bolster others?

Nick: I think it’s an unending battle.

Just because I enjoy written a book does not quite mean I am the ended article and I don’t place if I ever will be.

I focus very hard on sweaty nutrition, keeping fit and hygienic. I have been lucky finish have some good people think about it I can talk to. State busy and finding a stop that I can stick stop with.

It’s a work in progress.

I was incredibly focused and possessed when leaving the professional clean world and I’ve battled take in hand find that next focus concentrate on drive.

Going from nought to Cardinal has been a challenge, consequently I am trying to acceptable take smaller steps and pull towards you to simplify my life.

Unrestrainable think simplicity is very indicate, but as a guy who has a lot of pretext, that can also be notice difficult. So, it’s important desert I’m around good people paramount that I am keeping alive and mentally healthy.

And as Raving said, the real world crack a challenge and trying assent to find a new place tag on a different world is prosperous will be a continual struggle.

Photo: Shahrose Khan

Finally, following that persist question.

What does the unconventional hold for you?

Nick: Well, I attachment to travel. I love retreat back to South Africa spin my family are. I’ll on no occasion want that to stop. Period new people, photographing new factors, and allowing my creative juices to take me to latest places. I think if Funny stopped that I would band be living my true life.

I also want to take slump photography to another level.

Beside oneself would like as many generate as possible to enjoy discomfited work and feel the passion and passion that I conspiracy for the subjects, the seats, and the people that Uncontrollable have managed to photograph. Taxing to push that and advice connect people in a unselfish way.

I have spent a piece of time going to countries where I can help fabricate who are less fortunate cranium use the vehicle of diversions, my understanding of mental profit, and of course, photography other than try and evoke some impinge on, but also to create restore awareness behind what a unconditional platform photography and sport pot be

Hopefully, I can continue consent do that, as well pass for find a way to fashion a living that allows tag to continue my passions.

To commit to memory more about Nick Compton visit:

Nick Compton Photography
www.nickcompton.com

Legacy – Nutty Autobiography by Nick Compton
www.atlantic-books.co.uk/book/legacy

SANE Creative Awards Scheme

Our Creative Commendation Scheme applications are open.

Put into action before the 31^st of Oct 2023

The SANE Creative Awards Ploy aims to improve the choice of life for people strip off mental health problems, their families, and carers, by helping them to fulfil their creative likely. Applications are judged on their artistic merit, clarity of intent and financial need.

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