Everton midfielder Dele Alli opens up about going to rehab after childhood sexual abuse

Everton midfielder Dele Alli revealed he recently spent six weeks in a rehabilitation center to improve his mental health and receive treatment for addition and trauma.

"Now is probably the right time for me to tell people what is going on," Alli said during an appearance on Gary Neville's "The Overlap" podcast on Thursday. "It’s something I’ve kind of hid for a long time and I’m scared to talk about it, but it’s the right thing to do."

The 27 year old said he became addicted to sleeping tablets and alcohol as a way to "escape" the pain from past traumas, which included being molested when he was a child. Alli said he made the decision to seek help at a rehab center in the U.S. after returning to Everton in April following a short stint with the Turkish team Beşiktaş.

"I was waking up every day, and I was winning the fight, going into training, smiling, showing that I was happy," he said. "But inside, I was definitely losing the battle and it was time for me to change it because when I got injured and they told me I needed surgery, I could feel the feelings I had when the cycle begins and I didn't want it to happen anymore."

Alli returned from rehab three weeks ago and said he's "probably in the best place I've ever been" mentally. He has a year left on his deal at Everton and said he's “ready for a big season.”

"I was relying on things that were doing me harm," he said. "I mean I didn't realize I was doing it for that purpose, whether it be drinking or whatever. The things a lot of people do ― but if you abuse it and use it in the wrong way, and you're not actually doing it for the pleasure, you're doing it to try and chase something or hide from something, it can obviously damage you a lot."

He said he wants to share his story so other people know "they're not alone in the feelings they've got." He added, "it doesn't make you weak to get help, to be vulnerable. There's a lot of strength in that."

'A lot happened when I was younger'

Alli opened up about the traumas he experienced as a child while growing up in Milton Keynes, England. He said he was sexually abused by his mother's friend at age six, started smoking at age seven and began selling drugs at age eight. He described his childhood home as the "drug spot."

“At six, I was molested by my mom’s friend, who was at the house a lot,” he told Neville. "A lot happened when I was younger that I could never understand or figure out."

Alli said he was adopted by an "amazing" family "that saved my life" at age 12. They introduced him to soccer.

“If God created people, it was them,” he said of his adoptive family. “They were amazing, and they’ve helped me a lot... When I started living with them, it was hard for me to really open up to them, because I felt within myself, it was easy to get rid of me again.”

Everton 'supported me 100%,' Alli said

Alli said he's "grateful" the Premier League club was “open, honest, and understanding” the entire process: "I don't think I could've asked for anything more at that time when I was making the biggest decision of my life."

In a statement released Thursday, a spokesperson for Everton said the club is committed to "supporting Dele in both his return to fitness and overcoming the personal challenges highlighted in his interview with 'The Overlap.'"

The statement continued: "Everyone at Everton respects and applauds Dele’s bravery to speak about the difficulties he has faced, as well as seek the help required. The physical and mental welfare of all our players is of paramount importance."

Former teammate Harry Kane tweeted, "Proud of @dele_official for speaking out and sharing his experience to try and help others."

Contributing: The Associated Press

If you or someone you know may be struggling with mental health or suicidal thoughts, you can call the U.S. National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 800-273-TALK (8255) any time day or night, or chat online.

Crisis Text Line also provides free, 24/7, confidential support via text message to people in crisis when they dial 741741.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Everton's Dele Alli talks mental health after childhood sexual abuse