Dele Alli reveals rehab stay for addiction after childhood sexual abuse - ESPN

Everton midfielder Dele Alli has said he hopes to inspire others after revealing he recently spent six weeks at a rehab facility in the United States for addiction, mental health and trauma treatment.

In a wide-ranging interview with The Overlap, Gary Neville's YouTube channel, published on Thursday the former England midfielder said he had become addicted to sleep medication as a way of dealing with traumas from his childhood — which he said included being sexually abused aged six by a family friend.

Alli returned to Everton this summer after spending last season on loan at Turkish side Besiktas, where he made 15 appearances in all competitions. However, when told he needed another surgery, he said he could feel a negative cycle beginning again and decided to seek help.

«I think with things like that, you can't be told to go there, I think you have to know, and you have to make the decision yourself, otherwise it's not going to work. To be honest, I was caught in a bad cycle. I was relying on things that were doing me harm,» Alli said.

«I was waking up every day, and I was winning the fight, going into training, smiling, showing that I was happy. 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.»

The 27-year old said he left the facility three weeks ago, adding he is sharing his story now to help others.

«I want to help other people to know that they're not alone in the feelings they've got and that you can talk to people, it doesn't make you weak to get help, to be vulnerable. There's a lot of strength in that. So, to come out and to