Tommy “Taiga” Le, an experienced pro Dota 2 player from West Europe region, has recently disclosed a detail concerning his progress in mental rehabilitation, a struggle he had kept to himself for approximately five months. He opened up about the challenging ordeal he faced while grappling with his inner demon.
The 25-year-old Norwegian had announced his departure from OG and competitive play in May, leading to Adam “Aramis” Moroz stepping in as his replacement for the 2023 season. During this period, Taiga only hinted at his plans to seek therapy for his ongoing struggle with anxiety and depression, withholding the full extent of his challenges.
Subsequently, OG relegated him to an inactive player status, and he was loaned to Wildcard Gaming in the North American region from the first week of August. While he participated in several matches during The International 12: America Qualifier, he refrained from addressing concerns about his well-being until now.
Via his personal X account, Taiga disclosed the uphill battle he faced in his quest to regain mental balance, revealing that he had sought rehabilitation to combat his addiction, primarily to gambling, following The International 11 in 2022.
“I’m sorry to everyone who will get disappointed by reading this, and I’m also thankful to the people that has supported me in my journey in making this post.” wrote Taiga. “I have been absent for a while and theres barely any communication from me. But now after coming back to my senses, I want to share the journey I’ve gone through this year in hopes that it resonates with others going through similar battles. I mentioned earlier this year that I have been struggling a lot with my mental health, anxiety, but all of that got worse because of my addiction.”
“I got myself into something that’s out of character for me, which is gambling. The me that always stood by my principles to never get involved with gambling as I know the negative impact it has on a person’s life. I started gambling after TI11 around the world cup for soccer, later advanced to basketball, Tennis and the worst one, casino.”
However, he reassured his audience that he was actively committed to rectifying his missteps and reclaiming his mental clarity to return to competitive play at the highest level. In the interim, he intended to prioritize spending time with close friends and family to rebuild the stability in his life.
“After getting the proper assistance I needed, and meeting with a therapist both online and in Bergen, I eventually built enough mental strength to keep myself from giving into my parasite. It was a very big moment for me, as time started to flow once again for me. There are still lots of regrets and relationships that I still need time to mend due to my addiction and changes, when I was utterly broken.”
Currently, it remains uncertain whether he will return to OG or pursue a calmer life in the North American region with his new team. Nonetheless, he stated that his direct message remains open for anyone looking to share similar struggles.
