He Couldn’t Sleep, He Couldn’t Breathe — The Hidden Battle Matthew Golden Fought Alone
OPINION: This article may contain commentary which reflects the author's opinion.
On the outside, Matthew Golden looked like everything a football star should be: fast, fearless, untouchable. But behind the highlights and the trophies, he was fighting a battle almost no one knew about.
In his freshman year of college, Matthew began experiencing crippling anxiety before big games. Some nights, he couldn’t sleep. Other nights, it felt like he couldn’t breathe. The pressure to perform — to live up to the hype — became a silent monster, creeping in when the stadium lights dimmed.
“I didn’t know how to tell anyone,” he confessed. “Everyone saw me as the confident kid. I didn’t want to break that image.”
Instead, Matthew fought it alone. Pre-game rituals turned into desperate attempts to calm himself. He would sit in dark corners of locker rooms, forcing himself to breathe, praying the fear wouldn’t show once he stepped onto the field.
It wasn’t until years later that he opened up about his struggles, hoping his story might help others feel less alone. His message is simple but powerful: even the strongest-looking warriors carry battles no one else can see.
