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MAIN PHOTO: Nolan Boyd is speaking publicly about his battle with mental health. (Martine Caron photo)<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n (This story was originally scheduled to post in late August, however we agreed to delay it due to the impact of a young persons death in the community as a result of mental health.)<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n FALL RIVER<\/strong>: Nolan Boyd never imagined he would find himself in the situation he was.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Like most teen boys, the Fall River product, a goalie with the Grand Falls Rapids of the Maritime Junior A Hockey League (MHL) had a zest and love for the game of hockey. But he feels his battle with depression and anxiety began in Grade 11, about three years ago.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cI wasn\u2019t having a good school year, academically, but I was having a really good hockey season so that\u2019s what kept me happy,\u201d said Boyd. \u201cMy whole head went to a different space, worrying about people, what they were saying, trying out for different hockey teams, concerned what people were thinking.<\/p>\n\n\n\n He said there were days he would come home from school or after a hockey practice and just lay down in his bedroom\u2014in the upstairs of his family\u2019s home near Ash Lee Jefferson School\u2014for hours upon hours.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cI was very moody,\u201d he said. \u201cI could be the happiest guy one second and then a completely different person. That\u2019s never been like me.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cI\u2019m older now and mature now. People kept telling me I needed to get help. I have a really good support group that care about me.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n [adrotate banner=”31″]<\/p>\n\n\n\n [adrotate group=”6″]<\/p>\n\n\n\n Boyd said he kept all his feelings inside, and that ended up hurting people he loved and pushed some away.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cMy choice of words may not have been the best when talking to them,\u201d he said. \u201cNow, I\u2019m realizing the importance of talking about one\u2019s feelings, one\u2019s problems that happen in everyday lives. Just thinks that are so common, where your head is at.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThe mind is a beautiful thing, but it can also be the scariest place ever.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n He said his sleep also was affected before he has learned to deal with his mental health.<\/p>\n\n\n\n When he would be home at night, that was a worrisome time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cNighttime is the most frightening thing for me,\u201d said Boyd. \u201cThat\u2019s when I have the free time to myself, I\u2019m not keeping busy. My mind wanders to dark thinking especially being a hockey player and reading hockey forums and boards.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Boyd said he decided to open up about his mental health issue to show how much the mental side of the game is like and how much it can affect a player on and off the ice.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cIt took me two or three years to finally go and talk to someone because I was so scared,\u201d he said. \u201cI thought it was a boo ho type of thing, so I never took it seriously.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n [adrotate banner=”34″]<\/p>\n\n\n\n Advertisement:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n