PAINTER BATTLES SLEEPLESS NIGHTS AND DARTITIS

KEVIN PAINTER admits that several anxiety filled sleepless nights drove him to compete at Q-School.

‘The Artist’ maintains that his decision to take part in Milton Keynes was fuelled by a desire for match practice rather than an attempt to secure a PDC Tour Card.

Former world finalist Painter has endured a nightmare battle with dartitis, a struggle that has affected his rest, and has sought therapy to help combat the issue. 

Painter revealed that therapy sessions have helped him manage his anxiety, while his dartitis has since subsided.

He told Tungsten Tales: “I didn’t go to Q-School to get a Tour Card. 

“Those days are gone for me. I went so I could get some practice and then be able to play on the Challenge Tour and get more match time. 

“As I say, 16 months of absolute misery. 

“You don’t think it’s ever going to end — you hope it will. 

“It’s nothing to do with darts themselves. It’s all about anxiety and not sleeping properly.

“If you can get a good night’s sleep every night, you’re emptying what they call the ‘bucket of trash’ from that day, and from previous days and months. 

“I wasn’t sleeping properly, which made me anxious, and in the end, it becomes a nervous thing. 

“If I wasn’t a dart player, it might have manifested itself in another way — panic attacks, for example. 

“The therapist said it’s just a symptom of anxiety and stress. 

“At a certain point, I changed my throw a little. More rhythm, less thinking. And that seemed to work. 

“I still get a slight hesitation sometimes. 

“But it’s nothing compared to how it was. It’s just nice to be able to throw again.” 

Painter enjoyed a brilliant career, claiming his only major title at the 2011 Players Championship Finals.

The Essex thrower also competed in the Premier League and finished runner-up at the World Championship in 2004, narrowly losing 7–6 to Phil Taylor.

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