Abby Wambach NEW ORLEANS, LA – DECEMBER 16: Abby Wambach #20 of the United States reacts as she is introduced prior to the women’s soccer match against China at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome on December 16, 2015 in New Orleans, Louisiana. (Photo by Chris Graythen/Getty Images)

United States soccer star Abby Wambach made headlines earlier this year for all the wrong reasons. She was arrested in April for driving under the influence, and she says she has been battling these demons for quite some time. Confronting and admitting to a problem related to alcohol is tough for many to do, as Wambach admitted from her own experience.

“I was stubborn and I was in denial,” Wambach said in an interview with the Associated Press. “I didn’t want to face the truth.”

As many who have battled this kind of problem before, Wambach says getting into legal trouble was the eye-opener she needed to take the first steps toward confronting her problems.

“That night getting arrested was one of the best things that has ever happened to me. Because if I don’t get so publicly shamed and publicly humiliated, I don’t think I wake up,” she said as she prepared for a book tour. “I think I was asleep for a lot of years. Asleep to the pleas from my family and friends, and even myself, to get help. So that night I was humiliated enough to wake up.”

Wambach has a memoir scheduled for release on Tuesday, in which she details more about her struggles with alcohol and prescription drugs. She also admits to having family and friends hide her struggles from the public eye.

“Not only was I hiding this secret from the world for so long, so were the people that I loved — they loved me so fiercely they wanted to protect me as much as possible, almost from myself. Sarah [Huffman] was definitely one of my saving graces because she was one of the first people in my life who made me aware of the problems that I was having,” Wambach said. “And this was years ago. This isn’t something that just snuck up on me when I retired from soccer. This is something I’ve been dealing with for years now.”

Here’s hoping Wambach has dealt with this problem for good, as she can serve as an inspiration for so many that may need it even after her soccer-playing days have come to an end.

[Associated Press]

About Kevin McGuire

Contributor to Athlon Sports and The Comeback. Previously contributed to NBCSports.com. Host of the Locked On Nittany Lions Podcast. FWAA member and Philadelphia-area resident.