Former Ireland player Jonathan Walters has revealed he is still to coming to terms with the death of his brother last summer.
Walters, 35, has spoken candidly in the past about the death of his Dublin-born mother Helen Brady when he was just 11 years old.
And the striker, who announced his retirement from football last week, wants time away from game after the heartbreak of also losing his brother James.
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Walters said: "I've talked about Mum a lot more with close members of my family and my Mum's sisters. I found out a lot more things I didn't know about her.
"Then while I was going through it all, my brother passed away last summer. He was just 35 and it was difficult, it was tough.
"You are dealing with all that at home and then you are back on your own in the gym every day and it was a difficult time.
"Now that I am finished as a player, I will take more time to look after that side of things for me.
"I'll be taking myself out of football and the day to day routine to spend a lot of time on myself. It's a tough thing to do, but something that's needed to be done.
"One of my Mum's sisters went into a bereavement counselling in Dublin and I have spoken to her about it briefly.
"It is something I will look at now. I'm a very private individual and knowing that support is there is very good for me."
Walters has admitted to being overwhelmed by the tributes to him after hanging up up boots last week, including a message from President Michael D. Higgins.
He lined out 54 times for Ireland through his career and it is memories of putting on the green shirt that will be cherished most.
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"I haven't played a lot of club football the past couple of years, and I've always said I could park that to the side, but the one thing I'll miss the most is the international side," he told the BBC.
"It's the most difficult part to walk away from. When you're watching Ireland, that's heartbreaking.
"Everything about it - from meeting up with the team, to all the staff there from the bus drivers to the physios, the security guys, everyone."
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