Marcus Trescothick admitted he is "relieved" to have called time on his international career.
The Somerset opener has been battling a stress-related illness and has not played for England since the autumn of 2006.
He announced his international retirement on Saturday after pulling out of Somerset's pre-season tour to Dubai, although he will continue to play for the county.
Trescothick, 32, told BBC Radio Somerset: "I'm a little bit sad because you've given away part of your career that meant so much to you.
"Playing for England at the highest level is a fantastic achievement and it was a great time while I was playing but at the same time I'm a bit relieved.
"Now we can move on and the monkey has been lifted off my back a little bit.
"Hopefully I can continue playing cricket as I want to do without being put under too much pressure by constant questions, you know, am I ever going to make it back?
"It was always going to be a story whether I could make it back or not and hopefully this will put it to bed."
Trescothick's decision not to go to Dubai showed he has not overcome the problem that first surfaced when he returned home early from England's tour of India two and a half years ago.
He was selected for the Ashes tour in the winter of 2006-07 but flew back to England before the first Test and has not featured in a squad since.
"There wasn't one specific moment where I said 'okay, that is it'," Trescothick said.
"It was a gradual progression knowing if things weren't going to progress like I wanted, to be able to go on the tour with Somerset, it was just going to happen.
"I knew it was going to be hard work but it sort of took a natural course and it was the best thing to do.
"There was no point delaying the inevitable, it was a case of 'let's get it out there, let's get it done and dusted and we can all move on'."
Trescothick played in 76 Tests and 123 one-day internationals for England, scoring 26 centuries, but he insists there will be no regrets.
"I understand what it takes to be able to play at that level and I'm not prepared to reach up to those any more," he added.
"It was great while it lasted but it's time to move on and let someone else have a go."
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