Not even the most decorated Olympic swimmer Michael Phelps was spared from dark days.
His first battle with mental health began after Athens 2004, a year which concreted his name in Olympic history with eight medals, six of them being gold.
The celebration of his stardom didn’t last long. Once the excitement faded, he began to feel uneasy, something he had barely felt before.
Reflecting on his emotions, the all-time records for Olympic gold medals, in an interview with NBC news said: “You get to the edge of the cliff and you’re like, cool now what? I guess I gotta wait four more years to have the chance to do it again, right?”.
There was no getting away from the weight of being an Olympic Champion, taking a toll on him to a point, where he even contemplated suicide.
“Nothing helped-not marijuana, nothing,” he said.
It began his journey towards healing.
“I was compartmentalizing those feelings, and over time, they decided to reappear whenever they wanted,” Phelps admitted.
And the post-Olympic depression hit him again after an unprecedented eight gold medal-haul at Beijing 2008.
“For me, 2004 was my first, 2008 was my second taste of post-Olympic depression,” Phelps shared. “I wanted to do something no one else had ever done before.”
Note: If you or someone you know is struggling with suicidal thoughts, it’s crucial to reach out for support. Here are some important helplines for suicide prevention:
International Helplines
- United States:
- National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: 988 (Available 24/7)
- United Kingdom:
- Samaritans: 116 123 (Available 24/7)
- Canada:
- Crisis Services Canada: 1-833-456-4566 (Available 24/7)
- Text 45645 (Available 24/7)
- Australia:
- Lifeline Australia: 13 11 14 (Available 24/7)
- India:
- Viswas Helpline: 91-9152987821 (Available 24/7)
- Snehi Foundation: 91-22-2772 6771 / 91-22-2772 6773 (Available 24/7)
- New Zealand:
- Lifeline New Zealand: 0800 543 354 (Available 24/7)
- South Africa:
- Suicide Crisis Helpline: 0800 567 567 (Available 24/7)
Other Resources
- Texting Services: Many countries offer texting support services, which can be less intimidating for some people than speaking on the phone.
- Online Chat: Some organizations offer online support or chat services for people who may feel more comfortable typing their concerns.
It’s important to remember that there is always help available, and reaching out to these resources can be an important step toward feeling better.