Michael Phelps Shares His Battle With Depression

Anyone going through depression can feel like they’re weak and alone. Yet some of the strongest, highest-performing, leading males in the world have gone through anxiety and depression. 

There is no better example of this than Michael Phelps. He is a swimmer who has won 28 Olympic medals (23 gold) making him the most successful Olympic athlete of all time and a big-time celebrity. On top of this, he is tall, super fit, good-looking charismatic and has a beautiful wife and son.

And yet Michael Phelps struggles with depression, anxiety, and suicidal thoughts. Most surprisingly to many people, he was the most depressed after each time that he won at the Olympics. Thankfully, Michale has since shared openly his story with depression to help the rest of us learn how to manage our depression better.

Why we felt compelled to share these videos on Michael Phelps:

• Because he is the definition of a successful, leading man
• Seeing big, strong, successful men share about their depression kills the stigma that depression is a weakness for men
• Watching him talk about his depression made mine easier knowing that I wasn’t alone
• He can articulate his depression and how he manages it very well
• Phelps has taken his darkest adversity, and turned it into a positive, helping others through mental health challenges

How bad was Michael Phelps’ depression?

Michael has been quoted saying that he’s through at least six major depressive periods throughout his life. He especially suffered depression after winning the Olympics multiple times.

He was always very driven and desired more success. Even when he won his final gold medal, he was upset that he didn’t get his 40th world record during the swim. Phelps said that he always desired to push his capacity to see what he could accomplish at his max.

Micheal shared in an interview, that after every Olympics he attended he fell into depression, sometimes becoming reclusive and have many suicidal thoughts.

I struggled with anxiety and depression and questioned whether or not I wanted to be alive anymore. It was when I hit this low that I decided to reach out and ask for the help of a licensed therapist. This decision ultimately helped save my life. You don’t have to wait for things

— Michael Phelps (@MichaelPhelps) May 26, 2019

After each big Olympic victory, including his wins at the ’04, ’08, and ’12 Olympic games. Phelp’s 2012 Olympics were the worst for Phelps. He hated swimming and wanted to end his life. He spent five days locked in his bedroom without food, sleep or communication with loved ones. He took his loved ones for granted. He just wanted it to end.

So it was at 33 years old when Mr. Phelps hit a point where he decided he needed some support for his depression, anxiety and suicidal thoughts.

The best way to manage depression

And along with the depression, Phelps also had to share and better understand his insecurities about his performance, anxiety, substance abuse and shame for his spinning out of control with depression. This all leading to dramatic events like multiple driving DUIs for Phelps.

How Michael Phelps now thinks about depression

Michael had hoped that depression would be a quick thing to get through once he started talking to a therapist. However, he learned that depression is often an ongoing challenge that he will face for years to come, potentially for the rest of his life.

Phelps said that this is why he relies heavily on therapy because no matter what life throws at him or when he feels depressed, he will have someone there to talk through it with, making things easier.