'Overwhelmed' Phelps Shares Mental Health Struggle Amidst Pandemic
May 22, 2020
Swimming legend and mental health advocate, Michael Phelps, says the oronavirus pandemic has put him in a "scary situation" with his mental health.
The 23-time Olympic gold medalist, who retired as the most decorated Olympian of all time after Rio 2016, has spoken frankly about his struggle with depression away from the pool, acknowledging he has contemplated suicide in the past.
Without a fixed routine during the outbreak, he says that he's endured one of the toughest stretches of his life. "It has been one of those months. Nonstop, my mood jumping up and down and all around," Phelps said in an article for ESPN. "The pandemic has been one of the scariest times I've been through.
"I'm thankful that my family and I are safe and healthy. I'm grateful we don't have to worry about paying bills or putting food on the table, like so many other folks right now. But still, I'm struggling." Phelps has become an advocate for openly discussing mental health after his retirement. He has described how therapy and support from his wife, Nicole, has helped him manage his depressive episodes.
In recent weeks, he says that he has relied on escaping to the gym for 90 minutes in the morning each day. "If I miss a day, it's a disaster," said Phelps. "Then I get into a negative pattern of thinking in my own head. And when that happens, I'm the only one who can stop it. And it typically doesn't stop very fast.
"I'll just drag it out, almost to punish myself in a way. That's what I do if I make a mistake or if I upset somebody, then I think it's always my fault and just take it all out on myself.
"When that happens day after day, you can put yourself in a scary situation pretty quickly. And that's been this quarantine a lot of the time."
Phelps is a spokesman for online therapy company TalkSpace and earlier this month donated 500 months of free therapy to medical workers on the front line of the Covid-19 response. He also launched the Michael Phelps Foundation that promotes healthier lifestyles for children through swimming.
Beyond Sport is committed to advancing mental health through sport through the Stay in the Game Network – a collaboration of sport, healthcare and social change organizations using sport as a platform and catalyst to end stigmas and promote action on mental wellness.