In 2018, Phelps attended an interview with David Axelrod, where he spoke about his time battling depression, anxiety, and suicidal thoughts. It was Phelps pushing himself to the limits that caught up with him. “Really, after every Olympics I think I fell into a major state of depression,” said the 28-time Olympic medalist. He recalled that the first time he felt depressed was in 2004.
Phelps had resorted to drugs to hide from his anxiety and despair. And after the 2012 Olympics, he even contemplated suicide. “I didn’t want to be in the sport anymore … I didn’t want to be alive anymore. ” Phil spent “three to five days” just locked in his room, not eating or sleeping. It was then he realized he needed help.
Michael Phelps has grown and evolved a lot mentally since then. He attended therapy sessions and began working on getting better. Since then, he has looked for ways to help others battle their mental illnesses too. He has included stress management courses in the Michael Phelps Foundation and also works with the Boys & Girls Clubs of America.
The swimming champion believes that talking about it helps and that opening up about it to people was better than any gold medal. “Those moments and those feelings and those emotions for me are light years better than winning the Olympic gold medal,” he said with pride.
Phelps impressed Paige with the interview in which he opened up. She tweeted and said, “Courageous of @MichaelPhelps to speak about his depression,” and further went on to tell her followers that riches and fame don’t bring you happiness;
Paige Spiranac, too, has taken measures to help her followers who are fighting mental health problems. Spiranac wants to use her social media presence to do good. She personally understands being trolled and bullied. And hence, wants to help her fans deal with such things and let them know they are not alone.