Michael Phelps Opens Up About Struggle With Depression | TODAY

Olympic swimmer Michael Phelps sits down on TODAY to talk about his mental health struggles, his advice for teenagers today and being a parent to his two young sons.

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Michael Phelps Opens Up About Struggle With Depression | TODAY

[DepressionTalks]

Him talking about this helps more people than he knows.

[landofsyn]

Medication. My wife and friends and being open accepting the feelings and watching these kind of videos saved me :) its never 1 thing. It takes puzzel pieces to bring you back together

[elizabeths]

I am glad to see public figures, particularly sports men and women, openly disccuss their battles with mental health issues.

[KeonaJordan]

May God touch those going through depression!

[farahnaz]

I think this is proof that just ‘go outside, excercise or eat better’ talk when it comes to depression is invalid. Sometimes things like that can HELP, but sometimes you need a bit extra. Just like sometimes drinking water may help with your headache, but sometimes you need to have the paracetamol. Professional help and medicine is NOT taboo and there is no shame in that. So happy he’s being open and honest about this.

[davidellis]

Depression & Anxiety are not cured by fame or 💸. They effect all classes . Seek treatment, it works. Stay alive.

[juliawilkinson]

Thank you so much, Michael.. to have someone of your stature be open about this.. I am so grateful. I lost my son to depression and have it myself. I hope you are in good mental health! ❤

[advidrunner]

Thank you Phelps. I deal with it daily. I have taken care of my grandmother who passed away in my arms in April at home. She was the only family I had. And I suffer daily without my grandmother. Now that she went home to be with The Lord I feel more depressed then ever. I now have a 4 month old daughter and I lean on her and The Lord. I appreciate your testimony so much. God bless you. 🙏🏻✝️

[sonatak]

He is so articulate and it’s amazing that he is raising awareness about mental health. Awesome work Michael Phelps!

[JoeP-gfnj]

Prayers for anyone struggling with depression or anything else 🙏

[malamaca]

If you think a bit, this depression is more and more part of our life. It wasn't like this before. Something changed.
I don't believe that you can have a good quality therapy over the phone. There is something precious in live interaction.
Thank you Michael for your honesty. May God bless you, seek Him in your life, I believe He can help you. 🙏

[stephaniewood]

Thank you for sharing Michael Phelps, I also struggle with depression myself everything U said I've been thru & still going thru it's hard to break out the shell I have my good days and I have my bad days. BUT lately I've been having a wonderful day which is so awesome!! Some people don't understand depression. Thank you NBC for putting this message out.

[bethkim]

Everyone who has a negative comment -- this is the very reason why famous ppl don't speak up. That's why kate spade & Anthony bourdain struggled w suicide. Money won't cure mental health - it can help but just shows everyone is human. He's being brave to let himself show he's vulnerable.

[tahirahmed]

First of all stand up for this very very great athlete and swimmer who won 23 Gold medals for his country USA in Olympics and very big is a born sportsman and a swimmer and full of sportsman spirit and really his country is proud of him even to break his record is very depression is just a phase of brain chemical imbalance which with medication and therapy you will be out soon as a sportsman fought very well with his disease and now sharing his experience and this will definitely give depression and mania patients encouragement how to get out of bless him and loads of love and respect for this very great athlete born in many centuries...Michael Phelps..

[kittykat]

Very happy to see he has found peace & happiness. I also think its important when he shares his message that people recognize not everyone can just ask for help - when you don't have anyone to ask & you don't have the $$ it makes the near impossible task of asking for help, actually impossible.

[corkkyle]

I really appreciate Mr. Phelps candidness. That will be his legacy, imo.

[bethkim]

He also has the power to change society's stigma due to his fame. That's huge, and glad someone is doing it.

[hanif]

Well, it looks like Michael phelps got another gold medal in battling depression. May MP can inspired to those people who suffer in depression.

[goofball]

Don’t ever take happiness for granted. You should cherish every moment of happiness because some people are not lucky enough to be happy. Some of us really struggle internally just to feel happy for a day. So if you are happy, cherish that. Don’t take happiness for granted.

[jamiepoist]

Thank you Mr. Michael Phelps. I want you to know how much this mean to me & every other soul on this planet. Thank you to NBC News for putting this message out there.

Sending gratitude, peace, love & light to us all
💟🙏☮️✊☯️🙌♥️