The most decorated Olympian of all time, Michael Phelps, was not short of enduring his own struggles in life. From a very young age, the athlete got diagnosed with Attention Deficiency Hyperactive Disorder (ADHD), for which he required special care from his trusted mentors, including his own mother.

In a recent video posted by @jayglazer on Instagram in November 2022, the swimmer opens up about his anxiety and how he tackled his phases of depression. 

Michael Phelps and his clarity of thought

The retired swimmer recognized the need to address his mental illness from a very early age. He expressed his concern about getting better after his second DUI. “Why am I screaming for help?” said Phelps. For the first time in his life back in 2014, he accepted his illness. He stated, “That was a few pretty big public depression spells that I had gone through.”

The athlete knew that he had to make a conscious effort to get better. “It’s not gonna change, I can’t just snap my fingers and make my anxiety go away,” he explained.

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Phelps also spoke about his mood swings. “Today I feel like a piece of shit, Today I wanna be six feet underground, today I don’t want anybody to talk to me…I’m just in one of those moods…sometimes a hug won’t help…”

Results of having a different outlook

The legendary swimmer has won numerous Olympic medals and dominated the sport for his entire career. Out of his 28 total medals, he has won 23 gold medals. The other consists of two bronze and three silver. He also holds the record for the maximum number of golds won by a single athlete at the Olympic Games.

Deborah Phelps, Phelps’ mother, described how she dealt with her son’s ADHD when even his teachers discouraged him by projecting failure on his future. Debbie refused to believe that her son was any less capable than other children. She started to note the positive traits of children with ADHD. She once said, “Kids who have ADHD are very determined children. They are very creative children. They can excel in the area they have a passion for. I really think Michael was the prime example of that.”

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In addition, Michael figured out an innovative way to communicate his uneasiness with his peers. “If I send the roller coaster emoji, I’m all over the place,” he stated.