World’s fastest swimmer Phelps kinumusta ang ‘depresyon’ ngayong pandemic

Napakaimportante sa panahon na ito ng pandemic na hindi lamang kalusugan ng pangangatawan ang dapat mapangalagaan kundi maging ang lakas ng kaisipan. Ang mga pinakamahuhusay na atleta sa buong mundo tulad ni ‘many-time Olympic Swimming Champion Michael Phelps ay kinumusta maging ang kanyang misis na si Nicole at mga anak habang naka-lockdown.

“I’m still breathing. It has been one of those months. Nonstop, my mood jumping up and down and all around. 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.”

Matatandaang sa unang pagkakataon inamin sa publiko ni Phelps bago ang 2016 Rio de Janeiro Olympics ang hinggil sa pinagdaraanan niyang ‘depresyon’ na inaasahan niyang huwag na itong magbalik dahil sa kinatatakutang COVID-19.

“It wasn’t to admit I wasn’t perfect. But opening up took a huge weight off my back. It made life easier. Now I’m opening again. I want people to know they’re not alone. So many of us are fighting our mental health demons now more than ever.

Aminado si Phelps na “no-cured” na ang lagay niya. Nandiyan na ang depresyon sa kanyang pagkatao. Tanggap niya ito pero kailangan niyang labanan para sa kanyang misis at tatlong maliliit pang mga anak, magkonsentra sa mga dapat niyang gawin sa buhay lalo na ngayong nasa krisis ng kalusugan ang sangkatauhan.

“The thing is- and people who live with mental health issues all know this- it never goes away. You have good days and bad. But there’s never a finish line. I’ve done so many interviews after Rio where the story was the same: Michael Phelps opened up about depression,went into a treatment program, won gold in his last Olympics an now is all better. I wish that were the truth. I wish it were that easy. But honestly – and I mean this in the nicest way possible –that’s just ignorant. Somebody who doesn’t understand what people with anxiety or depression or post-traumatic stress disorder deal with has no idea.”

Kung paanong hindi siya maging negatibo sa panahon na ito ay naggi-gym siya araw-araw sa loob ng 90 minuto. Alas-5:15 ng umaga hanggang 7 a.m. ay nage-ehersisyo siya. Pagkaraan ay pakakainin ang mga anak niyang lalaki. May araw pa na pinipilit ang sarili na mag-gym para na rin mapalakas ang ‘mental at physical health.’

“There are times where I feel absolutely worthless, where I completely shutdown but have have this bubbling anger that is through the roof. If I’m being honest, more than once I’ve just screamed out loud. “I wish I wasn’t me!” Sometimes there’s just this overwhelming feeling that I can’t handle it anymore. I don’t want to be me anymore. It’s almost like that scene in “The Last Dance” where Michael Jordan is on the couch, smoking a cigar and he’s just like, “Done. Break.” He can’t take it anymore.”

Kapag nagsu-swimming siya, tanging ang pool ang siyang paraan niya para takasan ang lahat ng negatibong emosyon. Pero dahil walang swimming ngayon. “Take a deep breath. Go back to square one and ask yourself: Where these emotions are coming from? Why are you so angry? That’s something I learned in treatment. That’s something I try to teach my 3 boys. There are motivational quotes throughout my office I use to help me. And I journal. I have 20 to 30 pieces of scrap paper all over where I write things down that pop into my head or I want to remember to help me later.”

Katatapos lang makapag-donate ni Phelps ng 500 months na free talkspace therapy para sa medical workers na COVID-19 frontliners upang manatiling positibo. Nagkaloob din ang MP Foundation ng $100,000 bilang pondo sa social-emotional curriculum bilang bahagi ng IM program para sa mga boys and girls clubs sa buong Amerika.