Why Elite Athletes are Depressed (And What Can Help)

Michael Phelps will always be remembered for his accolades in the pool. His work ethic, his physique, and his process are all things many people should be inspired by. He, like many great athletes, is looked at as being almost super human. It is just as important to remember that Michael is very human. He can experience anxiety, fear, sadness, and depression just like everyone else. With the highs of Michael’s career came unbelievable lows as well. Michael is a reminder that even the greatest achievers can struggle with mental health. In this episode, we are going to focus on the struggles Michael and other athletes can face and the strategies Michael continues to use daily to stay on top of his mental health. Suicide Prevention Hotline: https://988lifeline.org/ Free resources for finding help: https://www.psychologytoday.com/ Additional Research: IOC Consensus Statement: https://bjsm.bmj.com/content/53/11/66... IOC Elite Athlete Toolkit: https://olympics.com/athlete365/artic... ADHD Stigma: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles... ADHD Shaming Comments: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles... Exercise as ADHD Treatment: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles... ADHD Connection with Depression: https://link.springer.com/article/10.... ADHD Medication Meta Analysis: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles... Social Media & Mental Health in College Students: https://www.aeaweb.org/articles?id=10... 00:00:00 Intro 00:04:45 ADHD 00:17:33 Anxiety and Depression 00:40:30 Eating Disorders and Body Dysmorphia 00:45:00 Drugs and Risk Seeking Behavior 00:48:30 Sleep & Sleep Disorders 00:50:40 Tools and Protocols 00:55:00 Awareness 00:57:41 Seeking Help 01:00:00 Psychotherapy 01:04:00 Pharmacology 01:05:22 Routine and Structure 01:07:00 Goals 01:10:25 Sleep 01:11:35 Journaling 01:14:00 Avoid Social Media 01:16:16 People Resources - Books Beneath the Surface (Autobiography): https://amzn.to/4eJK4fk No Limits (Autobiography): https://amzn.to/4h7zjVR The Golden Rules: https://amzn.to/48g2vGb 10X is Easier than 2X: https://amzn.to/4faohhe Resources - Podcasts:    • Michael Phelps On Battling Depression & Be...      • Michael Phelps on His Journey to Gold, Men...      • Michael Phelps-After My DUI I Knew Things ...      • Michael Phelps and Grant Hackett — Two Leg...   Resources - YouTube:    • Michael Phelps explains revolutionary new ...      • MP Journey with Michael Phelps and Bob Bow...      • MP Journey: Finding a Coach      • MP Journey with Michael Phelps and Bob Bow...      • MP Journey Series with Michael Phelps and ...      • MP Journey Series with Michael Phelps and ...      • Michael Phelps on Being Strong, Physically...      • JT & Michael Phelps | PGA TOUR Originals      • The Real Michael Phelps: Beyond the Medals...      • Видео      • Michael Phelps - Think Small To Accomplish...      • Michael Phelps ate 10,000 calories every d...   - Calories Burned in Pool    • HTLS 2019: Swimming champ Michael Phelps g...      • Bob Bowman: The Characteristics of Champions   - Characteristics of Champions    • Видео      • Michael Phelps Opens Up About Struggles Wi...      • Working through times of struggle with Mic...      • Michael Phelps on sacrifices, Usain Bolt a...      • Bob Bowman: Characteristics of a Champion      • Coaching Michael Phelps: Secrets from FINA...   Resources - Articles and Movies https://www.si.com/olympics/2015/11/0... The Weight of Gold Exponential Athlete Socials Support the Pod on Patreon:   / exponentialathlete   Twitter: ⁠⁠  / athletexpodcast   Instagram: ⁠⁠  / exponentialathlete   LinkedIn: ⁠⁠  / the-exponential-athlete-podcast   Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4XmCCYs... Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast... Website: https://exponentialathlete.co/ Affiliates: Track your health data with Whoop. Get 1 month free - join.whoop.com/exponentialathlete