Australian Swimmer Ian Thorpe Battles Depression Since Childhood

Ian Thorpe, one of the most popular Australian swimmers, has revealed about his struggle with depression.

He has won five gold medals at the 2000 Sydney and 2004 Athens Games. But in 2014, he was admitted to a rehabilitation center after being found disoriented on a Sydney street.

He has been battling depression from childhood but has not revealed about it to his loved ones. Recently, he has become a part of a campaign backed by Kate Middleton, Young Minds Matter that aims to raise awareness of children's mental health problems.

‘Australian Swimmer Ian Thorpe revealed that he has battled mental health problems since teenage and feels happy for overcoming it.’

"I am someone who has struggled with mental health issues since I was a teen. From the outside, many would not see my pain nor be able to relate to the sometimes-daily struggle I was facing. This is part of the deception of depression and also mental illness: what may appear at face value is a stark difference from the agony that lies within," Thorpe wrote in a blog post.

He also revealed in the blog that he wanted to be a hermit and shut himself from the world. He underwent treatment for depression and felt tremendously happy for it. Thorpe now encourages adolescents to recognise and confront any mental health issues.

"If you concede to your illness and accept its reality you fall into the trap of not only being depressed but also taking on the depressed mindset," he said.

"Even though I may at times struggle with depression, I've decided I don't want it to define me. Although it may have taken me a while to get to this point and realization in my life, I assure you it's worth it. I realize the wonder of the world and I approach each day with an enthusiasm that I haven't felt for what seems like an eternity," he added.

Source: Medindia