Michael Phelps Gets Real About Mental Health Struggles Amid Pandemic: 'This Has Been The Most Difficult Time'

Olympic legend Michael Phelps is opening up to discuss just how difficult things have been during this coronavirus pandemic.

The 34-year-old was one of a dozen high-profile participants in Yahoo Life‘s virtual Reset Your Mind event on Wednesday of this week, and while speaking in a pre-recorded video from his home, the incredible athlete really opened up about the current state of his mental health amid quarantine and self-isolation.

During the virtual panel event — which also included celebs and high-profile public figures Serena Williams, Hilaria Baldwin, Mayim Bialik, Jewel, Deepak Chopra, Kevin Love, Jillian Michaels, and Shailene Woodley — the Olympian opened up about struggling quite a bit with the unknown.

Most concerning, Phelps got real about “the darkest moments” he’s been through amid the coronavirus scare, saying:

“I can say this has been the most difficult time for myself to go through. I’ve gone through some of, probably the darkest moments, like continuous darkest moments that I’ve gone through. They’ve gone on week stretches and it’s scary. This time is probably the most stressful time we’ve all gone through. Really not knowing what to expect, when it’s gonna end, when we’re gonna be able to go back to normal.”

Wow! Obviously, we know it’s been tough for people from all walks of life to cope with this pandemic, and the fallout from an extended quarantine. But to hear Phelps tell it like this is definitely eye-opening!

The Maryland native continued on from there, adding more about suicide specifically, and the disturbing rates of increase he’s seen and been following amid the pandemic:

“It breaks my heart every single time I read a story about an athlete or a celebrity or just somebody fighting COVID who takes their own life. Suicide rates have to stop climbing. It honestly, it drives me insane. I want to start crying right now just because it’s — I know how difficult it is in this time. I personally have felt that I don’t want to be alive in my life. I’ve felt that feeling before, and it’s scary.”

Ugh. So, so scary, indeed.

It’s not all bad, though! In fact, Phelps’ resilience during this difficult personal time has allowed him to figure out solutions to some of these challenge.

The swimmer noted:

“I think for me, what I’ve been able to learn through my experiences through mental health has been sticking to the same routine. So for me, it’s working out every day, it’s make sure I’m getting the right amount of sleep. If I need to go on a walk, go on a walk. Taking care of what I need to, to make sure I’m the best me. I always try to turn a negative into a positive. When you reset your focus, you’re take a step back, taking a deep breath, and starting a new journey again.”

Amen to that!!

What do U think about Phelps’ open, raw honesty, Perezcious readers? Definitely admirable and very real… hopefully it can help others who may be going through the same thing, too!