Light at the End of the Tunnel

Cheryl Gowin and Dennis Gowin.  Call us at our counseling practice with your feedback, comments, issues, or questions at 434-808-2637.

Have you enjoyed watching the Olympics?  One of the parts of the Olympics I enjoy is hearing the stories of the athletes who are striving for gold.

This year Allison Schmitt’s story caught my attention.  In Rio, she won two medals in swimming.  Her count is now eight Olympic medals, won by competing in three Olympics.  Her story is not one of always feeling like she was on top of the world.  Her story includes a time when this elite swimmer thought victory and life seemed impossible.

Allison has not been shy about her struggles with depression.  Allison began speaking out about her illness after her cousin committed suicide last year.  Her cousin’s suicide brought Allison to the point of realizing that she needed to continue to get help.  Here is what Allison would like to say to her cousin: “If there was one thing I could say, I’d let her know that there was a light at the end of the tunnel.”

Continuing to speak out about her depression, Allison recently provided details of her struggle with depression that almost ended her swimming career to Jenna Bush Hager on the TODAY program as well as Bonnie D. Ford of ESPN.  If you have wrestled with depression, you might see familiarities in her description of her feelings: “When I woke up in the morning, I would look forward to going back to bed.  As soon as my alarm went off, I knew that it’s time for practice.  But my thoughts were, Okay, when can I get back into bed.”

Allison’s depression lead to withdrawal from her friends, family, and coaches.  Fortunately for her, Michael Phelps, a friend, had gone through his personal struggles and recognized her symptoms.  Due to a suspended driver’s license caused by a drunken driving arrest, Michael had Allison drive him to the pool every day.  During these drives, he noticed Allison was unusually quiet.  At a swim meet in January 2015, Michael confronted Allison.  He told her “Hey,  I know you’re not yourself, I know maybe you’re going through things.  I’ve been through a lot, and I’m here for you if you need help.”

Allison cracked. She cried.  She began seeing a psychologist in Baltimore.  Allison was still ashamed and resistant.  Slinking into the waiting room hoping no one would see her, she employed avoidance techniques, fiddled with her keys, zoned out, avoided engaging with the psychologist.  Her commitment waned after a few months and she decided to stop going to counseling.  She told herself she had just had a bad blip and she was fine.

That was until May of last year when Allison’s 17-year-old cousin, April Bocian, committed suicide.  April was also a successful athlete.  April’s death had shifted something in Allison; she wanted to be done with denial.  Allison reached out for the help she needed from counselors, family, and friends.  Now, Allison says her hope is to share her experiences, to help remove the stigma surrounding mental health, and to help those who struggle with it to reach out.

According to the British Journal of Sports Medicine, one in four college athletes experiences depressive symptoms, with women being twice as likely as men to experience symptoms.  NIH estimates 15.7 million adults in the US had at least one major depressive episode in the past year.

If you are struggling with depression, reach out and find the help you need to share your pain with someone who can help.  Call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 800-273-8255.  NEW LIFE LIVE can help you find a counselor by calling 800-NEW-LIFE (639-5433).  Your insurance company may also provide a listing of resources available.  Talk with your personal medical provider.  Search out your pastor, family, and friends; reach out; you are not alone in this struggle. There is light at the end of the tunnel.

Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God.  2 Corinthians 1:3-4 

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Call Cheryl and Dennis us with your feedback, comments, issues, or questions; their phone number is 434-808-2637.