Michael Phelps And Allison Schmitt Get Real About Going To Therapy

Olympic athletes Allison Schmitt and Michael Phelps know what it takes to win in the pool: Train hard, push yourself and listen to your coach.  But both swimmers say they also had another source of support that made all the difference ― a psychologist.  “Every time that I came out of that office, I felt so much better,” Phelps told HuffPost. “I was so much more relieved just talking...it didn’t matter what I was talking about. I was getting it out and I was communicating.”  Phelps and Schmitt were presented with special recognition awards at the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration’s annual event to recognize National Children’s Mental Health Awareness Day in Washington, D.C. on May 4. The pair have partnered with SAMSHA to encourage kids to view mental and behavioral health as a core component of their overall wellness. Schmitt says not asking for help when you are struggling with a mental health condition is akin to getting swallowed “in the rip tide.”  “Get that lifeguard out there,” she said. “It will make it a lot easier even during those rough water times.” The swimmers have a long history of friendship and support. Schmitt entered treatment in early 2015 to help manage depression and she credits Phelps with encouraging her to ask for help.  “[Michael] said to me, ‘I can tell there is something wrong,’” Schmitt told The D...
Source: Healthy Living - The Huffington Post - Category: Consumer Health News Source Type: news