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Michael Phelps shared insights about men's mental health and emphasized that embracing both mental and physical well-being makes them their own superheroes. Phelps struggled with mental health issues during his competitive years, but has been in therapy since. Michael Phelps, the most decorated Olympian and one of the greatest athletes of all time, broke multiple records in the pool and built a trajectory that remains unmatched. Despite his success in sports, Phelps faced several mental health challenges during his competitive years and even considered ending his life at one point. However, he learned to cope better after checking himself into therapy and has since been an advocate for mental health awareness.Phelps recently shared a story on Instagram, highlighting the emotions men experience and the things they do despite the taboos surrounding their mental health. "Men cry. Men have trauma. Men have insecurities. Men self harm. Men have eating disorders. Men go to therapy. Men have body image issues. Men get abused. Men get heartbroken. Men feel things. Men need love and care. Men deserve support."Phelps captioned his story as:"Facts. Let's be our own version of superheroes! Mental + physical health = super hero."Phelps shares bold message on Men's Mental Health month; Instagram - @m_phelps00The 23-time Olympic gold medalist has often used his social media platforms, partnered with organizations like Talkspace, and led public campaigns to raise awareness about mental health issues, encouraging people to break the stigma and prioritize their well-being.Michael Phelps once shared how he has been teaching his kids to deal with emotionsPhelps at the Los Angeles Rams v Arizona Cardinals - Source: GettyMichael Phelps has four sons, Boomer, Beckett, Maverick, and Nico, and, quite naturally, the boys clash with each other, throw things around, and engage in other loud activities, which the former swimmer calls 'big emotions'. In an A Safe Pool podcast episode, the 28-time Olympic medalist shared how he and his wife, Nicole Phelps, introduced a 'lion breath' technique at home for the boys to address their feelings and allow them a chance to voice their problems. "It's something we started talking about with our boys. Our boys, obviously, there are a lot of big emotions in the house. A lot of screaming, sometimes punches thrown, kicking, shoving, things, and objects that are thrown. You know, so at times they need to be able to take that deep breath, and we implemented this thing called the lion breath, they just roar as deep as they possibly can. Just scream, and at that point, they are able to take a step back and be like, 'Oh, Beckett did this, Boomer did this, Maverick did this,' and they can talk it through instead of compartmentalising it, letting it pile to the point that they explode," Phelps said.Michael Phelps retired from swimming after the 2016 Rio Olympics but continues to inspire and help young people pursue their goals through his eponymous foundation.
