“I had these issues too” - An Olympic champion talks about her ADHD and OCD experience (ADHD & OCD)

When we look at an athlete who has won an Olympic medal, we think about how strong and talented they are, right? But behind that medal, behind that smile, there may be a story hidden behind us that we don't see. This is one such story. Olympic marathon champion Molly Seidel is telling the world today about two mental challenges that she has faced for years in her life, but which she had hidden. Those are conditions called ADHD and OCD.

Who is this Molly? What is her story?

Molly Seidel is an Olympic medalist and marathon runner representing the United States. To anyone looking at her from the outside, she appears to be at the pinnacle of success. But inside, she was fighting a great battle.

While she was in college, doctors diagnosed her with Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) . While it brought some relief at the time, it didn't answer all of her questions. It wasn't until years later, when she was also diagnosed with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) , that she was able to piece together the pieces of her life. "Oh... this is what I've been feeling all this time," she realized.

So, simply put, what are ADHD and OCD?

You may have heard these two names before. Some people use these words jokingly. But these are not things to be taken as jokes. These are actually medically recognized conditions.

What is ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder)?

Simply put, a person with this condition has difficulty maintaining attention , controlling their activities (hyperactivity) , and acting on impulses (impulsivity) .

Imagine, you sit down to do something important, but every five minutes your mind wanders to other things. Or, you feel like you can't sit still, you're constantly fidgeting, your hands are fidgeting. When someone is talking, you feel like you have to answer before they finish. These are some of the common symptoms of ADHD. This is not 'laziness' or 'inattentiveness', but a condition caused by changes in the functioning of neurotransmitters in the brain.

So what is OCD (Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder)?

It is made up of two parts: Obsessions (thoughts that bother the mind) and Compulsions (repeated actions that you do to relieve the stress caused by those thoughts) .

• Obsessions: are intrusive thoughts or images that repeatedly come into your mind without your consent and that cause you distress, fear, or discomfort. For example, thoughts like "I don't know if I locked the door," or "My hands are full of germs."

• Compulsions: These are things you do repeatedly to relieve the stress caused by those disturbing thoughts. For example, checking the door ten times to make sure it's locked, washing your hands for hours because you think there are germs, or doing the same thing because you think things need to be tidy.

See the table below to clearly understand the characteristics of both these conditions.

How did Molly cope with these challenges in life?

After being diagnosed, Molly began to find ways to manage her condition. She says there are a few key things that have helped her.

• Talk Therapy: This involves talking openly about your problems and feelings with a mental health professional and learning how to cope with them.

• Somatic Therapies: These are therapies that use the connection between our body's sensations and our mind to help reduce stress.

• Meditation and Mindfulness: Learning to keep your mind focused and live in the present moment was a great strength for Molly.

• Breath Work: By controlling your breathing pattern, you can reduce stress and anxiety.

Molly says she does these things "super regularly." That means these aren't things she'll do for a day or two and then stop. They're things she wants to make a part of her life.

Wasn't she afraid to talk to society about this?

In fact, she was very uncomfortable talking about it at first. She says, "Very few people talk about these things. Five years ago, it was like no one was talking about these things at all."

Criticism and misunderstandings from society are very common in our country when it comes to talking about mental health issues. Molly also had to face these things. But over time, she learned to ignore the criticism. Because she spoke out about it, thousands of other people suffering from the same problems started sending her messages of thanks.

"Those are the things that keep me going," says Molly. She says this with great force:

The biggest lesson we can learn from Molly's story is that a mental health issue is not a weakness, but a condition that needs to be managed, just like diabetes or high blood pressure. No matter how successful or strong you are, you can still have these issues. The important thing is to recognize it, not be afraid to ask for help, and make your life successful through the right treatment methods.

If you feel like you have these symptoms, don't suffer alone. Don't be ashamed. Please talk to your family doctor or a qualified medical professional about this. It will be the strongest step you can take for yourself.

ADHD, OCD, Mental Health, Molly Seidel, Olympics, Anxiety, Sports Health