Former Australian tennis player, Jelena Dokić recently opened up about her mental health issues. She also spoke on how she nearly took her own life in April during struggles with her mental health.
She said, “Such a vicious cycle in my head. The result: almost jumping off my 26th floor balcony on April 28th. Will never forget the day, I just wanted the pain and the suffering to stop. I pulled myself off the edge, don’t even know how I managed to do it.”
Dokić has been open about her mental health struggles. In her 2017 book “Unbreakable” she said that she had suffered years of physical and emotional abuse from her father.
On Instagram Jelena said that the last six months had been tough but seeking professional help had saved her life.
Jelena Dokić reveals how she almost took her own life
Jelena Dokić said that she had suicidal thoughts before seeking professional help. She tried to take her own life on 28th April, 2022 by trying to jump from 26th floor balcony.
She said, “Everything is blurry. Everything is dark. No tone, no picture, nothing makes sense… just tears, sadness, depression, anxiety and pain. The last six months have been tough. It’s been constant crying everywhere.”
The Aussie opened about how she suffered from mental health breakdowns after breaking up with her long time boyfriend, Tin Bikic. After which she took to Instagram to address being body-shamed while covering the Australian Open.
She said, “From hiding in the bathroom when at work, to wipe away my tears so that nobody sees it, to the unstoppable crying at home within my four walls has been unbearable.”
Dokić said seeking professional help “saved” her life, and that she decided to publicly share her story because she knows that she is not the only one struggling.
Every single time when someone decides to share their story and encourage others to seek help means a lot. It takes a lot of courage too.
There is never wrong time to seek help. Remember that everyone experiences mental health issues differently.
Thank you Jelena Dokic. pic.twitter.com/x9noGOIiS0
— Daria Abramowicz (@abramowiczd) June 13, 2022
She said, “Just know that you are not alone. I am not going to say that I am doing great now but I am definitely on the road to recovery. Some days are better than others and sometimes I take a step forward and then a step back but I’m fighting and I believe I can get through this.”
Mental health has been in the spotlight in tennis since former world no.1, Naomi Osaka withdrew from last year’s French Open and said she was battling depression.
Alexander Zverev opened up about his own mental health issues during the recent French Open. Saying how social media affected their mental health conditions. Social media meant current players were subject to “a lot more hatred” than past ones.
