Colton Underwood, former star of “The Bachelor,” has been open about his struggles with psychological well being, significantly his battle with despair and suicidal ideas.
His challenges reached a peak earlier than he publicly got here out as homosexual in April 2021, throughout which period he skilled deep inner battle and emotions of disgrace about his sexuality.
In a brand new interview, Colton Underwood revealed that at one level, the stress and worry of popping out led him to try suicide, a pivotal second that grew to become life-changing for him.
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Colton Underwood Opens Up About Psychological Well being And His Tried Suicide
Through the COVID-19 pandemic, Underwood discovered himself battling despair and anxiousness, revealing that it bought so dangerous he “did not see a method out.”
Whereas alone in his Los Angeles residence, the previous “Bachelor” says he tried suicide, an act that fortunately failed. He now describes it because the turning level in his journey towards higher psychological well being.
“I wakened the subsequent morning and I keep in mind vividly staring into my canine’s eyes and realizing I wanted assist,” he advised People Magazine. “That was my second of, I’ve to make some modifications as a result of I am not wholesome proper now.”
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Colton Underwood Has Since Sought Assist And Is Constantly Working On His Psychological Well being
Underwood shared that this darkish interval compelled him to confront his psychological well being head-on and search assist.
“I instantly loaded my canine into my Jeep and drove 15 hours to Colorado to my dad and mom and I advised them all the pieces that was happening,” he added. “The subsequent week I used to be seeing a therapist and a psychologist and getting on a sport plan.”
He has since advocated for psychological well being consciousness.
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Colton Underwood Struggled With His True Id, Which Was A Massive Motive For His Psychological Well being Struggles
Underwood’s mental health struggles stemmed from spending years hiding his true identification. The 32-year-old got here out as homosexual in an April 2021 “Good Morning America” interview, however previous to that, he had by no means totally accepted his sexuality, even whereas trying to find love with girls on numerous “Bachelor” franchise exhibits.
In recognition of World Psychological Well being Day, Underwood is talking out about how hiding his true identification fueled his battle with despair.
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“I used to be depressed as a result of I wasn’t residing my most genuine life. I used to be type of hiding myself and had plenty of disgrace and guilt round who I used to be,” he revealed. “And I additionally had plenty of anxiousness as a result of I used to be so publicly straight and I type of doubled down so many occasions in my life and profession who I used to be projecting to be. So that every one actually caught as much as me.”
“I feel I knew deep down for some time that I used to be struggling, however I could not say it out loud. I could not even say it to myself,” the previous actuality TV star added. “And sadly, it bought to be a lot that I had that failed suicide try.”
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Colton Underwood Says Psychological Well being Is All the time A Journey
Underwood first rose to fame in 2018 as a contestant on “The Bachelorette,” later turning into the star of “The Bachelor” in 2019. All through his appearances on the truth exhibits, there was hypothesis about his sexuality, however he didn’t publicly handle it on the time.
Acknowledging that “psychological well being is all the time a journey,” the previous NFL participant has sought remedy, taken remedy, and relied on the help of his family members over time. “I feel that for various folks, various things are going to work at completely different occasions,” he says. “I wanted friends at occasions, I wanted a therapist at occasions, I wanted a psychologist at occasions, I wanted remedy at occasions.”
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In the present day, Underwood says he has reached a spot the place he feels comfy and wholesome in each his thoughts and his identification. “Everyone can relate to that,” he continued. “They want to have the ability to be freed from the stigma and the disgrace that lots of people all the time carry across the phrases ‘psychological well being,’ and get correctly recognized. I feel that is step one to therapeutic: being weak sufficient to ask for assist.”
Colton Underwood Turns into An Advocate For LGBTQ+ Rights
Since popping out, Underwood has turn out to be an advocate for LGBTQ+ rights and visibility, utilizing his platform to share his journey and encourage others.
He even launched a podcast known as “Evolving with Colton,” the place he discusses his private experiences and the challenges he is confronted alongside the way in which.
