Colton Underwood’s Depression, Anxiety 'Caught Up to Me' Before Past Suicide Attempt: I Was 'Not Healthy' (Exclusive)

• Colton Underwood opens up about his struggles with depression and anxiety
• The TV personality talks about how his past suicide attempt forced him to open up about his problems and get proper treatment
• The new Chief Community Officer of mental health app WhiteFlag, he encourages people to seek help even if they’re not “ready” for traditional therapy

In the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, Colton Underwood has struggled with depression, anxiety and a host of personal issues. Everything in his life was going wrong, he says, and he “didn’t see a way out”.

Former Bachelor he was alone in his home in Los Angeles when he attempted suicide, which fortunately was unsuccessful. He calls it a turning point in his mental health journey.

“I woke up the next morning and I remember staring into my dog’s eyes and realizing I needed help,” he tells PEOPLE. “That was my moment where I have to make some changes because I’m not healthy right now.”

“I immediately put my dog ​​in my Jeep and drove 15 hours to Colorado to my parents and told them everything that was going on,” Underwood recalls. “The next week I saw a therapist and a psychologist and started a plan.”

The 32-year-old’s mental health issues are rooted in the fact that he spent years hiding who he was. Underwood came out as gay in April 2021 during Good morning America interview. Before that, he didn’t admit to himself that he was gay – even while trying to find love with women on multiple shows within Bachelor franchise.

“I was depressed because I wasn’t living my most authentic life. I was kind of hiding and had a lot of shame and guilt about who I was,” he explains, in honor of World Mental Health Day. “I also had a lot of anxiety because I was publicly heterosexual and I kind of doubled down so many times in my life and career on what I imagined myself to be. So it all really caught up with me.”

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Colton Underwood.

Courtesy of Colton Underwood

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“I think for a while I knew deep down that I was struggling, but I couldn’t say it out loud. I couldn’t even say it to myself,” he says. “And unfortunately, it must have been so much that I had that failed suicide attempt.”

As for Underwood, after receiving an official diagnosis of his mental health problems, he required various forms of treatment.

Recognizing that “mental health is always a journey,” over the years the former NFL player went to therapy, took medication and leaned on loved ones. Now she is at a point where she feels comfortable and healthy.

“I think different things will work for different people at different times,” he says. “At times I needed peers, at times I needed a therapist, at times I needed a psychologist, at times I needed medication.”

“Everyone can relate to that,” he adds. “They need to be able to break free of the stigma and shame that many people always associate with the words ‘mental health’ and get a proper diagnosis. I think that’s the first step to healing: being vulnerable enough to ask for help.”

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Colton Underwood.

Courtesy of Colton Underwood

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Since going public with his sexuality and mental health issues — notably in his Netflix reality series, Out comes Colton — The TV personality says that many people have turned to him and confided in him about their battles.

While he graciously offers support, he also wants to introduce people to other sources of help. That’s one reason Underwood is the new chief community officer for WhiteFlag, a free mental health app that provides specialized and anonymous peer-to-peer support to those struggling.

“I may be someone they feel comfortable reaching out to, but I also understand that I may not be the most qualified in all things. Peer-to-peer counseling was something that worked really well for me,” he shares. “The way WhiteFlag is built really allows people to take a step in the right direction of healing their mental health without feeling like they’ve suddenly dived straight into therapy.”

“It’s very useful for me to talk about things with other people,” he continues. “’Relationship trauma’ is a word I like to use. Comparing our healing processes is something that I have felt has been very helpful in my journey.”

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White Flag

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Today, Underwood says, “I feel great,” noting that he’s figured out how to manage his mental health.

The star – who recently welcomed his first child, son Bishop, with husband Jordan C. Brown – admits that parenthood has also motivated and inspired him in ways that surprised him.

“Now I’m helping to contribute to the world my son will grow up in and I want to continue breaking down barriers for everything he’ll go through in his little life,” she says. “I want to pave the road and feel like I’m contributing to the healing of our country. We’re in a mental health crisis right now and people don’t know where to ask for help at any time.”

“I have the opportunity to be what my parents were to me, to hundreds and thousands of people who lend a hand.” And I definitely don’t take that lightly,” she adds, pointing to her Stride For Kindness: End Bullying Challenge, which she hopes will promote healthy habits of well-being.

Colton Underwood and husband Jordan C. Brown.

Courtesy of Colton Underwood

As he continues to embrace his “responsibility” as a lawyer, Underwood tells PEOPLE that he often looks back on how long it took him to seek help for his depression and anxiety. He hopes people will hear about his journey and be inspired to take action as soon as possible.

“Keep moving forward,” he stresses. “Even if you sometimes feel like you’re going backwards, keep moving forward. Even if it’s a small step, start small, ask for help.”

“Recognize that there’s no single solution, there’s no one-size-fits-all approach to this, and you shouldn’t be afraid to explore and experiment with different types of treatment methods,” Underwood says.

If you or someone you know is thinking about suicide, contact the 988 Suicide and Crisis Line by dialing 988, texting “STRENGTH” to the Crisis Line at 741741 or going to 988lifeline.org.

Categories: Trends
Source: HIS Education