LPGA’s Christina Kim comes clean about her battle with depression
Christina Kim has recently posted a blog about her experiences with depression and many golf observers have praised her for the effort.
The post is almost 3,000 words long and is full of details about her battle with the illness. Kim was surprisingly forthcoming and addressed her issues with clarity that could only come after a firsthand experience of what it is like to live with depression.
Talking about the “elephant in the room”, Kim offered both a history of her illness and the steps she took to fight her way out. She posted a heartfelt appeal to anyone who shows signs of depression to seek medical attention immediately.
For Kim, it all started in 2012 when she was playing in the Sime Darby, an LPGA event held in Malaysia. She went to a spa before the event to treat herself. She suffered an injury there that would start the whole chain of unfortunate events.
She barely finished the event and her dismal performance planted serious doubts in her mind. She started to question her game and her abilities as a golfer. This developed into serious symptoms that went as far as the thoughts of suicide.
This aspect of Kim’s life was something that fans were not aware of. They have become accustomed to the flamboyant personality that Kim displays to the outside world. No one was aware that she was undergoing so much in her life.
Talking about her motivations of writing about her illness, Kim said, “If by writing this, I am able to help even one soul seek help for what too many of us keep hidden in shame, my life’s work would be fulfilled”.
She blames depression for ruining her game. She added that the illness affected all aspects of her life and career. She sought help and was prescribed an antidepressant. She now considers herself to be “cautiously optimistic”.
In her final words, Kim said, “Harrowing as it has been to relive the last year and a half of my life, in doing so, I also feel more cleansed than I have in a very long time”.
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