By: Erin Moore for Body1Olympic figure skater Dorothy Hamill lived the American dream growing up in upper-middle class suburban New York with her family and pursuing the gold, which she grasped at age 19. Her passion for skating and her perky brunette bob and beaming smile became famous and made her one of the country’s golden girls. What many of her fans don’t realize is that Hamill has dealt with depression off and on for most of her life. In her new book A Skating Life: My Story, she tells of her happy childhood and the ups and downs of life that came alongside her and her family’s hidden struggles with depression.
Depression is not something to ignore. This common, treatable condition is characterized by feelings of sadness, hopelessness, irritability, and changes in eating or sleeping patterns. If you or a loved one experience any of these symptoms every day for two weeks, call your doctor. You are not alone.
