Michael Phelps Opens Up on Darkest Days and Why He Didn’t Overdose

Michael Phelps is speaking candidly about a painful mental health struggle, describing a period when he was prescribed Ambien and was thinking about not wanting to be alive anymore. In a new interview with NBC Nightly News’ Tom Llamas for the series Great Americans, airing Friday, April 17, he said he is thankful he had only 30 milligrams left. He said that if he had 100 milligrams, he probably would have taken it all.

The remarks add a stark new layer to the public story of the 28-time Olympic medalist, who said the turning point came when he realized something had to change. He said that moment led him to ask for help, and that the decision was tied to how he saw himself during that period.

Michael Phelps describes the moment that changed everything

In the interview, Michael Phelps said he was prescribed Ambien while he was dealing with serious mental health struggles. He said the thoughts he was having included “not wanting to be alive anymore, ” and he reflected on how close he may have come to taking too much of the medication.

“You know, I’m happy I only had 30 milligrams left, ” Phelps said. He added that if he had “100 [milligrams], ” he “probably would have taken it all. ” He also said, “And who knows if I’m sitting here today?”

The emotional comments were part of a broader conversation about the pressure and isolation he felt. Michael Phelps said that at that point he knew, “Something’s gotta change. ” He said he then searched for a way out and realized he wanted better for himself, which is when he asked for help.

Michael Phelps says he did not see himself as a person

Michael Phelps also spoke about how he viewed himself during the years when he was winning at the highest level. He said that even as he built a record that made him the most decorated Olympian in history, he did not fully see himself beyond the sport.

“My whole career, I looked in the mirror and saw somebody with a pair of goggles and a swimming cap, not somebody with feelings and emotions, ” Phelps said. “I never saw myself as a human being, ” he added.

He said that outlook has changed over time. Now, he said, he sees “a gray beard and a man bun, ” and he said he loves that because he is able to talk about his feelings and emotions.

What the interview adds to the conversation

The interview places Michael Phelps’ remarks within a wider conversation about mental health and the importance of speaking up. He has been advocating for mental health over the years, and in this appearance he connected that advocacy to his own experience in direct, personal terms.

The series Great Americans is described as highlighting people using their platforms to strengthen their communities. This episode, airing Friday, April 17, centers on Phelps’ reflection on survival, vulnerability, and the decision to ask for help.

For Michael Phelps, the message is blunt and personal: the moment he nearly overdosed was also the moment he understood that something had to change, and that asking for help was the step that mattered most.