Michael Phelps and Other Leaders Share Their Own Mental Health 'Red Flags' -- and Strategies for Moving Forward (Video) For fitness entrepreneur Emily Skye, stress can manifest physically in the form of headaches and trouble breathing. She uses exercise to recover.
By Hayden Field
In the third episode of Entrepreneur's video series on mental health, four leaders share their mental health journeys in the form of their own red flags -- as well as strategies for moving forward when those red flags surface. We talked with American swimmer Michael Phelps, fitness entrepreneur Emily Skye, Of a Kind co-founder Claire Mazur and DIY MFA founder Gabriela Pereira.
Phelps said feeling isolated and moody is his biggest warning sign, while for Mazur, it's waking up feeling depressed. For Skye, working too hard or dealing with an onslaught of stress can manifest physically in the form of headaches and trouble breathing.
"That's when I've got to stop and go, 'Okay, what's happening here?'" said Skye. "'Why am I feeling this way?'"
Identifying red flags is a good first step in managing a mental health condition. When Phelps experiences his own warning signs, he sometimes seeks out his therapist, while Skye and Mazur tend to turn to physical exercise.
Related: Watch 3 Entrepreneurs Talk About Their Mental Health Journey -- and Their Advice for Other Founders
Watch the video above for more.
