Even Olympic Athletes Suffer Depression

Why Depression Doesn’t Discriminate

Allison Schmitt’s willingness to speak publicly about her experience with depression helped shift a long-standing cultural assumption: that high performance and mental health struggles cannot coexist. In reality, the pressure of elite competition, intense training schedules, and identity tied to athletic achievement can all contribute to depressive episodes. The same emotional vulnerabilities that exist in the general population exist in Olympic athletes, and in young men navigating early adulthood.

For young adult men specifically, depression often goes unrecognized. Research from the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) indicates that men are less likely than women to seek help for depression, and more likely to express symptoms through irritability, risk-taking, or substance use rather than visible sadness. This makes early recognition of the signs especially important.

Understanding the Connection Between Depression and Substance Use

Depression and substance use disorder frequently occur together. When depression goes untreated, some individuals turn to alcohol or other substances to manage emotional pain, fatigue, or the inability to feel pleasure. Over time, substance use can worsen depressive symptoms, creating a cycle that becomes increasingly difficult to break without professional support.

Co-occurring mental health and substance use disorders are common, and they respond best to integrated treatment that addresses both conditions at the same time. When only one is treated, the other often continues to fuel the cycle, which makes lasting recovery much harder to achieve.

At Red Oak Recovery, our clinical team works with young adult men who are navigating both depression and substance use. Our trauma-informed approach recognizes that emotional pain is often at the root of self-destructive behavior, and that healing requires more than symptom management.

How Depression Is Treated

Effective treatment for depression typically involves a combination of approaches tailored to the individual. The most evidence-supported options include:

• Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT): A structured, goal-oriented therapy that helps individuals identify and change negative thought patterns contributing to depression.
• Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT): Particularly useful for individuals who experience intense emotional swings or have difficulty regulating mood.
• EMDR Therapy: Effective for depression rooted in unresolved trauma, EMDR helps the brain process distressing memories that continue to affect daily functioning.
• Group Therapy: Peer connection is a clinically recognized component of recovery. Sharing experience with others who understand reduces isolation and builds accountability.
• Experiential and Adventure Therapy: At Red Oak Recovery’s Blue Ridge Mountains campus, young men engage in hiking, fly fishing, canoeing, and other nature-based activities that support emotional regulation and build confidence outside of a clinical setting.

Medication may also be appropriate for some individuals and is evaluated on a case-by-case basis by our medical team under the supervision of our Medical Director, Dr. Brady Schroer.

Depression Treatment for Young Adult Men at Red Oak Recovery

Red Oak Recovery serves men who are ready to address depression, trauma, and co-occurring substance use in a structured, supportive environment. Our residential and extended care programs are located in the Blue Ridge Mountains of North Carolina, where the natural setting is an active part of the therapeutic model, not just a backdrop.

Our clinical team provides individualized care that integrates evidence-based therapies with experiential approaches. We work with each man to understand the emotional and behavioral patterns that have kept him stuck, and to build the skills and community needed to move forward.

If you or someone you care about is showing signs of depression, reaching out is not a sign of weakness. It is the same decision Allison Schmitt made, and one that can change the direction of a life. To speak with our admissions team, call 828.382.9699 or email admissionsteam@redoakrecovery.com.