Professional Athletics and her intense emotions go hand in hand with Raven Saunders, a 25-year-old shotputter, and 2021 Olympian, who has faced stiff pressure, devastating setbacks, and euphoric achievements as when she placed fifth in the 2016 Olympics. Saunders was riding high after the Rio games, honored with a parade in her hometown of Charleston, South Carolina, and a newfound celebrity at college.

But that joy was soon replaced by stress, anxiety, frustration, and depression, and Saunders nearly attempted suicide. But she reached out for help and has since become an advocate for athletes' mental health, as well as an example of how to develop difficult yet critical coping skills.

Since then she has developed techniques like understanding her triggers by noticing signs like isolation, which help her learn meditation and to cut the outside world off when needed. To void self-doubting and constantly beating self down with words, Saunder begins using positive affirmations daily to stop the negative talk. Doing these things has made me feel better since I'm not allowing myself to sit and absorb being in this dark place. When going from a high point to a low point, I think: I've made it through this time and time again. There's no reason I can't make it through now.

To learn more about Raven Saunder's story follow Psychology Today's September Issue