“When I speak publicly about being diagnosed with ADHD and get absolutely flamed online for it, it’s frustrating and a little bit heart breaking sometimes because I know there are other people out there who are dealing with this,” Molly said in a recent conversation with WebMD. It wasn’t until years later - after medaling at the Tokyo Olympics in 2021 and finishing fourth with a personal best in the 2021 NYC Marathon - that Molly discovered the root source of her ongoing mental health challenges: attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). She continued to compete through college, winning several NCAA championships, before seeking treatment for eating disorders. Molly Seidel was diagnosed with obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) while studying and competing as a Division I athlete at the University of Notre Dame. Even with all her triumphs in competition, perhaps what is even more remarkable about Molly is her candor and courage in discussing and addressing a series of mental health challenges. 'Since then I have been committed to taking action, therapy has been my number one, it's like the personal trainer of my brain.Molly Seidel is one of only three American women to medal in the Olympics in one of the most brutal of events, the marathon. 'I realized I was at a place where I needed actual help, I had hit that rock bottom, and I checked myself into the Columbia psych ward,' Zee said.

Zee said running was her therapy during stormy periods in her life. Olympic gold medalist Molly Seidel, 'Good Morning America' chief meteorologist Ginger Zee and elected officials shared their own mental health journeys and how running helped them.

The event, called Open Run for an Open Mind, was held in Astoria Park in Queens on Tuesday morning. NEW YORK (WABC) - May is Mental Health Awareness Month and the New York Road Runners is marking it by hosting an event celebrating the positive effects running has on mental health. The CDC says starting an exercise program like running can help lower the risk of depression by 18-20%.

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