The bodybuilding legend Chris Bumstead is promptly known for being the champion of four consecutive Mr. Olympia titles, dating from 2019 to 2022. He is known as the most inspiring and dedicated bodybuilder in today’s time and is often compared to the legend Arnold Schwarzenegger. However, his journey hasn’t been easy.
Chris Bumstead, who is nicknamed “Cbum” shared in a YouTube video about his mental health struggles and stress. The bodybuilder was asked how he deals with anxiety, to which he replied that he has been trying to manage it for his whole life. He continued by saying that anxiety has also created a lot of pressure on him for things that are out of his or anyone’s control.
He said, “So now you’re putting more control on your anxiety and you don’t have any help over it and it creates more stress. I’m still f***ing battling it. Learning how to relax when it comes. Accept that it’s there and not be too hard on myself. Just understand that it’s part of life whatever I’m doing there’s probably a reason it’s making me anxious because it’s probably important”.
He shared that it took him a long time to start learning to communicate about it. “My whole life I’ve fu**ing held stuff in and I didn’t feel like I should talk about my stuff and felt like I should be able to handle it on my own and thought it would be a burden if I shared it with anyone, and that made my anxiety grow and get bigger“.
However, over time he developed a fear that he might be a burden to his family. But, when Bumstead started talking about his stress and sharing it with his family and wife Courtney, he started feeling better.
Did Chris Bumstead take therapy?
In today’s time, therapy has gained significant value as people started talking about mental health issues. Among many athletes who go to a therapist, one prominent name is Chris Bumstead.
“Therapy probably just gives you a new perspective of things and there’s so many things where I’ve come in and I’m pretty f**king stubborn,” he revealed.
He shared that he needed a therapist with whom he could argue and would argue back. Luckily, he found one and often debated with his therapist. This taught him to see both sides of anything before making any conclusions.
Bumstead explained that the most important part of therapy is taking up disagreements. It helps people get an alternate perspective on various things that helps in personal growth and also self-awareness.