Serena Williams Opens Up About Struggles: Embracing Hope for Tomorrow
Serena Williams bravely opens up about her current emotional state, acknowledging her mental health challenges in a raw and vulnerable social media post In her powerful message, she reminds us that tomorrow is a new day filled with hope and possibilities
Serena Williams. Taylor Hill/FilmMagic
Serena Williams expresses her honest emotions saying, "I'm not okay today. And that's okay. It's normal to not feel okay every single day. If you're not okay today, I'm here for you. Tomorrow is a new day. Love you." The 42-year-old shared this message on X (formerly Twitter) on Tuesday, November 28th.
Williams took to X once again to share a heartwarming selfie with her three-month-old daughter, Adira River, cuddled up against her. Expressing her joy, she wrote, “This brings me so much happiness.”
Furthermore, the tennis superstar has been candid about her mental health in the past. In September 2022, Williams engaged in a frank conversation with Selena Gomez for the singer's mental health platform, Wondermind, as part of the "Lose You to Love Me" campaign.
"Being mentally fit for me means learning the importance of taking time to shut down," Williams explained. "I actually started doing this years ago, before mental health became a widely discussed topic. It was just a matter of consciously deciding to shut myself down for the day. It has always been something I've done subconsciously."
The seven-time Wimbledon champion, who retired in September 2022, emphasized the importance of prioritizing mental well-being and noted that she now makes time for "shut down moments."
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She disclosed, "I have firm boundaries when it comes to my time, and I don't allow anyone to overstep them. It's a struggle because I often neglect doing things for myself. I've acknowledged this repeatedly, and I'm actively working to improve. Prioritizing my needs has become essential, and when I need to disconnect, I do so without hesitation."
Williams disclosed in August 2018 that she was grappling with postpartum emotions, which led her to withdraw from the Rogers Cup citing personal reasons. She had given birth to her daughter, Alexis Olympia, in September 2017 with her partner, Ohanian (40).
In a message posted on Instagram at the time, she shared, "Last week was a challenging one for me. Not only was I dealing with some difficult personal issues, but I also felt like I was stuck in a rut. Most of all, I struggled with feelings of inadequacy as a mother."
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During New York Fashion Week in February 2020, Serena Williams discussed with Anna Wintour how her perspective on heroes had evolved since becoming a mother.
"I now see moms as my heroes because women are truly superheroes," Williams expressed to Time. "To give birth and then return to work two or three weeks later, or maintain a 9 to 5 job... I'm grateful not to have to face that challenge."
