Jelena Dokic reveals suicidal thoughts in touching Instagram post

Former world No 4 Jelena Dokic has written an emotional open letter to people who are struggling with their mental health, telling them: “Don’t be ashamed of what you are feeling”

Jelena Dokic Instagram post cover, and the player in 2004 (© Instagram / Tennis Majors)

Cédric Rouquette

June 13, 2022

Jelena Dokic, now aged 39, has revealed that she was close to committing suicide six weeks ago, in a moving Instagram post where she shows herself crying. The Australian, who was ranked No 4 in 2002, said she was making her thoughts public in order to encourage others who are struggling with mental health to share their emotions.

“28.04.2022 – I almost jumped off my 26th floor balcony and took my own life. Will never forget the day. I just wanted the pain and the suffering to stop. I pulled myself of the edge, don’t even know how I managed to do it.Getting professional help saved my life”, reported JDokic, in a post on Instagram on Monday.

Dokic : “I am scared”

Dokic said: “Everything is blurry. Everything is dark. No tone, no picture, nothing makes sense…..just tears, sadness, depression,anxiety and pain. The last six months have been tough. It’s been constant crying everywhere. From hiding in the bathroom when at work to wipe away my tears so that nobody sees it to the unstoppable crying at home within my four walls has been unbearable. Constant feelings of sadness and pain are just not going away and my life has been shattered“.

“I blame myself, I don’t think I am worthy of loving and I am scared. I also know that I still have so many things to be grateful for and then I start to hate myself because by feeling this way, I feel like I am not grateful because I mustn’t be since I want to end it all. Such a vicious cycle in my head”, she cried.

Dokic is known for having been physically abused by her father when she played tennis, each defeat being punished by hits and humiliation. In January, she revealed that her relationship with her partner of 18 years had finished. The former Wimbledon semi-finalist, now a pundit on TV in Australia, said she is sharing her experience to let victims talk about their feelings and not feeling guilty to have them.

“Definitely on the road to recovery”

“This is not easy to write but I have always been open, honest and vulnerable with you all and I deeply believe in the power of sharing our stories to help us get through things and to help each other. I am writing this because I know I am not the only one struggling. Just know that you are not alone,” she wrote.

She’s now describing herself as “definitely on the road to recovery”.

“I believe in the following: it’s ok to feel what I am feeling, it’s ok to feel sad just keep fighting and come back, that’s what I am trying to do and that’s what keeps me going. Don’t be ashamed of what you are feeling. It’s ok to feel this way and you can come back from it. It’s possible, just keep believing”, Jelena Dokic.

Dokic promises to “be back stronger than ever”. French player Alize Cornet encouraged an ovation for her in a post-match interview at the Australian Open, highlighting all the challenges Dokic had been through.

This remains my moment of the year: in a moment entirely all to do with her, Alizé Cornet made space in the spotlight for a friend in need and gave Jelena Dokic her flowers. pic.twitter.com/f9sMuJVQt0
— David Kane (@DKTNNS) April 8, 2022