“Hula-Hooping saved my life!”
After decades of suffering from clinical depression, Abby Lee, 40, discovered a fun, at-home pastime that restored her joy and turned her life around
Nope. I’m not even going to respond, Abby Lee thought as she opened the email invite to a friend’s birthday party, which was being held on the same weekend as her own birthday. I don’t want to talk to anyone right now.
“I was in a dark place and feeling so worthless,” Abby recalls. “Years earlier, I had lost my cousin to suicide—he was 19 years old. His funeral was held on my birthday, so I had just stopped celebrating. I wanted my friends to be understanding and compassionate…and not to have a celebration on what I perceived to be the worst day of my life. I didn’t want a birthday party; I wanted someone to show they understood and cared. So I just didn’t respond.
“Not answering their invitation was a cry for help, although, looking back, I realize they couldn’t possibly have known. I was acting irrationally because of the depression. To make matters worse, I found out later that the party had actually been a surprise party for me. They were so upset that I didn’t go.
Feeling hopeless
“Although I didn’t know it at the time, I started to experience depression when I was a teenager. I’m a naturally outgoing person, so I never isolated myself, but I felt like I always had to hide how I was feeling and put on a happy face.
“At family gatherings, I would be extra bubbly. But when I got home, I would cry for hours and wallow in the darkness. When I went out with friends, I would drink too much and then cry myself to sleep later. I constantly felt that the world was against me and everyone was talking behind my back. I didn’t seek help because I didn’t want to be labeled or worry my family.
“To cope, I poured myself into my work as a publicist, which served as a distraction during the day. But when I wasn’t consumed by work, I found myself binge eating unhealthy food, which made me feel even worse. I also experienced anxiety and had frequent panic attacks. I was in a really dark place, but I thought my brain was damaged and that I’d have to suffer in silence the rest of my life.
Happy again!
“About 13 years ago, everything changed when I finally told my sister how I was really feeling. She found a psychiatrist and came with me to the first appointment. I was diagnosed with clinical depression and started to have weekly sessions with the doctor. I was prescribed medication, but I didn’t respond well—I’m naturally creative, but the pills made me feel like a zombie. After six months, with my doctor’s supervision, I stopped taking them.
“As I was coming off the medication, I moved to a new city and made a friend in my neighborhood—she was kind of a hippie, and she danced with a Hula-Hoop at music festivals. When I watched her, I was mesmerized and wanted to try hooping myself. She taught me the basics, like how to keep the Hula-Hoop on my waist. Unfortunately, she moved away, and I gave up practicing.
“Everything changed, however, when I went to a concert and saw other hoop dancers performing. I once again found the performance mesmerizing. When I returned home, I started to practice. I put on YouTube videos of hoop dancers from all over the world, and it quickly became a healthy obsession. I practiced every day. Not only was I improving, I felt good physically and mentally!
“Hula-Hooping became a form of meditation. With the hoop, I was completely in the moment: I wasn’t thinking about the past or worrying about the future. My newfound focus started to pour over into other areas of my life. The great thing about HulaHooping is that you don’t have to be fit to start. It’s for everybody, regardless of their fitness level or size.
“Within just a few days, the depression started to lift. I felt less foggy and more motivated. Even better: The feelings of euphoria continued when I wasn’t Hula-Hooping. And after a few weeks, I wasn’t crying anymore, I had more confidence and I felt happier. I also became physically stronger, and I was losing weight too. I was becoming a better version of myself.
“The following year, I turned my passion for hooping into a business, launching Hoola-Fit (Hoola-Fit.com), an on-demand health and fitness program that’s approved by the American Council on Exercise. Today, I hold seven fitness certifications.
“Now that I’m no longer held back by depression, I’m healthy and happy and looking forward to the future. Exercise was so critical to improving my mood—it can change your brain and your life. Even if you’re feeling depressed, persuading yourself to exercise can make all the difference!”
—As told to Julie Revelant