Taylor Lideen on navigating depression and anxiety as a professional cyclist

Ever since he was a child, Taylor Lideen knew he experienced the world differently. Even before he knew that he suffered from depression and anxiety, he noticed that his emotions seemed to run higher than other people’s. As a teen, he struggled with his mental health even as he built a  successful career as a cyclist. Over the years, he’s won 24 Hours in the Old Pueblo and Unbound XL, and is competing in the Life Time Grand Prix for the second time this year. But his bouts with crippling depression have been a consistent presence in his life, both on and off the bike. Last year, he released a film, Shifting Mindset, in which he opens up for the first time about his struggles with mental health. 

In this week's episode, Taylor talks about navigating depression and anxiety as a child, and how his love of cycling was both an escape and a trigger. He talks about how meeting his wife Mary in high school changed his life, how his relationship with his dad was caught up in his anxiety about attaining race results, and the therapy he credits with saving his life. Since speaking openly about his battle with mental health, Taylor says he’s felt a sense of relief. He tells Payson why he felt it was the right time to address his struggles publicly, and how he’s hoping others might benefit from hearing his story. 

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