The caption was shared together with a photo of a teary-eyed Dokic. She added, “Will never forget the day. Everything is blurry. Everything is dark,” she wrote.
“No tone, no picture, nothing makes sense … just tears, sadness, depression, anxiety, and pain.”
She has also revealed that getting professional help saved her life and that for a time, she was constantly experiencing feelings of sadness and pain.
“The last six months have been tough. It’s been constant crying everywhere,” she added.
“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.”
“Some days are better than others and sometimes I take a step forward and then a step back but I’m fighting and I believe I can get through this,” Dokic said.
It may be remembered that in her autobiography Unbreakable, she had detailed how her father abused her mentally, physically, and verbally.
“It’s a very difficult subject that I talk about in the book, not just my father and the whole amount of abuse that went on from the age of six, pretty much, for over 20 years,” Dokic said in an interview in 2018.
“I battled depression for a very long time, almost 10 years, and I almost committed suicide at one stage.”
The Croatian-born Australian player hopes that her post would “raise awareness of abuse, domestic violence, in sport and also outside of sport.”
Her Instagram post was met with support from people across the platform, including those from her fellow tennis players.
Alize Cornet said, “You can do this Jelena … we love you!” While Mark Philippoussis wrote, “I’m here for you and only a phone call away!”
She closed off her post with a reminder to those who are also suffering to get the help that they need.
“I am writing this because I know I am not the only one struggling. Just know that you are not alone.
“I am not going to say that I am doing great now but I am definitely on the road to recovery.”
She reminded people that it’s okay to feel sad, but you have to keep fighting back.
“Love you all and here is to fighting and surviving to live and see another day. I will be back stronger than ever.”