Karl-Theodor zu Guttenberg
The ex-politician speaks openly about his depression
© Sebastian Gollnow / Picture Alliance
Karl-Theodor zu Guttenberg recently published a book in which he provides deep insights into his life. In it he talks about, among other things, his midlife crisis and depression.
After Stephanie, 46, and Karl-Theodor zu Guttenberg, 51, made it public at the end of September 2023 that they had been going their separate ways for several months, the former politician first took a solo trip to the US state of Montana. Then he came back with exciting news: He has a book called “3 seconds – notes from the present” written. In the work he reveals details about his private life and reveals: “I’m no stranger to depression either.”
Karl-Theodor zu Guttenberg reveals: “I’m no stranger to depression”
“3 Seconds” is a collection of columns that the former Defense Minister had published on the LinkedIn platform since January 2023. “The stories arise from everyday situations and observations from the side of the road, where I discover details of our lives that we tend to overlook. Experiences and thoughts that inspire or worry me. The absurd and the sad. The funny and the touching,” zu Guttenberg described his book on Instagram. But he also lets readers look deep into his soul and talks about his mental health.
“Acknowledging psychological injuries is socially acceptable in the USA. We, on the other hand, are a developing country at best. We don’t like to talk about failure. All too often for fear of malice and stigmatization. […] In Germany, almost 28 percent of the population suffers from a mental illness. That’s about 17.8 million people,” he writes in his work, which is available to “Bunte”. He adds about his own mental state: “I’m no stranger to depression either, and repressing it has probably made me even less suitable for big politics than I already was.” In industries such as politics and business, which, according to the 51-year-old, are characterized by vanity, people are only slowly beginning to understand that mental illness is not a weakness, he continues.
The ex-politician talks about his midlife crisis
The author also admits to having experienced a midlife crisis. In order to feel better and experience something new, he tried show jumping – but that went wrong. “I found myself in a US hospital, floating happily under the ceiling. Despite numerous broken bones, I have rarely been so euphoric,” he reports, adding that Stephanie took care of him and protected him from worse things.
“Without my wife’s care, I would probably still be babbling today. But without euphoria and perspective. She immediately took away the can of 87 (!) pills of oxycodone that the doctor had prescribed,” he explains. Oxycodone is an opioid medication that is one of the strongest painkillers and can cause severe addiction. Despite the separation, Karl-Theodor zu Guttenberg seems to be grateful to his wife for her thoughtfulness.
Sources used: instagram.com, bunte.de, netdoktor.de