Former VP Kamala Harris says she went through a nine-hour interview to land the job—but she couldn’t escape ‘gold medal depression’ even when she won

Former Vice President Kamala Harris discusses her career achievements as the first woman in several prominent political positions, while revealing she experiences persistent feelings of emptiness and depression despite professional success. The article explores the psychological toll of high-achievement roles regardless of winning or losing.

Harris's candid revelation about experiencing 'gold medal depression' highlights a psychological phenomenon often overlooked in achievement-focused narratives. Despite breaking barriers as San Francisco's DA, California's attorney general, and U.S. vice president, she describes an internal emptiness that persists across career wins and losses. This disconnect between external accomplishment and internal fulfillment reflects broader conversations about mental health in high-pressure leadership roles. The nine-hour interview process she underwent represents the grueling nature of vetting for top-tier government positions, yet even such rigorous achievement offers no guarantee of psychological satisfaction. Harris's openness suggests a shift toward normalizing mental health discussions among political leaders, traditionally expected to project invulnerability. Her experience resonates with research on achievement-oriented individuals who discover that reaching goals doesn't automatically resolve underlying emotional struggles. The article implies that structural success and personal wellbeing operate on different planes—one can accomplish historic firsts while managing depression simultaneously. For broader society, this conversation legitimizes struggles among high-achievers and challenges the cultural myth that reaching the top solves fundamental happiness challenges. Harris's vulnerability potentially influences how future leaders address their own mental health publicly, reducing stigma around depression in positions of power.

• →Harris achieved multiple historic firsts as the first woman in three major political roles despite ongoing battles with depression.
• →High professional achievement does not guarantee internal emotional fulfillment or protection from persistent emptiness.
• →Harris's openness about mental health represents a cultural shift toward normalizing psychological struggles among political leaders.
• →The article challenges the narrative that career success automatically resolves underlying emotional or psychological issues.
• →Her experience highlights the psychological toll of sustained high-pressure roles regardless of objective outcomes.