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\t\t\t\t\t\tParalympic gold medalist and New Hampshire native Victoria Arlen recently celebrated the release of her new book, The View is Worth It, at Exeter’s Water Street Bookstore, surrounded by friends, family and supporters. Arlen first gained national attention in 2012 when she was 17 years old. At the time, the New Hampshire Chronicle covered her journey to train for the Paralympics after a four-year vegetative state that left her paralyzed from the waist down. She won a gold medal and three silver medals at the London Games, and her story reached audiences beyond the pool. After regaining some mobility, Arlen competed on “Dancing with the Stars” in 2017 and moved on to a career as a sideline reporter and anchor at ESPN. She also shared her survival experiences in her first book, Locked In. But behind her public success, Arlen faced a private battle. “I would like to thank each and every one of you for coming,” Arlen said at the book event. “As Dan said, a lot of people knew about ‘Locked In’ and the miracle of it and the story of how we got out of it. No one really talked about the story that I’m sharing in this book. And to be honest with you, five years ago, I tried to take my own life.” Arlen said, reflecting on her decision to write her next book, “After the first book came out, I thought, ‘I’ll never write another book.'” And anyone who’s ever written a book knows that it’s a journey. But a few years ago I went on a really crazy mental health journey. She went on to say, “Thanks to people stepping in and actually asking for help and really starting to see what healing looks like, I know how many people are suffering like I am, people I know and people I don’t know, and how they can get help too.” I quickly realized how I could enjoy the sunrise as much as I had learned.” Arlen hopes her book will serve as a guide for readers navigating mental health challenges. “I was like, I don’t want this to be like other self-help books, because it’s already been done,” she said. “I wanted this to be relatable and something that my friends would feel like, ‘Hey, let’s go hiking and find some peaks together.'” “It’s another book that I had to write. I needed to get the story straight. This book had to be written by me. And it had such a big purpose, so I’m really grateful to still be able to look at it,” Arlen said. She hopes her vulnerability will inspire others to seek help. \u201cI hope it gives it a human touch,\u201d Arlen said. “So, if anything, did I want to talk about my mental breakdown? No. But if it helps someone else take a step forward, that’s all that matters.” Supporters at the event praised Arlen’s honesty and courage. “It was so moving. For her to be as honest and open as she is in this book and with this group tonight is eloquent and heartfelt and further proof of why I continue to show up for her,” said TV host Tom Bergeron, a friend of Arlen’s. “When she started talking about mental health, the words she spoke were so powerful and I knew there was a really good story here, but it’s a very vulnerable story. But if she was willing to write it, it could help a lot of people,” said Andrea Converse, co-editor of “The View is Worth It.” Ahlen thanked attendees for the opportunity to share her story while signing books. “I hope this reminds us that it’s okay to be here and it’s okay to wait for the sunrise, because it’s going to come. It’s so beautiful,” Ahren said, ending the event to applause from the crowd.\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n
Paralympic gold medalist and New Hampshire native Victoria Arlen recently celebrated the release of her new book, The View is Worth It, at Exeter’s Water Street Bookstore, surrounded by friends, family and supporters.<\/p>\n