Democratic Pennsylvania Senator John Fetterman opened up about his battle with depression in an interview with The New York Times, saying he “didn’t even like” himself.

in him interview Fetterman spoke to the media about his first six months in Congress and his battle with depression. Fetterman, who suffered a stroke in May 2022 and is battling depression, said people seem to find him interesting, but how he sees himself negatively. rice field. (Related: John Fetterman stumbles opening statement at first Senate hearing)

“I don’t even like me. That’s the truth,” Fetterman told the outlet in response to a question about why people find him attractive, adding that to him it “doesn’t make sense.” added.

Fetterman explained to the media that his depression was both a “burden” and a “privilege”.

“It’s also an opportunity to be very bipartisan. If you’re depressed, red or blue, help me. Never hurt yourself. Don’t leave that blueprint behind,” Fetterman said. .

Fetterman was spotted earlier this week answering people’s questions in a parliamentary hallway using a tablet that uses voice-to-text dictation. The newspaper noted that Fetterman had started using a tablet that could transcribe “speech to text.”

Fetterman answers questions (!!) in the hallway using a real-time voice-to-text dictation tablet pic.twitter.com/AHmxBwUTH4

— Brian Metzger (@metzgov) July 25, 2023

Months after winning the Senate race against Republican challenger Dr. Mehmet Oz, Mr. Fetterman visited Walter Reed National Military Medical Center in Bethesda, Maryland, for treatment for depression.

Before returning to the Capitol, Mr. Fetterman said in an interview with CBS News that he had “stopped leaving” his bed, “stopped eating” and had lost so much weight that he needed hospitalization.