“The storms in our lives have a purpose. My journey through depression made me stronger. No matter your storm, it never rains forever.”     Ginger Zee

 November 2011 – New York City: Two weeks before she began her dream job as a meteorologist on ABC’s Good Morning America, Ginger Zee checked herself into an inpatient mental health facility. Although she had seen six different therapists over the years, her battle with chronic depression and an eating disorder continued.

On the surface, she was a young, beautiful, successful weather forecaster. But under that façade was a dark, ominous cloud of self-deprecating thoughts and emotions like the storms she covered on the air.

Growing up in Grand Rapids, Michigan, Ginger became fascinated with weather. She and her father loved watching the storms roll off Lake Michigan. While other little girls played outside, she was glued to the TV weather report. When Ginger was nine, her parents divorced, and her world changed. She moved to a new house with a new stepfather. She rebelled by not eating. By age 12, Ginger was being treated for anorexia and depression.

In high school, a teacher encouraged Ginger to become a meteorologist. She chose Valparaiso State University in Valparaiso, Indiana, because the school offered a storm-chasing course. After her first year, Ginger sent out 35 resumes, hoping to land a meteorology internship. The lone response came from James Spann, the acclaimed meteorologist at ABC 33 TV in Birmingham. The internship with him validated her dream of becoming a TV meteorologist.

In college, Ginger excelled in her classes, had many friends, and never met a stranger. But inside, she continued to battle storms of depression. At 22, she attempted suicide by taking a handful of prescription pills. Fortunately, a roommate found her and took her to the hospital. At her mother’s insistence, Ginger started seeing a clinical psychologist.

In 2002, she earned a bachelor’s degree from VSU in meteorology with a minor in math and Spanish. Six months after graduation, Ginger became a weekend weather forecaster at the TV station WEYI in her hometown of Flint, Michigan. Her knowledge and energy made her popular with viewers.

In 2004, the 25-year-old meteorologist moved to WOOD TV in Grand Rapids, the number one news and weather show in western Michigan. Ginger’s career break came in 2005 when she was sent to Gulf Port, Mississippi, to cover Hurricane Katrina. A year later, she became the meteorologist at WMAQ Channel 5 in Chicago, the third largest television market in the country.

On TV her life and career seemed perfect, but off the air her life continued to be stormy. In an abusive relationship with a boyfriend, she twice canceled the wedding. On both occasions the invitations had been sent and the cake ordered.

After covering the early morning weather show, Ginger would return to her apartment, draw the curtains, and sit in the dark with a bottle of wine. After the 6 p.m. and 10 p.m. weather, she drank more wine to help her sleep. She was seeing a therapist for sleep problems, but the medication exacerbated her depression. Ginger felt worthless and hopeless, and suicidal thoughts haunted her.

In November 2011, after five years at WMAQ, 30-year-old Ginger got a call from Good Morning America. She couldn’t afford to blow this opportunity, so she checked herself into a mental health facility. For the first time, she was honest with herself and her psychologist, Dr. Scott Wilson. After weeks of therapy, the dark depression began to lift, and Ginger began to get a handle on her eating disorder.

Today 43-year-old Ginger Zee is the Chief Meteorologist for Good Morning America and the first female weather chief for ABC News. She still meets weekly with Dr. Wilson, is happily married, and the mother of two sons. Ginger reflects on her journey. “I cover natural disasters. I am one. But I have learned to find the beauty and strength that was born from each storm in my life.”