Washington, DC -- Washington Mystics forward Chamique Holdsclaw said that she has been suffering from depression, which caused her to miss most of the 2004 WNBA season.

According to the Washington Post, Holdsclaw stated that she had become increasingly withdrawn and was alienated from teammates, family and even her closest friends.

Holdsclaw left the Mystics in July as the team was battling for the playoffs, but at the time cited only a personal medical issue for her absence.

She missed seven of the Mystics' final eight games, but said only that her absence was not life threatening and ruled out cancer, pregnancy and drug addiction.

"Depression, people just don't realize how it can take over your mind," said Holdsclaw, the WNBA's No. 1 overall pick in 1999. "Yes, I was walking around and looked fine."

The 27-year-old spoke out on Thursday for the first time since her announcement in July and acknowledged that she has been seeing a psychiatrist to cope with her problem. Holdsclaw also said she has regained her enthusiasm to play basketball and will try and join a team overseas this winter in hopes of returning to the WNBA.

However, Holdsclaw would not rule out the possibility of retiring altogether from basketball.

"It's a possibility, I can honestly say," she said.

Holdsclaw decided to finally speak out on the condition that affects nearly 19 million Americans because she was tired of hearing false reports concerning her extended absence.

She also told the paper that she wanted to do her own thing while battling the depression and stopped answering her phone and even changed her cell phone number so she did not have to be bothered.

Holdsclaw said during the absence she frequently slept and never watched sports on television, even as her Mystics remarkably reached the Eastern Conference playoffs. Washington eventually lost to the Connecticut Sun in the first round of the postseason.

"Everything was negative," Holdsclaw said. "Dark."

The three-time WNBA All-Star and 1999 Rookie of the Year averaged 19.0 points and 8.3 rebounds over 23 games this season.

Holdsclaw, who is a two-time All-WNBA Team selection, has posted 18.3 points, 9.0 rebounds and 2.5 assists in her six-year career.