More athletes experience mental health issues than we realize. Mental health issues don’t discriminate- any athlete that participates in any sport, at any age, is susceptible to struggles with their mental health.
The good news is, with proper acknowledgement along with treatment, mental health issues can be addressed and treated. Here are a few struggles athletes might deal with and ways they can help manage these symptoms.
*I am not a mental health professional and I’m not qualified to diagnose or provide treatment to athletes. Rather, this article contains suggestions to help identify possible symptoms associated with mental health struggles.*
Mental Health Struggles Athletes Face
Sports Anxiety. There are many forms of anxiety, especially when it comes to athletic performance. Sports performance anxiety is one of the most common forms of anxiety athletes can experience. This type of anxiety is usually linked to a deep fear of poor performance in your sport. Symptoms might include:
- Over-thinking and low confidence
- Fear of failure
- Heart racing
- Stomach problems
- Problems focusing
One of many techniques may help athletes overcome sports anxiety is deep breathing. When you start having symptoms triggered by anxiety, taking time to acknowledge those feelings, staying positive, and speaking with a trusted coach or advisor can help you in managing these feelings.
Depression. High-performing athletes might also experience depression. Aiming for perfection versus the competition, sports that focus on body leanness and shape, or even athletes who struggle with mental health issues might face this common issue. Signs of depression in athletes include:
- Fatigue and/or injury
- Trouble focusing
- Changes in personality
- Trouble sleeping
- Altered eating habits and/or substance abuse
Depending on the severity of depression, I would advise speaking with a mental health professional. Staying social, keeping busy, or taking a break from sports can help, but if an athlete feels like there is no way out of this feeling, speaking with a professional asap is the way to go.
Greif. This feeling is common for athletes who experience a serious injury (such as being sidelined or deemed unable to play) or for those who are facing the end of their playing career. Adjusting to a new life outside of sports can be challenging, and athletes might experience the following feelings:
- Denial
- Anger
- Depression
- Decreased self esteem
- Confusion
Whether you’re facing the end of your athletic career or experience an unexpected injury, there are many things you can do to manage this feeling. Allow yourself to feel sad and to grieve- this is normal! Focus on finding a new athletic or social routine, help other athletes that will fill your shoes, and speak to other peers who may be in the same position.
Disordered eating. Athletes that focus too heavily on performance (think gains, PRs, quickness, etc.) might develop an unhealthy obsession with food or how they look. Examples of this might include:
- Anorexia- athletes who have an extreme fear of weight gain, and may adhere to a severe calorie restriction diet.
- Bulimia- Binge eating followed by ‘purging’: throwing up, fasting, or participating in extreme exercise
- Bing-eating- athletes who binge eat consume large amount of foods and typically feel very guilty after
Depending on the severity of an eating disorder, an athlete might need different levels of care including outpatient treatment, partial hospitalization, admittance into a residential health care facility, or other forms of treatment.