Burnout
You should be at your peak. You’ve endlessly trained for the past year. You’re in the best physical shape you’ve ever been in. You have all the support in the world. Yet for some reason, something is holding you back and no matter how hard you try to fight it, you’ve already lost. At a time when you were supposed to be at your best, you’ve been forced into hiding as you struggle to rekindle your passion for the sport you once devoted your life to.
Just like the physical body, tending to the mental aspect of sports is a crucial part of athletes’ success. Just like the body, it can break.
What is Burnout?
According to the Oxford Dictionary, burnout is defined as a “physical or mental collapse caused by overwork or stress.” At a time when limits are pushed to achieve greatness, limits can be broken if an athlete continuously suffers from constant physical and emotional stress, leading to a breakdown process of complete mental and physical exhaustion. Especially with balancing academics, athletics, and societal expectations, this issue of burnout has become increasingly prevalent in teen sports. In fact, a survey conducted by Gustafsson, Kentta, Hassmen, and Lindquist involving 980 elite adolescent athletes “found that 1-9% of female athletes and 2-6% of male athletes had experienced symptoms of high-level burnout.” (Understanding Student-Athlete Burnout)
Causes:
Burnout is seen when an overload of stress is coupled with inadequate recovery. It is most prominent with constant and rigorous training, increased expectations by parents, coaches, etc., loss of motivation or passion, injury, and early specialization. It is typically seen when an athlete becomes more competitive in their sport, where instead of just being a casual hobby, stakes are raised with the appeal of awards, scholarships, and recognition. It therefore may promote unhealthy mindsets that put consistency, scores, and constant effort over the well-being of athletes. The pressure to constantly improve may result in compromised health and self-worth directly linked to the specific sport. This therefore creates a debilitating cycle of “stagnancy” and “upping the ante” that leaves many vulnerable to a breakdown. As boundaries continue to be stretched, athletes ultimately suffer the loss, if not physically, then mentally.
Symptoms:
Signs of burnout can fall into three main categories: physical, behavioral, and emotional, occurring due to changes in hormones, suppression of the immune system, etc. Physical symptoms can include decreased energy levels, constant fatigue, weight loss, loss of appetite, chronic muscle and joint pain, decreased performance, increased resting heart rate, and more frequent illnesses. Behavioral symptoms can include a lack of enthusiasm, difficulty completing usual routines, and resisting practices or games. Emotional symptoms include personality or mood changes, increased irritability, decreased confidence, lowered self-esteem, and growing disinterest. It is important to note that many symptoms of burnout are shared with depression, so misdiagnosis may occur.
Treatment:
When burnout strikes, the only treatment for a full recovery is rest. All participation in training and competition for the specific sport(s) should be stopped for an extended amount of time, typically for 4 to 12 weeks. Athletes should take the time to reconnect with themselves and those around them, exploring other interests to further their identity outside their sport. Once signs of a full recovery are evident, through improved moods, return of motivation, and regained confidence, athletes may return to their sport gradually, being conscientious of their symptoms and the welfare of their body throughout. Although taking the step to address burnout is difficult, coming back renewed will do much more for progress in the long run than “sticking it out” until the end.
Prevention:
To prevent burnout, it is key to develop a strong support system and a healthy mentality when approaching athletics, this can include shifting away from ideas of “more is more” and “progress is linear.” Rather than focusing on extrinsic motivation or pressure, one should emphasize the joy or freedom that comes from simply doing it, even if there are imperfections. Coaches should strive to offer varied workouts and periodic recovery breaks to maintain strong morale. But most of all, it is important for athletes to listen to their bodies’ needs and wants, taking the courage to reach out for help and adjust routines to accommodate their bodies better. As aforementioned, in the long run, taking immediate action throughout one’s athletic career to prioritize health far outweighs the much longer, more consequential battle against the debilitations of burnout.
Sources:
“Athlete Burnout.” Lurie Children’s, https://www.luriechildrens.org/en/specialties-conditions/athlete-burnout/#:~:text=Burnout%2C%20or%20overtraining%20syndrome%2C%20is,%2C%20frequent%20injuries%2C%20and%20infections. Accessed 18 Dec. 2023.
“Understanding Student-Athlete Burnout.” NCAA.Org, https://www.ncaa.org/sports/2014/12/10/understanding-student-athlete-burnout.aspx. Accessed 18 Dec. 2023.
“When More Isn’t Better: Dealing with Burnout in Competitive Sports.” Women’s Sports Foundation, 25 Apr. 2014, https://www.womenssportsfoundation.org/inspiration/when-more-isnt-better-dealing-with-burnout-in-competitive-sports/. Accessed 18 Dec. 2023.
In-depth, ABC News. “Burnout In Elite Teenage Athletes.” YouTube, Video, 25 May 2023, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GIwVkzp2LDQ&ab_channel=ABCNewsIn-depth. Accessed 18 Dec. 2023.