Mental Health Challenges in Athletics
Simone Biles was “gutless and cowardly” to withdraw from the 2021 Olympic Team for mental health issues, quoted Good Morning Britain news reporter Piers Morgan; but is she really? The physical challenges that athletes put their bodies through to be successful at their sport can often be accompanied by struggles with mental health. In recent years, the world’s best athletes are beginning to discuss the prevalence and impact of mental health issues in sports.
The Stress of Competition
Although stress isn’t unique to athletics, the culture of sports can serve as an aggressive environment where competitors are always lurking for any signs of weakness. Athletes feel constant pressure to be the best and not show any weakness, a trait that can be toxic to their mental health. As athletes continue to compete at higher levels, they drive toward perfection in their sport, which can take a heavy mental and physical toll at times.
Mental Health Concerns for Student Athletes
According to a study conducted by the NCAA, 21% of women’s sports participants and 27% of men’s sports participants are not aware of where to go on campus if they have mental health concerns. These numbers are concerning because they mean that more than one-fifth of student-athletes feel alone and isolated in the mental challenges that come with playing sports.
Some common mental health issues that University Athletes go through are:
1. Mental Exhaustion
Balancing college assignments with athletics can extract an emotional toll. These college athletes have to take care of the same responsibilities as regular college students while also playing their sport. Athletes in college are often overwhelmed by their daily life and experience trouble falling asleep.
2. Anxiety
Female students, in particular, are suffering from anxiety because of the tension and panic they face after losing. Athletes are often judged by the number of wins and losses they have, which can result in devastating impacts on a student's self-confidence, social interactions, ability to complete daily tasks, and performance.
3. Depression
Society and college puts an insane amount of pressure on student-athletes which can lead to depression. In the world of sports, there is a stigma associated with depression, causing many athletes to stay silent, hoping that their issues will resolve on their own. However, depression if left untreated can adversely affect studying, sleeping habits, eating habits, training, matches, and relationships with friends, family, and teammates.
4. Substance Abuse
Some student-athletes use unhealthy coping mechanisms, like alcohol and illicit drugs, to manage the demands of their busy lifestyle. The Journal of Intercollegiate Sports found that anxiety related to athletic performance was a significant predictor of substance abuse. Furthermore, student-athletes are susceptible to injuries when they become reliant on prescription pain medication to keep playing.
5. Eating Disorders
The Sport Journal reported that up to 84% of college student-athletes have eating disorders and weight control strategies. This includes binge eating, self-induced vomiting, strict dieting, weight loss pills, fasting, and skipping meals. Such behaviors can lead to severe eating disorders that include anorexia, nervosa, or bulimia nervosa. Some athletes struggling with eating disorders also engage in compulsive exercise to compensate for their high-calorie intake.
Professional Athlete Struggles
There have been many instances of high-profile athletes prioritizing their mental health and changing the narrative behind mental health. Unsustainable expectations for perfection and constant improvement put extreme pressure on professional athletes to win. Professional athletes depend on their sport to provide for their families. This dependency on just their physical skill and rigor can leave the athlete feeling isolated and exhausted. Most of the economic stability for professional athletes comes from sponsorship deals. Big companies like Nike, Adidas, and Reebok offer sponsorships to professional athletes to promote their brands and gear. Professional athletes are afraid of performing poorly because it can lead to a decrease in sponsorship deals coming their way.
Post-Olympic Depression
Many Olympic athletes, including Caeleb Dressel, Michael Phelps, and Maddie Phaneuf have discussed feeling lost and unconfident after their success at the Olympics. Dressel expressed how he “felt so lost,” and wanted to “get away from the water” after his incredible performance at the Tokyo Olympics. Similarly, the greatest swimmer of all time, Michael Phelps said that his mental state got so bad after the 2012 Olympics that he didn’t “want to be alive anymore.” Phaneuf also mentioned that she felt the constant question, “Why did you retire?” was disrespectful to how serious her mental health problems were.
For many years, the only advice to athletes facing mental health issues was to push through it, but it has become clear that “pushing through it” doesn’t resolve the problems. It is important to seek professional help from a therapist or speak to a person of trust about the problems you might be facing. If you are facing suicidal thoughts, depression, or thoughts of self-harm, text or chat the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline at 988 any time of the day for support. Sports and athletics are important, but it is more important to take care of your mental and physical well-being first.
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