I’m feeling sluggish
Recently, I’ve noticed my anxiousness being heightened and I’ve started to drag myself through life, barely present. My brain has felt foggy, making it hard to concentrate and socialize. When I asked myself why I might be feeling this way, I realized I hadn’t been to practice in three weeks due to travel. This posed the question: does not participating in your sport cause withdrawals or affect your mental health?
Many athletes find joy in participating in their sport. According to a study by Princeton University, “Exercise reorganizes the brain to be more resilient to stress”. Therefore, by losing the ability/opportunity to be able to play a sport, athletes tend to experience negative effects on their mental space. This withdrawal from exercise is often linked to increased symptoms of anxiety and depression, according to Public Health. While not participating in a sport voluntarily may be caused by a lack of motivation, when an athlete starts to involuntarily not participate in their sport, it can be devastating.
When an athlete loses their ability to perform their sport/activity, many studies have shown depressive symptoms can occur. For example, when I was feeling fatigued, I linked it to not being able to dive, which is something that brings me energy and gives me goals to work towards. Other symptoms such as low self-esteem, irritability, and other mood fluctuations tend to be reported as well.
All this being said, as a parent, coach, or teammate, it’s imperative to be as understanding as possible. While it may be frustrating or seem trivial for an athlete to be reacting these ways due to not being able to participate in a sport, know that there are scientific studies & evidence they aren’t the only athlete responding this way.
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