AyannaStruggling to eat, sleep, and breathe for eleven months, my chronic health condition took a toll on both my physical and mental health. My athletic performance declined and despite my efforts to fight its effects, repeated failures made it clear that my goals in rowing might not be attainable. To many, losing the ability to engage in your sport is relinquishing a large part of what occupies your time, and naturally many athletes feel a loss of identity. It is imperative to acknowledge this “loss” and doing so can open the floodgates for feelings of anger, resentment, and depression.
While injuries can significantly affect an individual’s mental health, athletes can work through these challenges by both recognizing their emotions and finding purpose beyond their sport.
Grieve and Acknowledge Grief is Not Linear
Grief following an athletic injury or illness can be challenging to deal with. As athletes, we practice most (if not all) days of the week, often for several hours each day. Any other responsibilities often revolve around our sports. With my chronic illness, I deeply struggled with the absence of the training process, as my mental health heavily relied on my athletic achievements and the culmination of workouts.
For example, November 13th was National Signing Day, when many recruited athletes officially revealed their future college matriculations. Upon opening Instagram and scrolling through my page, I saw countless commitment posts and stories from friends, current/former teammates, and strangers on my feed. I was overcome with emotion as I realized I would likely never get to experience a signing day or row at the level I strived to. Validate these scattered emotions within yourself and practice mindfulness. It is normal to cycle through these negative feelings and an important part of your journey to acceptance. Setting an expectation for yourself to move on by a particular date is simply unrealistic. When changing your routine and reframing the role athletics plays in your life it is important to be patient with yourself as you adjust. If your grief becomes unbearable, remember that you are not alone, The 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline is a free, confidential resource you can call or text 24/7 to talk with counselors.
Set New Goals
Set goals outside of your sport; occupy your newfound time with a different form of exercise, social club, part-time job, hobby, etc.
Whether you played your sport for competition, mental wellness, social interaction, scholarship, physical challenge, or a combination of reasons, attempting to find fulfilling activities to replace your sport can be challenging, but rewarding. Less attention to my sport allowed me to explore my academic passions, join career-oriented extracurriculars, and get a part-time job, motivating me to craft an array of potential plans for post-high school, rather than one rooted in athletics.
Remember, you can still physically exert yourself, it just may look different from your peak performance days; forming a new relationship with exercise allows you to develop gratitude for the days you can move your body pain-free.
Find your new normal; it helps immensely with the healing process.
Do Not Do It Alone
There will always be an end to being a high-performance athlete, whether it be due to injury, age, or other expectations. Recognize that everyone will experience the end whether it be at the high school level or on the Olympic stage.
Ultimately, overcoming the mental and physical challenges from an injury requires resiliency, self-awareness, and support, demonstrating that setbacks can allow athletes to reevaluate their relationship with their sports and simultaneously offer the opportunity to grow as individuals.
Angie
Natalia
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