If you think college athletes are living a dream life, you may want to reconsider–plenty of athletes are anxious, depressed, or show other signs of poor mental health. How many athletes specifically? A 2021 study conducted by Athletes of Hope found that “33% of all college students experience significant symptoms of depression, anxiety or other mental health conditions.”
Good mental health and wellbeing are necessary for success in all aspects of life, including athletics, education, and interpersonal interactions. Mental health also has a huge impact on college athlete's performance and nowadays it is clear that athletes can benefit from having psychology sessions as part of their everyday practices. A great example is Tom Brady. Since his time at the University of Michigan, Tom has used psychologists and now he is one of the best football players of all time and he is definitely marking an era.
Related: Mental Health is Healthcare: The Case for More Sports Psychologists in College Sports
Why Train Your Brain?
It is becoming more common knowledge that mental health is just as important as physical health. In sports, it is almost impossible to perform without a healthy mind. That is why more and more athletes are incorporating a psychologist into their training plan. The image of the psychologist has been almost taboo for many years but finally society has recognized the importance of their work. Athletes are able to work and improve their mentality with the help of great professionals. It is incredible to see how the work in the mental area pays off for so many of these athletes.
Visualize Success
Through techniques such as visualization or breathing exercises, athletes are able to improve their tranquility and confidence, which has a positive influence on their performance. The key is to have the ability to believe in yourself and your abilities and to have the certainty that you can do anything you set your mind to. There is a very famous formula that says that success is the sum of ability and capacity multiplied by attitude. Psychologists are great persons that can guide athletes to follow this formula to perform successfully.
Related: Rate your Coaches, Facilities, and Campus Visits
It is clear that the physical work and the technical aspects are essential to being a successful athlete but the third key to success is the mental part. Having a strong mental side makes you a different athlete and psychologists are a great tool for all athletes to improve their mentality. It is the mental aspect that distinguishes good athletes from those who will mark an era. Psychologists can be found in every college and they may be a great tool to help you feel and perform your best.
Have an idea for a story or a question you need answered? Want to set up an interview with us? Email us at [email protected]
* Originally published on July 13, 2022, by Camila Cramer
