So you're an athlete who struggles with mental health–first off, that's okay. You fell victim to the sports-to-mental-illness-pipeline, which is unfortunately much more common than most people think. Nearly 42% of elite athletes meet the criteria for at least one mental health disorder, and that statistic is likely even higher, since there are probably many athletes that don't speak up about how they're feeling. Here's some advice on how to cope with a mental health diagnosis.
Don't Go It Alone
One of the most important things to remember is that you are not alone. You are surrounded by people that are struggling as well. You may be able to find comfort in talking about your feelings with someone who is in a similar situation. Hearing that someone feels the same way will help you feel validated. So try expressing what you're going through to teammates you're close to, people from outside your sport, your coach or your parents. Really anyone you feel comfortable talking to about an issue this serious.
Related: Mental Health and the College Athlete
Seek Therapy
If you're interested, therapy is a recommended route to take to help treat mental illnesses. Either use the mental health resources provided by your school or external resources to set up your first appointment if you haven't already done so. Therapy isn't for everyone, but it doesn't hurt to try especially if you are not familiar with the world of mental health. Talking about this new diagnosis and how you are feeling with someone who is outside of your friends and family might make it easier to understand and process exactly what you're going through. Therapy can also provide you with methods that will help you deal with your mental illness.
Do Your Research
You should also try to get a better understanding of what you are diagnosed with. Therapy can help with this, but researching on your own and/or getting information from others who suffer from the same illness is beneficial as well because you can get additional information that you may not be able to get from therapy alone. Learn about your illness from an informative perspective to familiarize yourself with what you're going to be living with for probably the rest of your life.
Related: A Student-Athlete's Battle With Mental Health
Communicate
Talking to your coach about what you're going through is also a good idea. If you don't feel comfortable telling them the full extent of what is going on, that's perfectly fine. But you should at least give them a general idea of your recent diagnosis, just so they are prepared if you seem a little off. Chances are, you will be a little off initially. They may even give you some time off, which could definitely help you cope.
Write it Down
Journaling is also something that helps many people struggling with mental health issues. Writing out what's on your mind in a journal is a great way to release any emotions and properly express your feelings. It also helps prevent you from bottling everything up. You can either start a journal entry by following a prompt (can be found on the internet) or writing down the first thing you can think of. Write about your day, what went well, what went wrong, really whatever you think is necessary.
Related: Rate your Coaches, Facilities, and Campus Visits
Again, you're not alone. A mental health diagnosis is scary and overwhelming at first. But you have access to the resources and a strong support system. There are people out there that want to help you. You are more prepared for this than you think. You will be okay.
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* Originally published on August 9, 2022, by Sammie Grant
