When you're injured on the sidelines watching your team in games, practices, and team workouts, it's easy to feel like you don't have much worth. Eventually, your injuries will heal and you will be able to get back to playing, but it's hard to see the light at the end when you know you have a long journey ahead of you to recover.
Related: 3 Mental Health Effects of Injuries in Sports
However, injuries don't have to be the end of the world. Here's how to deal with them when they feel apocalyptic.
1. Stay Focused and Persistent in Rehab
It's hard to see yourself getting back to your sport when you are so limited in your movement because of your injury. Still, the best thing you can do for yourself is stay on top of your physical therapy and rehab. The more you stay on top of it, the quicker you are going to be able to get back out there. So treat rehab like you treat practice–give it your all.
Related: Ouch! 5 Tips for Dealing With Nagging Pain and Minor Injuries as an Athlete
2. Celebrate the Small Victories
It's easy to get frustrated when you aren't seeing results right away. Recovery takes time and that's one of the worst parts about it. Instead of setting your next goal as being fully ready to play, set your goals smaller and more frequent. If you're working on getting your movement fully back, celebrate every centimeter you get closer to full mobility. If you're working up to running again, celebrate each milestone you make towards getting back to running.
Related: Rate your Coaches, Facilities, and Campus Visits
3. Surround Yourself With Positive People
As an injured athlete, your spirits are already likely fragile. Don't let other people make these spirits any weaker. The best people to be around are the people who make you forget that you're even injured at all–like friends and family, all of whom should be aware of your mental state and physical state and know how they can best support you. If you feel your mental state getting worse, never be afraid to try getting professional help and talk to a therapist about the problems you are having.
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* Originally published on May 10, 2023, by Bella Nevin
