TR AI N I N G E D G E
A MENTAL HEALTH GUIDE FOR ATHLETES
Messages from coaches and others about what to eat, the optimal training body shape, and the ways in which diet and training impact performance can be overwhelming or preoccupying. Approximately 8% of female athletes and 3% of male athletes experience disordered eating at some point during their competitive careers. Here are signs and symptoms of disordered eating – endorsing more of these signs as true for you might indicate that it would be a good time to seek support from a mental health professional. o Weight fluctuations, loss of weight not in support of training goals o Periods of overeating or fasting not in support of training goals o Ritualistic eating (cutting food into small pieces, hiding food, eating alone) o Fixation with food o Hypervigilance about calories/nutritional content that is not in support of training goals o Avoidance of social functions, particularly those that involve food or drink o Anxiety, depression, or isolation
Stress and Anxiety
It is clear that emotional and physical health impact athletic performance. Athletes are under a great deal of pressure to perform well in a variety of circumstances, to please sponsors and coaches, and to perform to their potential. Athletes experience many demands on not only their physical health, but their mental health and emotional resiliency. Factors like genetics, life transitions, and social support all impact mental health.
Many athletes and organizations have recently begun to focus on athlete mental health both as a critical aspect of personal development, and as a contributing factor to optimal athletic performance. For example, Olympian Michael Phelps has been quite open in discussing his struggles with depression and the ways in which depression impacted his performance as a world-class athlete. In the NFL, several prominent athletes have spoken openly about mental health struggles, and work 18 coloradorunnermag.com
has begun to make team owners more aware of the emotional needs of players. Unfortunately, athletes are at especially high risk for experiencing psychological difficulties. As many as 15% of athletes (2-3% higher than the general population) will experience mental health concerns severe enough to seek professional help. Eating disorders are especially problematic among athletes, impacting many professional athletes. Rates are probably higher than those reported, as many athletes may be hesitant to seek help, even when they need it. While it is clear that athletes may have special challenges that impact emotional wellness, all athletes are human, and experience struggles and challenges that can become disruptive to peak performance and daily life. The following are resources designed to provide direction, support, and connection for athletes struggling with emotional well-being.
Body Image and Eating
Athletes are especially at risk of developing problematic relationships with food and weight. For most athletes, weight, training, and fuel are critical to peak performance.
Some anxiety is a normal part of being an athlete, and a human being. The desire to perform well, and represent one’s team, coach, and sponsors will undoubtedly create some feelings of stress or anxiety. Anxiety becomes a problem when the symptoms linger, becoming problematic for functioning in everyday life. As many as one in ten adults struggle with anxiety at some point. This can be transient or persistent, and a combination of medication and behavioral skills can help. These are signs and symptoms of difficult anxiety: o Restlessness, feeling on edge, unable to relax o Difficulty concentrating o Irritability o Avoidance of situations that prompt anxiety o Difficulty controlling worries, racing thoughts, feeling out of control o Difficulty falling asleep or staying asleep o Fatigue, muscle pain, and unexplained illnesses
Depression
Everyone experiences times when they feel sad, lonely, angry, or hopeless. These emotions can be linked to life events, or can occur without warning. When such feelings make it difficult to function in everyday life, depression may be the cause. Depression not only impacts mood, but thoughts, behaviors, and physical health, as well. For athletes,
