Sports Injuries and Mental Health: Finding Strength Through Recovery
Sports injuries in teens are common and can cause a lot of stress. Unfortunately, sports injuries can occur when you least expect it. The best way to avoid an injury is by always making sure you are wearing the right equipment and wearing it properly, using proper body placement, and going to the doctor immediately once something feels off. If you are practicing or in the middle of the game and feel as if you may have injured something, then stop what you are doing and ask for help. You want to stop yourself immediately before making things worse.
Why do people experience high stress when they are sitting out for a sports injury?
- For many, sports are an escape, part of their everyday life since they were young, it helps them feel part of community, helps them relieve stress, etc. When that major part of their routine is taken away suddenly, it can bring up a lot of emotions they were releasing through sports.
- It may be a crucial part of the season. Such as playoffs or scouts recruiting for college and athletes may stress about their own future in sports or the future of the team.
- If the injury is serious, the athlete may worry if they can play at the same level again. The unknown is not something a lot of people are comfortable with.
But you want to prevent burnout, and having other forms of self-care is important. There are so many aspects to mental health, and physical health is only one part of it. Finding a form of self-care that is not physically demanding can have the same benefits. Such as coloring, binge watching your favorite show/movie with friends, listening to music, a skincare routine, reading, journaling, cooking or baking, etc.
REMINDER: Stress from being a student athlete without an injury is common as well. Having other forms of self-care is still valid, even without an injury. Focusing on what brings you joy when you are not practicing or at a game is important!
Change comes with life and having other forms of self-care that help your mental health can help you transition through life's changes. To recognize that you are not alone, click here for an article on some of the most famous athletes around the world who have been open about their mental health!
If someone in your life is dealing with stress from a sports injury, encourage them to speak to a trusted adult or friend about their feelings. Also, it is important to make them still feel part of the team (if you are teammates). Isolation from teammates can make feelings of anxiety or high stress worse. If you need help finding a doctor and live in northern New Jersey, you can call the Adolescent/Young Adult Center for Health at 973-971-5199 for an appointment with an adolescent medicine specialist. If urgent care is more comfortable for you, please visit this site for a list of Atlantic Health urgent cares.
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