Athletes in Transition

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What would drive an athlete like Junior Seau, a
seemingly happy, successful, and very likeable
professional athlete, to self-destruct? As a
former athlete, former coach, and now as a sports
psychologist I have been asked that question
numerous times since the incident. Obviously, he
was not the first, and, unfortunately, probably
won't be the last. The real question to be asked
and answered is how to lessen the likelihood of
recurrence. There are many factors to consider,
but here are some ideas. It is important that we
help change the culture of professional sports,
particularly the NFL, so that it becomes a safe
environment to seek mental health assistance.
Just because someone is a larger-than-life
athlete paid millions of dollars does not mean
he/she is not human and subject to the ravages of
emotions and frailties. Often times those in the
public sector feel that by reaching the status
the athletes hold they should just have to deal
with pressure. Unfortunately, the athletes buy
into this fallacy, feeling like they have to
handle everything themselves. Even comic strips
portray this concept. Not long ago the comic
strip In the Bleachers showed a football huddle
with one of the players proclaiming, "I don't
like that play. It hurts my feelings." The
subliminal message driven into athletes is they
should shut up and play through pain, physical or
emotional, or worse, they should take painkillers
to numb the pain.
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When athletes are in transition to civilian
status, whether because they are in the twilight
of their career, because they are released, or
because of an injury, they go through a loss of
identity. Everything they have been known for and
admired for vanishes leaving them disoriented.
They may have no other skills. They may feel they
no longer have a purpose. They go through the
stages of loss, commonly given the acronym of
DABDA, Denial, Anger, Bargaining, Depression, and
Acceptance. Regrettably, some never get to the
Acceptance stage. Many point out that there
seemed to be no outward signs from the athlete
that there are any serious problems. Let's not
forget that athletes are entertainers, skilled at
putting on a show. While they may not have had
formal acting lessons, they know how to put on a
crowd-pleasing performance. In many cases they
have been able to fool everyone for a long period
of time.
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Athletes in transition need to know that there is
Cosmic Ordering Secrets Review hope and help and
it's okay to reach out. A top athlete would never
think of taping his or her own ankle. That would
seem foolish and would leave them open to further
injury. Psychological "injuries" are no
different. The help is just temporary. They need
to know they can rehab and work their way back.
Just like each of us should have our own personal
"board of advisors" in the form of a doctor, and
accountant, etc., athletes should begin to
assemble their transition team. Those on the team
must be familiar with the trials and tribulations
of athletics. Lastly, http//google.ning.com/story
/cosmic-ordering-secrets-book-review we need to
educate those around the athlete to be aware of
signs of distress. The comment usually made is
that "there were no outward signs." There are
always signs, but if one does not understand what
she/he is seeing, hearing, or sensing, the
signals go unnoticed. The results can wind up
disastrous.