Mental health was once taboo in the competitive world of macho sports.
But with salaries skyrocketing, social media giving fans a platform to vent, and the global pandemic exacerbating the psychological strain, pressure and scrutiny have increased. So are the number of high-profile athletes who have publicly spoken out about their struggles with anxiety and depression.
To gain insight into how the mental health landscape has evolved in the world of sports, Chronicle reached out to Dr. Francesco Dandeker, Associate Director of Sports Psychiatry and Clinical Assistant Professor at Stanford University. Dandekar is involved in the school’s sports psychology and sports psychiatry programs, evaluating and treating professional, Olympic, and collegiate athletes around the Bay Area.
This interview has been edited for clarity and brevity.
Q: How has the job of a sports psychologist changed in recent years?
A:
From a psychological point of view, it’s a big stretch. Before, I only thought about things that were limited to performance, like visualization and breathing techniques. Historically, the focus has been on how to use this for performance.Lately, I’ve been feeling happier overall, my sporting self and my
self
Self, I tend to perform better in general. If you want to do something at an elite level in the long run, it has to be sustainable. More and more athletes are realizing that they want to do this long term but aren’t sure if the coping strategies they’ve been using are good enough. ” So there is more integration between people and athletes.
Q: Do you need different tools than before?
A:
Psychiatry is a little different. Best-serving people can do more than the psychology of sports performance. I think we need to do more and better. Some may say, “I want to perform better,” but they may have PTSD from childhood trauma. It should be noted that there is a lot going on. There are still prejudices, but I think it’s amazing that famous athletes are speaking out[about mental health]. In many cultures, athletes and actors can change the conversation.
Q: How much impact has it had? Several NBA players have spoken out about their mental health challenges, including DeMar DeRozan, Kevin Love and John Wall.
The world of sports faces mental health issues. This story is part of a series that examines the challenges facing all levels of competition and how they are addressed.
A:
I think one of the worst pains a human can feel is isolation, especially isolation in suffering. And when there’s someone who’s made it by all external metrics—you’re in the NBA and have this much money—and wait, were you really insecure? Is it because you meet people? did you want to kill yourself The relevance factor is huge when you hear Michael Phelps talking about something. You start thinking, “Maybe I’m not that different.” We all think what we are experiencing is unique. We feel less alone when we hear people we admire say they are suffering from similar things. That in itself can be helpful — it encourages people to embrace it as a separate part of life. Gives. They definitely keep the conversation going.
Q: In what other ways has the conversation in the field of sports evolved? How much of a factor has the pandemic been a factor in highlighting some of these mental health issues?
A:
I think the pandemic has highlighted many things for many people. Being socially isolated is really hard. Humans in general are social creatures. Athletes could not compete. Sponsorship deal ended after his 1 year and may not have a job right now (during the pandemic). At that level there is a lot of pressure to stay at that level. When pools, gyms and courts are closed, athletes are exercising in parks. It made life difficult for many people. We are all still dealing with ways to reintegrate into the world.
Q: How has the prevalence of social media affected this whole dynamic?
A:
Oh yeah, it can be really brutal. Anyone who suddenly rises to prominence with a large amount of money or profit does not tell you how to deal with it. So if you miss a field goal, you have 50,000 people, and the sports media is calling you an idiot, it’s hard. Or if you’re trying to shoot a free throw and everyone is screaming bloody murder at you, you need skills to deal with the moment. • The media is harsh. They are children and the pressure increases. I’m not sure I can handle some of the pressures these kids deal with. what does that feel like Some people have to use social media, but it’s the only way to make a living.
Q: Are antidepressants a form of treatment? Should they?
A:
I think medicine really helps sometimes. I have no religion when it comes to drugs. Some psychiatrists say it always helps, others say it never helps. On the psychiatric side, we see people with anxiety and depression. Substance use is common, as is most people in the world. I think drugs can be very helpful and life-saving at times. I know lawyers can get depressed, but I don’t want athletes to get depressed. We want LeBron to be LeBron. …if severe her ADHD, depression, or bipolar disorder, treatment is probably not enough.
Q: Who is most at risk today?
A:
I know it was really hard during the pandemic. College-age kids were coming home and socially isolating. For some people, home isn’t the best place for them. They’re back where they thought they had escaped. A tremendous amount of disruption has been introduced into the lives of professional athletes as well as student-athletes. I think COVID is becoming less overwhelming. Some of them are starting to weaken. But I think when you zoom out, the pressure increases as the money grows. If you’re his NBA top 50 player, he’s done more than Athletics’ top 50. That disparity creates even more pressure. …in general, there is such a bias. Are things becoming more common, or are they much better at recognizing and diagnosing? Said. Now you might say it’s a lot of alcohol. Is the pressure building up? It’s hard to say.
Ron Kroichick is a staff writer for the San Francisco Chronicle. Email: [email protected] Twitter: @ronkroichick
