![]() One person says something critical, suddenly it gains traction, and negativity gains followers and comments,” Dr. “The media and fandom can be rough – for instance, sports talk radio is brutal. There can be a tendency for athletes to be seen as superhuman or somehow immune to mental health challenges – especially when many of them are idolized and paid millions of dollars for our entertainment. “But even outside of that, athletes at the top of their game, there is a lot of pressure there.” Superhuman vs. If you are not 100 percent, then it’s dangerous. There’s so much where you have to know where your body is in relation to the ground. “You can break your neck, in her case, and that’s a whole other level of pressure. “Missing a foul shot is one thing, but missing a twirl is another – there is a high rate of injury,” Dr. A gymnast dealing with “the twisties” opens themselves to serious injuries. This means that her mind-body connection, honed into muscle memory from years of intense practice, suddenly betrayed her, and she lost track of herself in the air – quite a problem when spinning and flipping at top speed. In Biles’ case, the pressure she felt under the bright lights and the scrutiny of millions upon millions of strangers watching her led to something called “the twisties.” We all know what stress does to our lives and bodies – especially chronic stress, the kind that leaves our hearts racing, our brains foggy, and our body reeling with unfamiliar and often frightening symptoms. ![]() Biles’ case and the twistiesĮxperts and mental health advocates are quick to point out that pressure is just another name for stress. And you see some organizations now are coming around on giving employees mental health days, various activities and having more resources,” Dr. Biles, Osaka, even Michael Phelps – they are raising awareness. “Now we see that there is a slow change, recognition that we need to take a break once in a while. Raab agrees that awareness of mental health challenges – especially in light of the COVID-19 pandemic – has increased in recent years, and more people are willing to talk about the issues they face. “I always tell patients that when they acknowledge that there is something that they need to work on, that’s a strength.”ĭr. The thing I always tell my patients is that as a society, and, in the past, a lot of people saw mental health problems as a weakness,” Dr. “I do think (athletes) help the mental health discussion. The gymnast’s withdrawal came hot on the heels of another star athlete, tennis champion Naomi Osaka, who cited anxiety and mental health issues when she opted out of the French Open and Wimbledon earlier this year. Her agonizing decision to withdraw has helped normalize discussions about mental health in our country, according to Eric Raab, D.O., a psychiatrist at Lee Health’s Behavioral Health Center. After all, how could someone so gifted and perfect and considered the GOAT (greatest of all time) of her sport simply… not compete?! If it were me… Positive reactionsīut the positive reactions to Biles’ struggle have outweighed other complaints. Many called Biles “a quitter,” among other things. The gymnast’s decision sent shockwaves through the sports community, inspired numerous think pieces, and also spurred a deluge of criticism. team to Olympic gold, withdrew from the team event on July 27, citing pressure and mental health issues.īiles eventually returned for one individual event and won bronze on the balance beam – a much lesser medal count than everyone expected. Decorated Olympic gymnast Simone Biles, seen by just about every expert as a shoo-in to lead the U.S. Pressure – and its effect on our mental health – has been in the news again lately. “Can I be just as good as I was before? Can I continue to put on that perfect veneer when I feel like I’m crumbling inside? What will people think of me if I fail?” It’s those expectations and the pressure we put on ourselves that often wreak the most havoc. Performing under pressure: It’s something all of us have had to deal with, whether it’s that big presentation at work, speaking in front of a crowd-or just trying to live up to daily expectations or past accomplishments.
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