Depression in Athletes: An Increasingly Common Problem

About 21 percent of athletes suffer from depression. Despite this, it's still something of a taboo subject. The triggers tend to be the fear of disappointing people, anxiety about performance, and not having good emotional control.

Depression in athletes is still a taboo subject. However, research shows that it’s much more common than we might think. Despite this, it’s often so hidden and easily dismissed that many may not be able to imagine that many of their favorite athletes have gone through or are experiencing a mental health issue.

In 2018, Michael Phelps, one of the greatest swimmers and the record holder for the most Olympic medals in history, revealed that he’d suffered several episodes of depression throughout his career. He also revealed that suicide had occurred to him on more than one occasion.

Serena Williams, a tennis player admired for her technique, resilience, and strength, has also gone through several depressive episodes. The most serious of these was just after the birth of her daughter. In fact, post-natal depression is something that many athletes go through.

We could go on to talk about Kevin Love from the NBA, soccer player Andrés Iniesta, or even Rafael Nadal. All are elite athletes, but there are thousands of anonymous athletes who secretly try to cope with the suffering and darkness on their own.

Depression is, in fact, one of the main causes of suicide among athletes. Studies such as the one carried out at Rochester University show that this risk increases when athletes suffer an injury.

Depression in athletes – just the tip of the iceberg

Depression in athletes is a chronic stigma in our society. And it doesn’t seem to make a difference that huge stars have stepped up to speak publicly about their experiences; the situation hasn’t changed.

This is due to several factors, but the most important is still the distorted ideas we continue to have about mental illness in general.

To understand a little more about how common this psychological disorder is in the sporting population, here are just a couple of statistics: The rate of depression in the general population is 6 percent. Among athletes, it ranges from 17 to 21 percent.

Sports psychology focuses on this problem, recognizing that this is a sector of society that needs more resources and more strategies to help athletes cope with the pressures they often face. Let’s take a closer look at the common triggers for depression in athletes.

Depression in athletes: I’m a human being, I’m not invincible

Depression in athletes proves something undeniable. Physical preparation and well-trained technique are of little use if you lack spirit, if your mind is exhausted, and if you have unmet emotional needs.

Athletes aren’t invincible, and it doesn’t matter how many prizes they win or how many records they achieve. Being strong doesn’t mean reaching the finish line first or winning every championship. Being strong means knowing their inner darkness but finding the light, asking for help when they need it, and learning to handle pressure, fears, and anxieties.

Unmanaged stress and anxiety lead to depression sooner or later

Depression doesn’t just appear overnight. It’s like a mist that gradually clouds a stage, becoming denser and denser until it has saturated every corner. One of the main causes is undoubtedly the daily stress that isn’t managed and is silenced instead. It can also be triggered by the anxiety that builds up over time until, eventually, the person suffers a panic attack.

The myth that sport prevents depression

All of this is made worse by a false myth: that sport and physical activity prevent depression. Now, it’s certainly true that an active life and aerobic exercise act are great stimuli for the brain and lead to increased levels of endorphins and serotonin…

However, none of these factors can 100 percent prevent a mental health problem. According to an interesting study published at Drexel University by Dr. Andrew Wolanin, depression is more common among athletes because of the following causes:

• The pressure which athletes are subjected to is greater than for normal people, and even more so for elite athletes.
• They have a greater fear of failure.
• They are more exposed to criticism.
• Athletes often feel anxious about disappointing the people around them.
• Also, many athletes don’t have close support around them. Having someone to be honest with, to ask for help, and to share feelings with is something healthy and necessary.
• There is an obvious fear of showing and communicating feelings and emotions, such as fear, sadness, or anguish.

In conclusion, it’s really important for athletes to understand that stress and anxiety are completely normal. Asking for professional help right from the beginning won’t just help you to better deal with your emotions but will also improve your performance by boosting your self-esteem and your emotion management skills. Don’t be afraid to step out of the shadows.