Sports Write for us

It’s no secret that sports are not just games. It is also not just about competing and getting in shape. Sports are a mental health tool as well. It not strengthen our muscles, but also helps calm our minds, and serves as a tool to cope with our own emotional challenges. Even small sport activities, like walking, yoga, swimming, running, or a casual round of soccer, can help boost self-esteem, improve focus, and change a person’s outlook on life. 

Team sports, individual athletics, and leisure activities help with making friends, social interaction, and getting social support as well. Regular exercise and engagement in sports help release mood-enhancing neurochemicals, such as endorphins and enkephalins in the brain, which help generate a sense of happiness and well-being. This biochemical reaction helps many better manage their anxiety, depression, and the daily stress they deal with.

However, athletes at the professional, high school, college, and competitive levels of all sports commonly experience stress to be consistent performers. In addition to their training regimen, they have to schedule time to practice, deal with the pressure of competition, explore various techniques, meet the expectations of the audience, and keep up with personal relationships. These challenges often lead to stress and thereby influence their mental health.

At GABA Telepsychiatry, we understand that athletes are often at risk for mental health symptoms and conditions due to the risk factors (e.g., being consistent performers, developing discipline, etc.)  associated with sports. They go through times of depression, anxiety, and stress. Even a winner can have these issues in the competition cycle, as they try their best in performance, relationships, and personal happiness, like anybody else.

Whether you are a sportsperson, sports psychologist, certified mental performance consultant, sports medicine physician, coach, other healthcare practitioner, or someone who has overcome or is overcoming a mental health problem through sports, we encourage you to write for us from a real-life perspective.

We would appreciate hearing your standpoints related to challenges you’ve overcome, your comeback, your motivation, your ongoing struggle, your joy, or your experiences with other mental struggles related to sports. Every person’s experience with sports is unique. Your shared views, setups, and other tried and true strategies (e.g., stress reduction during demanding situations) in sports can inspire many to take the lead or as a push.