Athlete Anecdote - Mental Health

As an athlete, I’ve experienced firsthand how mental health plays a crucial role in performance, yet it often doesn’t get the attention it deserves. The pressure to perform at a high level can be intense. 

I remember preparing for an important meet last season; The pressure to be perfect, not only for my coach but for my teammates was overwhelming. The pressure built up to the point where I couldn’t sleep the night before, my mind racing with worst case scenarios: What if I fail? What if I disappoint everyone? I performed okay, but I knew the anxiety had held me back from reaching my full potential.

Beyond competition, balancing sports, school, and life has been another challenge. Some days, I’d come home from practice completely exhausted, only to face a mountain of homework and tests. This constant cycle can be overwhelming, and I’ve seen it impact teammates, too. One close friend confided in me about burnout, saying they felt trapped in a cycle of expectations without space to decompress.

What helps me manage these challenges is finding ways to prioritize mental health. For me, this means talking to someone I trust when I feel overwhelmed- whether it’s talking to my mom, a friend, or even journaling. It can feel corny at first, but it helps to get your thoughts out there. As a team, we’ve started having open conversations about mental health, which has made a huge difference. Just knowing I’m not alone has been empowering.

I believe athletes need more resources to address mental health, whether it’s access to counselors who understand sports dynamics or simple stress-management workshops. Mental health shouldn’t be a side note- it’s just as important as physical training. By prioritizing it, we can build not only be stronger athletes but also healthier individuals.