While the current summer games will be forever known as the “Covid Olympics,” The gymnast Simone Biles stepping out of the competition has wiped the daily medal and Covid count off the headlines temporarily.
Though Biles is the point person of the hour, two other athletes, Michael Phelps and Naomi Osaka have openly discussed the damage competitive athletics has done to their mental health and well-being.
Biles summed it up when she said “I have to put my pride aside. I have to do what’s right for me and focus on my mental health and not jeopardize my health and my well-being. So that’s why I decided to kind of take a step back. At the end of the day, we’re human too, so we have to protect our mind and our body rather than just go out there and do what the world wants us to do.”
Phelps, the most decorated Olympian ever, has been very open about his issues with mental health and cost of being such a decorated athlete. "Yeah I won a s--t-ton of medals. I had a great career," he said in the documentary “The Weight of Gold. "So what? I thought of myself as 'just a swimmer. Not a human being."
When a chronic condition becomes part of your life, whether as a person living with it and/or being a caregiver, it’s a marathon, not a sprint and it truly can be dehumanizing. Often people so identify with their diagnosis, they will describe themselves by it, e.g. I’m Jane Doe, Parkinson’s patient. We are not a disease any more than Phelps is just a swimmer, Biles is a gymnast or Osaka a tennis player. Being a person comes first as it recognizes your capabilities as well as fears and frailties.
Allowing yourself permission to make choices that are in your best interest both mentally and physically is critical.
Again and again you’ll hear athletes and coaches saying just “push through” the fear of not living up to expectations, not being good enough, the pain etc. Gymnasts are reared on the Kerri Strug story-the Olympian that vaulted even though she had a broken ankle-thereby ensuring a gold medal for the USA Women’s Gymnastics team. However, while they may know as well the story of the gymnast who landed wrong, and became paralyzed (Elena Mukhina), most Americans do not. It’s an example of how the idea of “taking the risk” and “pushing through” can be very damaging with long lasting effects. Great for Strug but don't forget Mukhina.
Yes there are times it’s okay to “push yourself” and it could even be helpful. However, the key is knowing when to stop pushing and step back.
People affected by chronic conditions often cope with pain, depression, conflicting knowledge, access to care, communicating with providers, trying to be the “perfect patient,” shame and so forth. "Coaches" aren't standing by helping us recognize that we're taxed to the point we need to step back or make another choice. Knowing the signs of being stressed to the point you may not be making the best choices for yourself is very helpful. These can include:
• Over or under eating or sleeping
• Withdrawing from people and engaging in activities
• Low or no energy
• Unexplained aches and pains, such as constant stomachaches or headaches
• Feeling helpless or hopeless
• Excessive smoking, drinking, or using drugs, including prescription medications
• Worrying a lot of the time; feeling guilty but not sure why
• Thoughts of hurting or killing yourself or someone else
• Anxiety dreams
Phelps has outlined what has worked for him when he becomes stressed, depressed. In addition, these same techniques improve his mental and physical well-being, reducing the risk of negative feelings.
• Focusing on what can be controlled
• Having a quiet space to retreat to and regroup
• Journaling
• Exercise
• Meditation
• Therapy
The over whelming take away from these superior athletes is make the choice that is right for you and ignore the naysayers.
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