Recognizing When Medications Might Help: Know When to Consider Working with a Sports Psychiatrist
Athletes are known for dedicating themselves to physical excellence. Countless hours of training and physical preparation are invested in the pursuit of performance goals. However, those hours of intense dedication can seriously impact mental health. And, while some athletes are able to manage the stressors on their own or with the help of a therapist or mental performance consultant, there are times when additional support, particularly from a sports psychiatrist, becomes crucial.
Understanding when an athlete may need this level of care – and when medications might be beneficial – can make a significant difference for an athlete’s well-being and performance.
Following are symptoms that suggest it might be time to consider working with a sports psychiatrist.
Persistent and/or Severe Depression
Athletes are humans. And, just like all humans, athletes are susceptible to experiencing depression. The symptoms of depression can vary. When an athlete’s symptoms are intense, long-lasting or unresponsive to traditional talk therapies, medication may be necessary. In fact, evidence demonstrates that talk therapy plus medications are the most effective way to treat depression.
Watch for:
Low energy and motivation: Finding it increasingly more difficult to engage in training, competition, or other important life activities such as school or work despite efforts to try to stay motivated.
Sleep disturbances: Chronic insomnia or an increased desire to sleep, especially paired with feeling worthless, hopeless, or guilty.
Los of interest: No longer finding joy in sports or activities that an athlete once loved or giving up on goals.
Suicidal thoughts or actions: Any time an athlete is struggling with thoughts of self-harm, immediate intervention including psychiatric care is critical.
When these symptoms present, a sports psychiatrist can help an athlete determine whether an antidepressant medication, along with therapy, would be helpful to stabilize one’s mood and restore their previous level of functioning.
Persistent, Unrelenting, and/or Overwhelming Anxiety
Performance anxiety is common among athletes; however, generalized anxiety and panic attacks may indicate a more serious mental health concern.
Watch for:
Recurring panic attacks: Episodes that involve shortness of breath, dizziness, trembling or shaking, excessive sweating, a racing heart, hot or cold flashes, feelings of choking, chest pain, nausea, numbness and/or fear of losing control.
Unmanageable worry or rumination: Constant or excessive worry that does not respond to mental skills training or talk therapy.
Behavior or habit changes: Avoiding friends, teammates or other important events due to overwhelming anxiety.
In these cases, a sport psychiatrist can help athletes identify medications to help manage their symptoms and get back into life in a meaningful way.
OCD
People often joke about having OCD. Those who truly struggle with OCD would never joke about it though. Obsessive-compulsive disorder can be debilitating for athletes. As it progresses, OCD disrupts life and increases stress.
Watch for:
Intrusive, obsessive thoughts: Repetitive worries and preoccupations about concerns such as making mistakes, failing, or injury.
Compulsive behaviors: Rituals or routines that are rigid in nature and often disrupt other life activities such as practice, sleep, or relationships.
Performance impairment: Disruption of focus, concentration, or physical abilities due to exhaustion and preoccupations.
Sport psychiatrists can help athletes identify medications that are effective at treating OCD to help them manage the obsessive thoughts and compulsions.
Eating Disorders and Body Dysmorphia
Athletes face tremendous pressures not only to excel in sport but also to fit into sport body ideals. Signs of disordered eating or body image concerns can be tough to tease out due to the normalization of such behaviors in sport culture. This means that we need to open our eyes and ears to ensure that we are ready to help when an athlete needs it.
Watch for:
Weight loss, weight gain or weight cycling
Preoccupation with body size, shape or weight
Unhealthy eating habits: Fasting, cutting out food types or groups, bingeing, and rigid exercise routines may indicate more serious problems.
A sport psychiatrist can help athletes evaluate whether medications, in addition to therapy, would be helpful in stabilizing mood while improving their relationship with food, body and exercise.
Trauma and/or PTSD
Athletes are human – they can experience trauma just like everybody else. Whether the trauma is sports-related or due to a life event outside of sport, these symptoms can be devastating to an athlete.
Watch for:
Flashbacks or nightmares: Reliving the traumatic event can occur during the middle of the day when something triggers a memory or during sleep.
Hypervigilance: Constantly living on edge, being easily startled or quick to react.
Avoidance: Making conscious choices to avoid specific people, places or activities to avoid reminders of the trauma.
A sport psychiatrist can help athletes explore whether medications will help them regain emotional stability and confidence while healing from the trauma.
When athletes face mental health challenges, they may or may not need medication support. However, when medications are warranted, working with a sports psychiatrist can be life-giving. So often, we stigmatize medication as a sign of weakness; however, making the choice to take meds and reclaiming one’s mental health is about empowering oneself to get back to enjoying life and thriving in sport. If an athlete is battling mental illness, remind them that medications are not about weakness but rather about restoring one’s health and opening the door to opportunity.
Are you or someone you know considering medications? If so, Athlete Insight offers medication management services. Whether you are ready to say yes to meds or simply want some questions answered, our sports psychiatrist is here for you.