What is the Role of a Sport Psychiatrist?
Sports psychiatrists are in high demand these days, but just what does a sports psychiatrist actually ‘do’?
Sports psychiatrists are medical professionals who specialize in the mental health wellbeing of athletes and performers. They help to address psychological issues that may be impact performance, happiness and well-being.
Unlike sports psychologists, who typically focus on mental skills training, sports or stage performance enhancement, and mental health concerns, sports psychiatrists are licensed physicians, who completed medical school and specialized psychiatry training. Both professionals can diagnose and treat mental illnesses; however, only sport psychiatrists prescribe and manage medications.
Some of the more common mental health issues affecting athletes are stress, anxiety, depression, eating disorders, trauma, OCD, ADHD, and substance abuse. Sports psychiatrists are well positioned to help athletes and performers who are challenged by these conditions.
Continual and intense pressure to perform, the fear of failure or backsliding, burnout, and even the scrutiny of the public eye and social media tends to weigh heavily on high achieving individuals. Sports psychiatrists help athletes and performers identify possible medications that can help them through challenging periods of life. Importantly, sport psychiatrists are trained to evaluate the impact of medications on performance as well as understand that some medications are banned substances.
It’s very common for sports psychiatrists to work with athletes who are dealing with injuries. Such physical setbacks take a toll on the body and also on the mind, especially when injury recovery requires a protracted time away from both training and competition. Being ‘sidelined’ can bring about frustration, confusion, anger, depression, or anxiety. And proactively managing these feelings may help prevent more serious mood disorders that could result from a lengthy recovery process.
Lastly, and equally importantly, sports psychiatrists can be essential for athletes when facing retirement or transitioning out of competitive sports. Identity issues and a general loss of purpose are commonplace, and the support and training of a sports psychiatrist can help ease the transition process.
At Athlete Insight, we understand that athletes, performers, and high achieving individuals both need and deserve professionals who understand their values at goals. That is why we have a sport psychiatrist on staff. Want to learn more? Schedule a complimentary discovery call with Dr. Amy Laurent today.