Sports and other athletic pursuits mostly focus on the physical aspects of the body. Many professionals in the field spend almost their entire life training and conditioning their bodies to stay on top of their game.
With more systematic training sessions and strict diet programs, many would consider them the fittest people on Earth. But as we’ve come to know, events happen during games that can shorten a player’s career, and the injuries that result from them require utmost medical attention.
It could cost you more than just a missed game or season. It could also inflict trauma onto your psyche and affect how well you perform. Quite a number of athletes have become a shell of their former self upon getting back to the grind before.
Because of this, you should focus on more than just physical healing. Try doing the following to help you heal mentally and emotionally.
1. Consult medical experts.
During games, emergency personnel and other medical professionals are present in case something unfortunate happens. They ensure that an injury could be given swift medical attention, so the recovery does not take too much time.
Even so, you would still have to spend that time recovering, especially if you’ve had a serious procedure such as knee replacement surgery. Heed the word of your doctors in Orem and go through the necessary consultations and check-ups so you’ll get back to normal life faster.
You might be itching to get out there and prepare for the next game, but it may not be worth it in the long run if you force yourself. Plus, if you’re not at 100%, you can’t expect to perform at your best and may prove to be more of a disappointment than an asset.
2. Give yourself a chance.
Getting hurt triggers a different reaction from each person. Some would tell themselves to “hang in there” and keep a positive mindset. But others may blame themselves or worse, others, and everything can go downhill from there.
It could even lead to depression and a loss of the determination and drive that they had in the past. While it’s understandable that it’s frustrating to experience such limitations, it’s important to give yourself a chance to recover.
Since you’ll probably be off the team activities, you now have an opportunity to do other things. Take the time to spend time with your family, do things together, or find a non-sport hobby that suits you.
3. Don’t give up.
Maybe you’ve dreamed of a sports career as a child or had a passion and love for the game, or maybe it just clicked, and you found that you’re good at what you do and lead you to this moment where you’re now doing it for a living. Whatever your motivation for playing is, hold on to that.
Even if you’re still recovering from your injury, nobody can take away the fire inside — not even your own body or mind. Find what motivates you and use it as fuel for traveling the road to fully restoring your mental and emotional health.
Getting hurt is a part of life, but no one wants to stay that way. To become a winner, one must understand the pain and suffering of losing. Being an athlete, you would know how it feels to be challenged and getting severe injuries is just one of them. It’s going to be up to you if you want to continue.
