THE TOPIC OF DEPRESSION IN SPORTS

This is the topic that I have been wanting to write about for a while now.
In my knowledge, it’s not talked about almost at all in handball, but it is very common.

The post about the topic of depression in sports is for all of you who are dealing with such a heavy contrast of having to manage depression (or anxiety, or any other mental health challenge) and having to be able simultaneously to perform well in your handball matches and practices (or in any other sport that you are part of).

This post is for all of you who never got a chance to be Heard and understood about the heaviness of the challenge that you need to deal with on an everyday basis.

Depression, by definition, negatively affects how you feel, it messes up the way you think and how you act. All which is extremely important to be able to perform as an athlete…

Depression causes feelings of sadness and/or a loss of interest in activities you once enjoyed. It can lead to a variety of emotional and physical problems and it can decrease your ability to function in school, at work, at home, in sports…

Over the last few years, I had an honor to hear a few stories and heart openings about this topic from a few athletes and coaches that I worked with, and my heart goes to them and to all of you who are reading this and who are dealing with the same challenge. ❤️

I recognize and acknowledge how challenging it is to have a depression and/or anxiety, and to have to be able at the same time to be highly motivated or to give your best in your practices or in matches.

I can’t even imagine how hard it must be to feel unsupported and not understood by your coach and by your teammates, or to maybe feel too scared to even share with them at all about your struggle.

I don’t know how painful and hard it actually feels, but I can only try to imagine how challenging it must be for all of you who are dealing with this, and who are not having a safe and trustworthy space to open up about it, especially to your team mates or to your coaches.

I See your pain. ❤️

There’s no single cause of depression. It can occur for a variety of reasons and it has many different triggers… So don’t be too hard on yourself about this. Just know that it is ok to have this challenge, and that there is at least someone over here who is trying to acknowledge your difficulty.

Please know that you can get help! There are a lot of professionals specialized in the field of depression and anxiety who can help you!
You just need to ask for help.
I know how terrifying and scary that can feel.
But you need to ask for help!
You deserve help! And you can get the help you need! ❤️

I am not an expert in dealing with depression, and this is not medical advice, but I want you to know that I feel for your pain, and I See your pain. And even though it might seem like you are completely alone and like you’re the only person in the world dealing with this – YOU ARE NOT ALONE!!!

Every time when I share something, it feels just like breadcrumbs of my heart thrown out in the world, in hope that someone out there, who needs help and support, will be able to find at least a small spark of Hope or Inspiration, or Light that can help them.

I don’t know where you are coming from, or where you are on your path right now, or why you are reading these words, but I hope that they will reach you in a way in which I felt them for you.

Know that you are not alone!

I believe that we are all taken care of by unexplainable life forces, and most importantly – I believe that we are all each other’s hopes of help!