There has been a lot of coverage recently addressing mental health and sport. As well as the amazing triumphs, the Olympics was an event that brought to light the stresses of competition, the gruelling routines as well as the constant public pressures and expectations to win.
There’s no doubt that athletes face many challenges in their chosen sports, especially in a digital age where performances are rapidly scrutinised on broadcast channels and social media platforms around the world. This however has lead to carping criticism from spectators if an athlete fails to meet those expectations.
It stands to reason that having a solid mental health outlook is a vital part of such challenges. It should also be recognised that it can falter. The athletes should therefore be applauded for their dedication and courage while representing their respective countries.
In the psychiatric industry however, descriptive names based on biased psychiatric observations are being used to redefine not doing well mentally. Called disease-mongering, it’s defined as the act of convincing essentially well people that they are sick or slightly sick people that they are very ill.
This often leads to the use of physically damaging treatments, but no cures. Expensive psychiatric drugs don’t heal or cure anything. They cover up or mask a person’s difficulties or problems, creating a false impression that something therapeutic is happening. This becomes apparent when reality hits and the effects of mind-altering drugs wear off.
Users are left to cope with the mental effects of the drugs which include anxiety, agitation, panic attacks, insomnia, nightmares, trembling, exhaustion, irritability, hostility and aggression.
We have to remain diligent. Rather than focusing on the negative aspects of a given situation, it would be advantageous to encourage people, including athletes, and demonstrate compassionate values that don’t come with any added complications.
