Anxiety Among Male Athletes

The University of Clemson shares very interesting facts about men's mental health among athletes. For me, I know that I have a lot of anxiety during and before sports games, so learning about the technicality of anxiety with male athletes was very intriguing for me and I am sure many other male athletes. It is emphasized that the anxiety that male athletes face is not zeroed in on actual in-game sports. It could be related to pressure from family,coaches and the pressure they put on themselves. It could also be academically related because for a lot of male athletes and athletes in general, sports are the main source of being able to go to college. Because the perception of anxiety is different for every athlete, there is not really a true cure to this anxiety. For some people, therapy may work and for some people medication may work.

Now I want to talk about some of the main types of anxiety that Men will face in sports. This is pre and post competition anxiety. I want to establish that this is much different than being nervous before games(that is completely normal). Having consistent anxiety before games that affects your performance on the field can be detrimental to an athlete's mental health too. Pre competition anxiety is more of a wide range rather than butterflies before a big game. It could lead to  poor concentration, trouble sleeping, clenched jaws, sweaty palms, and increased breathing rates. This is not healthy and at times can stop a player from enjoying the sport they love. Post-competition anxiety can be a factor after completing a season or game of their sport, it is more likely to be effective if an athlete is injured. Injured athletes often will have such anxiety because they can not imagine what their lives would be like without playing their sport. There are many negative symptoms for Pre and Post competition anxiety and this type of anxiety is the most accurate predictor for an athlete's performance. 

What we lack is resources. For Injured  athletes, 89 percent of athletes rely on family support for their anxiety related to sports. I know that for athletes it would be so incredibly beneficial to have facilities and resources where athletes can deal with their anxiety pre and post competition. I know it would have especially helped me during the recruiting process of my sport, and I believe high level and pressured sports at the high school level and outside of school(club teams) should implement a program for athletes dealing with anxiety to go to. 

Source: https://opentextbooks.clemson.edu/hlth3200baxter/chapter/anxiety-among-male-athletes/

Why Men Sharing Their Struggles is a Sign of Strength

Sharing stories about mental health is a powerful act of strength for men. When men open up about their experiences, they challenge societal norms that dictate silence and stoicism. These personal narratives can inspire others to seek help, fostering a supportive community. By speaking out, men demonstrate courage and resilience, showing that vulnerability is a part of true strength. This collective sharing helps to break down stigmas, making it easier for others to follow suit. Encouraging men to share their mental health journeys is essential in creating a culture of understanding and support, where seeking help is seen as a brave and commendable step. Throughout my mental health journey, I have always kept hidden. But I have learned that sharing my vulnerabilities has made me stronger as a man and has improved my mental health. Overall, as men we need to break that stigma and truly share with each other what we are going through, instead of keeping it in for nobody to see or hear our emotional journey

Uncovering Mens Body Dysmorphia

 I wanted to talk about a topic that is often overlooked when it comes to Men's mental health. The topic I am going to be blogging about today is body dysmorphia when it comes to men's mental health. I think that this topic of body dysmorphia is still more sought after when it comes to women, but this is why when men experience body dysmorphia it becomes this underground mental issue that men have to deal with, with little support. In fact a statistic I found was that over the last 25 years the amount of men that are dissatisfied with their appearance has tripled. It also said that there is a very similar amount of men that deal with this than women, but women are more open to sharing their struggles then men. Some aspects that are the most common in body dysmorphia is muscle dysmorphia. For example, lots of men who are really skinny may be viewed as “too small” or “ too puny”. It is why you may see men and especially high school boys working out incredibly intensely, along with working out overly consistently that may not always be the most healthy. This muscle dysmorphia also may lead to boys taking supplements and workout drugs that they really don’t need to take to gain muscle. It may just help them build muscle at a quicker rate, which is not always the right thing to do. I think another aspect of body dysmorphia that seems to be incredibly common in men is being preoccupied with their skin. Men who have body dysmorphic disorder often focus on their skin (like acne or scarring), hair (thinning), nose (size or shape), or genitals. These obsessions are challenging to resist and can take up a lot of time each day. Almost all men with this disorder engage in repetitive behaviors like checking the mirror, comparing themselves to others, hiding the perceived flaw, seeking reassurance, and excessive grooming. Overall, it is something that needs to be talked about more among men dealing with these mental issues. There needs to be some reassurance that these high standards that have been set for men are unattainable and don’t need hours upon hours spent to try to meet an impossible task. I encourage everyone to go and listen to the podcast about mens body dysmorphia on our website where you can listen to real life men talk about their experiences with body dysmorphia and how they deal with it.