Sports Psychology

Dr. John E. Burkhardt II, Psy D., Wellness Solutions of Tennessee

Psychologists understand that depression does not just surface in the life of non-athletes. Many athletes, whether they are amateur (which includes collegiate ranks for example) or professional, have to cope with mental illnesses like anxiety, eating disorders, and depression while trying to manage their everyday lives. Recently, an LPGA player named Lindsey Wright made her battle with depression public. She described depression and anxiety as:

"living with a pair of 50-pound weights attached to your frame. It's exhausting. Everything is an effort."

Wright eventually treated her depression with a combination of CBT and psychopharmacology. Currently she has returned to a full schedule on the LPGA tour. This story, like many other stories we hear in the media brings up many interesting talking points about what may be going in an athletes' mind. To the sports psychologist, the question to be answered is How Does Depression Affect the Athlete?

In Lindsey's case as in the case with most individuals, depression impacts the athlete's ability to concentrate. It can deplete their energy level making them feel lethargic. It causes feelings of anhedonia or lack of interest in activities. It can affect sleep and cause physical changes such as weight gain or loss.

Speaking from a cognitive-behavior perspective, depression can elicit numerous dysfunctional automatic thoughts and beliefs that may start to stress and overwhelm the athlete. It can create self-doubt, decrease self-esteem and self-efficacy (one's belief in accomplishing a particular task).

Overall, there is the possibility for the athlete to become debilitated with diminished athletic performance as he or she struggles to find solutions to their problem. In Lindsey's situation, her depression negatively impacted her personal and social relations. It limited her ability to practice effectively, concentrate, and perform during competition. She even got to the point where she questioned her future in professional golf.

Sports psychology addresses these automatic thoughts with a systemic treatment approach.

When an athlete comes into the office with performance issues, the first thing I conduct is a comprehensive sports psychology evaluation. This is to achieve a better understanding of the athlete. This assists me in determining if his or her presenting problem is sport specific, stemming from an underlying cause like depression or anxiety, or maybe a combination of factors that may include life and sport stressors. Once this information is gathered, feedback is shared. A collaborative treatment strategy will be devised, goals will be set, and the work can begin.