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Other Mental Health Issues that could
affect an athlete physically?
Along with performance anxiety, the stress
involved in athletics can also contribute to
other Biological health struggles like
• Eating disorders
• Depression
• Overtraining
• Sleep disorders
• Attention-deficit or hyperactivity disorder

These mental health conditions can be
exacerbated by certain aspects of athletic
culture and environmental factors. Athletes
may be exposed to distressing situations
that may detract from mental health, such
as:
• Injury
• Hazing
• Bullying
• Sexuality and gender issues
• Sexual misconduct
• Transitioning from a sport

The Indian aspect
Indian sportspersons discussing health
issues that impact performance and seeking
help is a recent development. Women
athletes, for instance, would rarely disclose
their menstrual cycle to coaches. Some
athletes have conditions such as bipolar
disorder, others are battling divorce and
breakups. They are now beginning to share
worries and personal issues.
“Wellness goes beyond the absence of mental
illness,” says Delhi-based psychologist Divya
Jain. “It encompasses emotional and social
well-being. It impacts our thoughts, feelings,
and behaviors, our capacity to cope with
the challenges of everyday life, and our
ability to reach our full potential. While sport
psychology interventions largely focus
on performance enhancement, personal
wellbeing needs to be prioritized too.”

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