We are not always aware of the importance of mental health in the different areas of personal and professional life. For this reason, we look with surprise at the public statements of Simone Biles and Naomi Osaka at the past Tokyo 2021 Olympic Games.
Indeed, and even more so when it comes to high-performance sports, psychology plays a key role in the good performance of the athlete. After all, in addition to being under a lot of pressure, athletes are still people just like most of us, with their problems and weaknesses.
In this sense, and also thanks to the maturity with which society currently views mental health, mental health professionals specialized in the sports world and the needs of the athlete are increasingly in demand.
SPORTS PSYCHOLOGY?
Sports psychology or sports psychology is another branch of psychology, specialized in the study and management of the behavior and conduct of a human being whose main focus is high-performance sports. That is, professional athletes.
His main field of study is the effect that sport as such has on human behavior before, during and after it. Thanks to this, a sports psychologist is able to guide the athlete in his search for general well-being.
Some of the most frequent enemies that this health professional faces are:
- Panic attacks and nerves.
- Continuous episodes or frequent periods of chronic stress.
- Eating disorders.
- Depression.
KEY FUNCTIONS OF THE SPORTS PSYCHOLOGIST
NEEDS ASSESSMENT
Many times professional athletes face performance problems not necessarily related to their physical condition. As a countermeasure, a sports psychologist applies cognitive-behavioral techniques to find out what needs must be covered so as not to interrupt their proper performance xnxx.
EMOTIONAL REGULATION
It is no secret to anyone that emotions are key in sport. Therefore, it is very common for professional athletes to have problems managing stress, anxiety and other negative emotions.
The job of the sports psychologist, in this case, is to provide the athlete with the necessary tools for the proper management of her emotions. In this way, he can ensure his mental health and stay focused on his discipline at the same time.
MENTALIZATION AND FOCUS
To reach the highest competitive levels, the athlete must undergo long periods of total focus on their discipline. In this sense, the sports psychologist helps to establish and be consistent in achieving well-defined goals. His function in this case, mostly, is to help maintain the rhythm despite the deterioration of motor functions due to inevitable aging.
Now that you know everything that an athlete can do with the correct psychological support, do you think that this figure can be as important as the coach of a high-performance athlete?