The prevalence of mental health issues is increasing in collegiate and elite athletes. Pressure from coaches and teammates expecting best and maximal performances at all times, coupled with pressure from reality outside of athletics are responsible for this uptick. The importance of mental health has not been at the forefront of the conversation until recently. Platforms have been created by collegiate and elite athletes speaking about their own experiences with mental illness, specifically depression and anxiety. The idea behind these athletes speaking out is to promote a conversation against the stigma surrounding mental health in general, but especially within athletics.
Case Study: Victoria Garrick
Victoria Garrick is a mental health advocate who has used her platform to create a voice for student athletes. Garrick was a former division 1 volleyball player at the University of Southern California (USC). She uses her social media platform to start conversations regarding mental health. Her influence started in 2017 when she delivered a very powerful TED talk discussing her own experiences with mental health and depression during her time as a student athlete.
As described in her Ted talk, Garrick competed in a very high level program, as the trojans were ranked #1 in the nation her freshman year. She was a starter and went on to earn numerous accolades and honors. Her performance on the court was not reminiscent of what was happening to her on the inside. She began to share her own story of mental health, specifically addressing depression, performance anxiety, and body image. In doing so, she founded the Hidden Opponent, a nonprofit organization committing to advocating, educating, and supporting student-athletes. She has obtained over 300,000 followers across Youtube, Instagram, and TikTok. She has a podcast called Real Pod as well.
Garrick’s story with mental health began as a freshman at USC. In her TED talk she sets the scene of what being a student athlete can entail: late nights with homework, early morning lifts, and having virtually no free time. She places heavy emphasis on the need to show up to practices and games with no distraction from her life outside of sports. She went into detail on how the misconception of mental health forms. People might not understand the severity of it or what it does mean until they actually experience it themselves. To demonstrate the stigma of mental health she asked her audience to raise their hand if they have ever had any sports injury. Almost the entire audience raised their hand to this question. Then she asked if anyone had ever had depression or anxiety. By asking this question she created a tension that could be felt viewing her talk through the screen. She then dives deeper into her own experiences with mental health through her life as a student athlete.
Garrick walked on to USC’s team and worked her way up to a starting spot, winning the PAC 12 championship her freshman year. At first, she was on a high, but soon the pressure got to her and caused her to develop anxiety. More specifically, she developed performance anxiety. She described her stomach as being curled into a ball and just wanted to cry. On top of these feelings, she had to worry about school and her social life. Her schedule began to overwhelm her and she developed depression without even realizing it because she believed athletes could not feel this way. She began to just go through the motions, feeling fully depleted and drained. She would mask these feelings by convincing herself that she could not feel this way because she was normally the most happy and energetic. She began to see a psychiatrist and was suggested to take anti-depressants. She refused at first but began to realize the chemical balance in her brain was out of equilibrium.
During her talk, she highlighted her Instagram profile and explained the backstory to some of her posts. This showed the false reality that social media allows for us to showcase. This allows for constant comparison of false norms.
Because Garrick was a walk on, she was not on scholarship and she could have easily quit. She did not quit because all she knew was volleyball and it was her life and true love. She was diagnosed with major depressive disorder. She currently sees a therapist and takes medication. She tried positive mental practice, but still struggled as to why it took her so long to realize she was not okay. She attributed this to the stigma mental health has within the culture amongst college and high level athletics. Physical injuries are treated more seriously than mental illnesses because physical injuries can be easily seen. It is hard because mental illness cannot be physically seen and forms as an invisible enemy.
Based on her own research, Garrick found that 59% of division one athletes felt depressive symptoms in the last few months. She found that over half of respondents struggled with anxiety, depression, or an eating disorder but did not seek out help. Almost 80% of her respondents reported that they believed mental health was not addressed enough. She concluded her TED talk with hopes for the future regarding mental health.
Garrick has built her platform around her voice to facilitate this conversation. She used her condition to positively influence the lives of those around her. She is very active on YouTube, Instagram, and TikTok as a mental health advocate. She shares her own story and encourages others to do the same. She speaks on depression, anxiety, and body image issues. She continuously works to help break the stigma. Her podcast, Real Pod, has impactful and meaningful conversations about mental health that are as real as possible and relatable to many. She hosts many student athletes, celebrities, and professionals who are using their platform to spread their voice. For example, she has hosted Dr. Margaret Rutherford, a psychologist who wrote a book titled “Perfectly Hidden Depression: How to Break from the Perfectionism that Masks your Depression.” In their episode, they had a raw conversation regarding classic depression and hidden depression and how to stop hiding behind depression. She has also hosted Olympic athletes such as April Ross, a beach volleyball player to talk about her own experiences with mental health and body image issues.
In addition to speaking about her own experiences via many platforms, she has created a nonprofit organization known as the Hidden Opponent. The Hidden Opponent helps student athletes by raising awareness of mental health within the culture of athletics. The opponent is mental illness. Mental illness is a hidden enemy and too many people face their battles alone. The Hidden Opponent offers a safe platform for student athletes to share their own personal stories. It is committed to decreasing the stigma and starting the conversation. One way in which this organization does this is by creating chapters at different universities and colleges with campus representatives known as head campus captains to help spread this initiative within other athletic programs.
Garrick used her experiences with mental health and turned it into a passion of advocacy and connectivity. She spoke for the voice of the silenced who were afraid to speak up and spoke of the culture within sports that is becoming all too common. She utilizes as many platforms as possible to reach as many as possible.
What is Depression?
Major depressive disorder is a mood disorder. It can be caused by familial and genetic history, trauma, stress, and medications. Genetics and family history can impact how one responds to stress. Persistent stress can cause physiological changes, especially regarding the number of neurotransmitters in the brain. Neurotransmitters are chemical messengers in the brain responsible for communication between neurons. Stress can affect the hypothalamus of the brain as this is responsible for the stress responses. Depending on the situation, it may secrete corticotropin releasing hormone (CRH) which secretes adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH). Together, these cause the body to work itself up and release cortisol. Those with depression often have higher levels of CRH, meaning that they experience chronic stress. Trauma and life experience can also change how people respond to stress and make them more sensitive to it. Physical illnesses can also make someone more susceptible to depression. For example, hypothyroidism can lead to depression if not properly treated. Those who experience heart attacks are at a higher risk for depression.
Depression is diagnosed through the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM). It is often described as feeling sad. Depressed mood is the main symptom of depression, specifically major depressive disorder (MDD), as indicated in the DSM. One who is depressed may withdrawal from their normal activities and hobbies. They might feel hopeless and tired all the time and have appetite changes. They might even have suicidal thoughts. While genetics can contribute to the prevalence of depression, it is more correlated with environmental influence. To qualify as having MDD the following must be met: symptoms cause distress or impairment, symptoms are not caused by physiology, no history of mania, and cannot be explained by another disorder. The person must have a depressed mood or decreased interest in normal activities. The person must also meet at least four of the following: 5% weight gain or loss, change in appetite, development of insomnia or hypersomnia, agitation, fatigue, a sense of worthlessness, impaired concentration, or suicidal ideation. Symptoms must be present for at least two weeks.
A systemic review published through the National Library of Medicine found that athletes of higher levels were at greater risk for developing depression. This review also found that concussion and injury rate and gender placed higher risk for the prevalence of depression (Rice, 2016). Retirement from college athletics does not seem to help with depressive symptoms. Retiring, or graduating in the case of college athletes, acts as an additional risk factor for developing depression. (Weigand, 2013). This is due to identity changes. Athletes who compete at high levels for most of their lives take on the identity as a student athlete. This new identity can sometimes be centered on the latter. While this might seem okay in the moment, it can cause a loss of oneself when athletics stop. Injury and concussion rates are risk factors because these both can lead to a struggle in identity amongst athletes. They can take players out of their game for prolonged periods of time and sometimes be career ending. This sudden, unexpected stop as an athlete can cause a shock and can increase stress, contributing to the risk of depression.
The neurobiological basis for depression is not as clear as it may seem. This is due to everyone’s life experiences. Of the research that has been performed, it has been determined that the amygdala, thalamus, and hippocampus play major roles in the diagnosis of depression. Function magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) can be used to determine the sizes of the brain parts across varying populations to see how much a part of the brain plays a role in depression. The amygdala is the part of the brain associated with emotions. It is highly activated when a person is depressed. This makes sense as sad emotions often characterized depression. If a person is feeling persistently down, this can increase their negative emotional state. The thalamus receives information and sends it to its appropriate destination. In short, it deals with sensory input and output. The hippocampus is responsible for long term memory and regulates fear responses. A study published in the Journal of Neuroscience found that those with depression might have a smaller hippocampus. Stress is believed to affect the hippocampus. This makes sense as higher stress levels pose a risk factor for developing depression.
Neurotransmitters are what send signals and allow communication within the brain. By increasing the concentration of neurotransmitters, communication can be increased with the hope that emotional regulation is also increased. Depression can occur in people whose neurotransmitters do not communicate efficiently. Messages might be weaker or stronger than intended. This, in turn, can adversely affect mood. There are many neurotransmitters, but it is believed that acetylcholine, serotonin, norepinephrine, dopamine, glutamate, and gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) influence the development of depression. Acetylcholine is involved in memory and information recall. Low serotonin places a higher risk for depression as sleep, appetite, and mood all change. Norepinephrine is a part of our flight or fight system. When activated, in stressful situation, it can decrease the size of the hippocampus. Dopamine is often known as the happy drug, as it contributes to the brain’s reward system. Glutamate is an excitatory neurotransmitter and when its levels get out of the normal range it can affect mood. GABA is an inhibitory neurotransmitter, which means it can provide a calming effect.
Treatment
In general, depression is treated with medication or therapy. Self-care activities such as exercise, proper nutrition, and sleep can also help to manage symptoms.
Exercise
Those who have high stress levels will benefit from exercise as it decreases the negative impacts stress has on the body. The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) recommends that people partake in 150 minutes of total exercise a week. It is recommended to get at least 8 hours of sleep a night to feel well rested the following day. A proper diet can ensure the body is properly fueled.
A study conducted by James Blumenthal, a psychologist at Duke University Medical Center, conducted a study evaluating the effect of aerobic exercise on depression. He used four groups to compare the effects of walking and jogging from group exercise to an individualized workout program, an antidepressant, and a placebo medication. His results found that all groups, except the placebo group had a 40-47% recovery rate (Bower, 2007). His results strengthen the argument for using exercise as a viable treatment option for depression, since its success rate was similar to that of an antidepressant.
A journal article posted in the British Medical Journal addressed the growing evidence supporting exercise as a viable treatment option for depression. It was discovered that those who develop depression do not exercise as frequently as others, implying exercise can help decrease its prevalence. The authors, Sarah Beesley and Nanette Mutrie argued exercise should be offered as a treatment option (Beesley and Mutrie, 1997). Antidepressants can cause unwanted side effects, while therapy might not be a practical option for some due to insurance or time restraints. Ideally, exercise should provide only positive effects, when performed within proper guidelines, and is the most efficient option. Exercising is a free activity and can be done in one’s own time. There are many different modes of exercise, so the individual can pick which form they prefer best to make it enjoyable.
While there are some studies concluding exercise does help in treating depression, most were performed to a small scale. The limitation of smaller studies is that it can be hard to propose a valid, general conclusion. Zosia Kmietowicz published an article in the British Medical Journal addressing this inconsistently in results. To allow for more clarifying and conclusive results, larger, valid trials are needed. (Kmietowicz, 2013). Hopefully, with more athletes and public figures speaking out about the importance and prevalence of mental health issues, research in treatment options will be focused on exercise.
Therapy
Therapy can be used to allow someone to talk with a mental health professional. The main idea behind cognitive therapy is to change personal beliefs that affect mood. Cognitive therapy can also help with understanding emotional responses and be able to feel feelings. Cognitive therapy can be used to help address root issues such as traumas or life events. Therapists can help suggest different ways to cope and deal with stressors. Therapy can help someone form healthy strategies to deal with what life throws at them. For cognitive therapy to work, the client must accept that some personal beliefs and rationales might be wrong. In doing this, they are open to accepting help. The client then learns to recognize these false beliefs and notice what triggers them. At this point, is it up to the client to determine what facts they have to support their current feelings. In doing this, they can reframe their emotional response to the situational facts. Therapists might suggest activities for their clients to do such as journaling and goal setting. Research from The National Institute of Mental Health Treatment of Depression Collaborative Research Program proved the effectiveness of psychotherapy in comparison to antidepressants.
Antidepressants
Antidepressants are used to correct the chemical imbalance in the brain. Their benefits may not be felt for a few weeks. Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSTIs), serotonin and noradrenaline reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs), tricyclic antidepressants (TCAs), monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs), norepinephrine and dopamine reuptake inhibitors (NDRIs), and non-competitive N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor antagonists are examples of the classification of medications that may be prescribed. SSRIs are the most common class of medication prescribed for depression. Negative side effects include headaches and diarrhea. SNRIs are prescribed for depression and anxiety. Negative side effects include heavy sweating and dry mouth. TCAs are prescribed least due to their negative side effects such as tremors and blurred vision. MAOIs are not used as frequently since they were the first class of antidepressant to be approved for human use. Norepinephrine and dopamine reuptake inhibitors are also prescribed for a variety of mental health issues such as anxiety and bipolar disorder. Non-competitive N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor antagonists are offered as a nasal spray and often used as a last resort when all other medication options have been proven ineffective. Antidepressants are often used in conjunction with cognitive therapy. They are typically taken for up to a year after the initial depression diagnosis.
Major depressive disorder has a higher reoccurrence rate after each episode. With ample treatment, active participation by the individual, and a good support system, the reoccurrence rate can decrease. If the individual has an additional mental disorder or was of old age of initial onset, the treatment prognosis is not as high. Antidepressants may not begin to work or enhance mood until after a few weeks of being consumed.
Garrick’s experiences seem to follow suit with the classifying symptoms for MDD. As she became depressed she did not enjoy volleyball, which at the time was her true love. She had passive thoughts of walking in front of traffic to make everything stop, she had visible distress even though she tried to hide it. She became very fatigued and felt worthless. She was in a very high pressure environment which seems to have contributed greatly to her diagnosis of major depressive disorder. The stress she felt to perform at her best at all games and practices could have caused an increase in cortisol, leading to neurochemical imbalances. While she does not make known her family history with mental illnesses, it could have played a factor in her stress response. Garrick’s response to her life as an elite level athlete seems to follow suit with normal brain function. She was exposed to chronic levels of stress virtually all year round. She had pressure from athletics, school, and socially to show up at all times at her best. It follows suit that her brain needed to adapt to this stressful lifestyle by allowing a chemical imbalance. She became an active participant in her journey to recovery and self-love by partaking in therapy and using antidepressants.
Although, Garrick does not disclose her religious affiliation, religion can play a role in the risk of developing depression. A literature review published through the Cambridge University Press found that those affiliated with religion had a lower risk for developing depression compared to those with no affiliation. Religion might act as some form of protection against mental illness, even if it is a placebo. Emile Durkheim, a sociologist, did a lot of work looking at the role spirituality and religion have on physical and mental health. He found that positive practices affiliated with religion, such as meditation, have positive impacts on mental health and can serve as protection from it. Durkhein believed that religion plays a role in shaping society, which can allow people to form communities (Boundless). This would hopefully decrease the risk of developing depression by having a support group through one’s religion. “Normative” behaviors with religion encourage practices such as meditation and reflection. It offers a structure of beliefs that can calm the mind. Rather than have thoughts wander aimlessly around the mind, practices put in place through religion can guide the individuals through reflection and meditation to find a home for each thought.
Contrary to what Durkheim found, a literature review posted in the Journal of Religion and Health, found varying degrees of evidence in which religion played a role in depression, proposing that while religion could provide positive impacts on depression, it could also cause negative effects. First, the authors defined religious involvement as “the importance individuals place on their religious beliefs (Koenig et al. 2014; Pargament et al. 1988; Schnittker 2001; Worthington et al. 2003) and “engagement in communal religious activities (see Ai et al. 2013; Koenig et al. 2014; Krause 2009). Possible reasons for the varying conclusions regarding this relationship was attributed to the type of correlations used. In most cases a linear relationship was being assessed. This review also found contrasting relationships when looking at U-curvilinear and inverted U relationships. The authors performed their own study to assess the relationship between religion and mental health of graduate students. To evaluate the subjects’ depressive symptoms, they used The Symptoms Checklist (SC; Bartone et al. 1989). To determine the subjects’ religious involvement and its strength, they used the Religious Commitment Inventory-10 (Worthington et al. 2003). They also assessed each subject’s relationship spirituality, attachment to God, spiritual instability, spiritual grandiosity, disappointment in God, and spiritual impression management. They found that disappointment in God and spiritual instability were the primary variables involved in determining religion’s role in depression. The results of this study can be used to help treat those with depression, by determining if they have disappointment in God or spiritual instability. This can help better assess their needs to come up with a more individualized treatment plan. In conclusion, the effect religion has on depression is different for everyone depending on their spirituality and its current strength. (Paine and Sandage, 2017).
Religious meditation practices can take the form of adoration. Adoration is a form of devotion and can be used as a time for reflection. The hours spent in front of the monstrance displaying the eucharist can be compared to the hours spent practicing in a sport. Devotion, or worship, can take on many different forms for many different people. For high level athletes like Garrick, they might devout their time spent in sport to God. Some may partake in eucharistic adoration as a form of worship. During eucharistic adoration, one can just sit and reflex in the presence of God. They can do this in any form they wish. Some may choose just to sit. Some may sing or kneel. Any form is acceptable. The same follows for high level athletes. If they choose to connect with God during their practices and games, they can do so in the way they wish. When one is in the zone when practicing, is it easy to shut the outside world out and focus on whatever you want. Athletes may choose to do this, as they are taking a huge part of their lives, sports, and offering it up to God. Some athletes may also say short prayers before events that tie in their prayers in relation to their sport, further connecting the two (Roach).
"Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John, bless this track we're running on and if we do our very best, we know that God will do the rest"
Sports mimic the connection religion allows people to make. In some capacity, most people have a religious or spiritual denomination and also partake in some form of exercise or sport. This dates back to the past as sports can be seen in the Bible, specifically in the New Testament. The writers of the New Testament chose to speak of religion in terms of athletics to hopefully reach more people. They recognized the fact that athletics and exercise are a universal experience for everyone.
Paul, an Apostle, compared spiritual growth to physical growth, as one must “Train yourself for godliness” (1 Tim.4:7). Here, he is comparing physical training to strengthening spirituality. Athletes train to improve their strength and power through aerobic and anaerobic means. They may even make lifestyle changes to help them reach their physical goals. Paul argues that Christians do the same thing to strengthen their spirituality. Instead of working out in the gym or outside, one works out through worship, such as in adoration. Rules or guidelines for training come from things like the 10 Commandment and the Beatitudes. Paul goes on to explain via athletics as well as “An athlete is not crowned unless he competes according to the rules” (2 Tim. 2:5). He compares the rules of a game to the rules in the bible. In sports, officials and governing bodies make rules to ensure equality and safety for everyone. In practices, coaches have their own rules to ensure their athletes are benefiting from their involvement in the sport. Paul is using this as reference to get into Heaven and experience eternal life. The Bible contains rules and guidelines to follow to be crowned, via entrance into salvation. Rules can also come from modeling people in the bible, such as by asking themselves “what would Jesus do?” Athletes might have discipline to modify their lifestyles and complete their workouts even when they do not want to, whereas with spiritually, one can discipline themselves to take time out of their day to worship, through things such as prayer and going to mass. Instead of working to increase lung capacity or muscle growth, one must work to strengthen and open their minds and hearts to the presence of God.
Paul continues his metaphors by addressing self-control as “Every athlete exercises self-control in all things” (1 Cor. 9:25). Athletes control their performance in games and practices. They can choose the types of foods they eat, the equipment they wear, and the amount of sleep they get. They also get to choose what they do in the twenty-two hours outside of practice each day. They can choose to properly warm up, cooldown, and partake in rehab and injury prevention means. Christians are the same way through their use of free will. Free will enables all to make decisions on their own behalf. Christians can choose to follow the Word of God. They can use time daily for prayer and reflection. They can actively worship outside the one hour a week mass. Through self-control, one can avoid temptations from the devil and the materialistic world.
Endurance running is a form of exercise to improve aerobic capacity. Endurance running is not easy and requires a tremendous amount of grit. Long distance runners have to put 100% effort into their races if they want a chance to win. But, they also need to learn to run their own race. Everyone runs races differently, so it is important to be true to yourself and compete as you know best. Races come down to the hundredth of the second, even the long distance races. Life can be seen as a long distance race. Paul recognized this as he encouraged: “Let us run with endurance the race that is set before us” (Heb. 12:1). Life is filled with ups and down. Paul sees this and is encouraging others to always give 100% in their pursuits. Running is more about mental strength than physical strength. The one that chooses not to give up and give in to negative thoughts will usually end up on top. The same is also for life. Life is a matter of tests and mental road blocks. The winners of life are those that remain true to themselves and never stop in their pursuit to find their happiness and discover who they are.
Being Human - Rowan Williams
Being Human, by Rowan Williams discusses more of what it means to be human in a religious context. He explores the vital meaning of a person and attributes its characteristics back to religion. He states, as a human,
I embody, I carry with me, all the things that have happened to me – the things that are, as a matter of fact, true about me. But moment by moment I respond to agenda in different ways, I activate what is there in different ways, and I set up new chains of connection and relationship. A person, in other words is the point at which relationships intersect, where a difference may be made and new relations created (Williams 32).
He further explores this meaning of being human in terms of religion by connecting it to virtues in Christian tradition. He states that
It’s in virtue of this that Christians are able to look at any and every human individual and say that the same kind of mystery is true of all them, and that therefore the same kind of reverence or attention is due to all of them. We can never say, for example, that such and such a person has the full set of required characteristics for being a human person and therefore deserves our respect, and that such and such another individual doesn’t have the full set and therefore doesn’t deserve our respect (Williams 32).
Christians are able to recognize that all humans are made in the image and likeness of God. Through free will, humans make the conscious choice to recognize this and give all people the respect that they deserve. The specifics of who we are does not matter in the eyes of God and based on what Williams' is proposing, it should not matter to us either as long as we recognize his abstract meaning of what it means to be human. He uses St. Augustine’s life to display his rational as
And, said Augustine, the deeper I go into the attempt to understand myself, who and what I am, the more I find that I am already grasped, addressed, engaged with. I can’t dig deep enough in myself to find an abstract self that’s completely divorced from relationship. So, for St Augustine and the Christian tradition, before anything else happens I am in relation to a non-worldly, non-historical everlasting attention and love, which is God (Williams 36).
As Augustine is doing his soul searching to find who he is, he ultimately finds his way to Christianity. He recognizes that his identity, although not as an athlete, relates back to God. It is God who provides him with purpose. Augustine ran his own race through his own life, always giving 100% and never giving in. At first, he struggled finding his purpose and questioned the meaning of life as he said “What is it, after all, that I want to say, Master, except that I don’t know where I came from to this place, into this - do I call it a deathly life or a living death?” (Confessions 1.7; Ruden, 8). Augustine was able to work through his confusion while also recognizing his feelings, which is important in taking care of mental health. Eventually he ran through adversity while recognizing “The body’s perception is slow, because it’s the body perception: this is its limitation” (Confessions 4.15; Ruden, 90). Life is not perfect, nor will it ever be, but we can always strive for the happiness God wants for us by discovering who we are and learning how to live free.
Chariots of Fire
Chariots of Fire is a movie about two British runners, Harold Abrahams and Eric Liddell, and their journeys in the 1924 Olympics. Harold Abrahams was Jewish and first started competing in track and field at the University of Cambridge. He excelled in the short distance events. Eric Liddell, a Christian, also competed in the sprinting events of track and field. Both were very religious and displayed it through their participation in track and field. Liddell believed that his success and time spent in sport was a form of worship to God, even if his sister did not see it as such. He believed God gifted him with the talent to run fast. Eventually, both Abrahams and Liddell were chosen for the 1924 British Olympic team. Liddell’s event, the 100m, happened to be scheduled for a Sunday, so he chose not to compete because it was on the Sabbath day and went against his religious beliefs. His teammate offered up his spot in the 400m, allowing Liddell to still compete in the Olympics but on another day. On the day the 100m race was held Liddell preached the Bible from Isiah: “but they wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wing as eagles; they shall run, and be not weary; and they shall walk, and not faint” (Isaiah 40:31). Liddell recognized the odds were not in his favor, yet he knew his training and faith to God was enough to carry him through. There was a reason the 100m dash was held on a Sunday. Abrahams went on the win the 100m race, while Liddell went on to win the 400m run. The results proved that everything happens for a reason and that God has a plan for everything and everyone. This movie is a true story that highlighted the role religion played in athletics. Athletics play a part in shaping the identity for some, and God is ultimately the creator of our identity. Liddell used his religion to guide him on a new path after his Olympic debut. He went to China to perform missionary work, while Abrahams went on to reconnect with a former love. They each used their religion to guide them in their lives after the Olympics.
Weight of Gold
The Weight of Gold is a HBO documentary showcasing the connection between high level athletes, specifically Olympians, with depression. Its aim is to work to break the stigma of mental health in athletics. It addresses the post-Olympic depression that most Olympians face, but have not talked about, until now. Olympians, such as Michael Phelps, Shaun White, and Lolo Jones each share some of their own stories in connection to their mental health struggles. Olympians often train their whole lives with the hopes of making an Olympic team and winning gold. They make many sacrifices to achieve this dream. Their identities become one of athletes – Olympic hopeful athletes. If they are lucky, they achieve this goal and make the team. They might even be fortunate enough to medal or win gold. The aftermath of the Olympics is not talked about. Years of training, working up to this one moment every four years suddenly comes to an end and then the next is unknown. These athletes spend their entire lives training and suddenly it all ends. There is no goal for them, no new Olympics to train for, and all that is left is trying to determine who they are they are without their sport. Soul searching will always be a part of life, but athletes in particular might struggle after their career is over because they have never looked beyond athletics. Religion can provide purpose and can aid in this soul searching. It can help provide a base for forming an identity outside of athletics. It can teach to expand upon athletics in other capacities beyond competing.
Disney and Pixar's Soul
Soul searching is a task that differs for everyone. Everyone is so different and that is what makes us human. This search can be daunting and can lead to feelings of confusion, loneliness, and anger, harming mental health. Movies, like Disney and Pixar’s Soul, allow for cinematic depictions of this search. It showcases the highs and the lows of discovering oneself but does so in a manner for most ages. Soul is about Joe Gardner’s life as a bodiless soul. His experience viewing life from this sense, ultimately allows him to recognize the importance of living each day as his last and making the most of it, because life is such a special thing. While navigating his own identity struggles, his experience as this soul allows him to provide insight to himself about the theme of life. Ultimately, he is able to effectively soul search, in rather unconventional ways, to find his meaning and purpose in life.
Overall, depression is common in high level athletes. It can be caused because of their sport and the demands it requires, or it can also be caused following injury or retirement as seen in The Weight of Gold. Athletes, like those in the film, and Garrick have started a new conversation regarding mental health and athletics. Their efforts have inspired and paved the way for more athletes to take a stand on mental health and bring it to the forefront of the conversation. Athletes are often seen as tough and strong, showing no signs of weakness. But the reality is, they are human like everyone else. Athletics play a huge roles in lives, as showcased in the Bible through Paul’s writing. Athletics acts as common ground, just as religion does. Religion can provide solace and motivation for all, especially athletes. Together, religion and athletics can help individuals discover who they are. It can help them find their happiness and discern for themselves.
About me:
My name is Emma and I am a current senior at the University of Scranton. I am majoring in kinesiology with a minor in theology. I have been an athlete my whole life and have dealt and still deal with depression. I have been through the highs and lows of my sport. I have competed in track and field for eight years now but have been plagued with injury for the duration of my college career. Before I took on track, I did martial arts for eight years and volleyball for three years. Following my injury, I struggled discovering my purpose and happiness outside of my sport, but through guidance and support I have been able to fuel new passions and hobbies and continue to learn more about myself each day. In the future I hope to get involved in the sport product industry, specifically within footwear, and some day create my own shoe to bring to the current market. I understand first hand, how athletics, depression, and religion can all relate and hope to help further break the stigma of mental health within athletics.
Resources
https://www.samhsa.gov/find-help/national-helpline
https://www.cdc.gov/reproductivehealth/depression/resources.htm
References
“Athletic Metaphors for the Christian Life.” Tabletalk, 18 June 2019, https://tabletalkmagazine.com/article/2019/06/athletic-metaphors-for-the-christian-life/.
Augustine. Confessions. Translated by Sarah Ruden, The Modern Library, 2018.
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This essay served as my Final Assignment for T/RS 246: Religion, Bodies, and Brain at The University of Scranton, under the direction of Dr. Cyrus P. Olsen III.
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