There is no need to repeat that the nation is now gripped by cricket fever. Every cricket fan (or non-fan) is busy supporting Team India and hoping they win the trophy this year. Former cricket star Yuvraj Singh is one of the numerous supporters of the Men in Blue, saying, “Our boys are looking set and have an excellent possibility of making it to the top.” Yuvraj, an active cricket player for almost 17 years, in his latest interview, emphasises fans’ crucial role in a cricketer’s life and how their support and encouragement have a significant impact on their mental health as well.
Yuvraj Emphasises the Need of Mental Conditioning:
According to Yuvraj, “Cricket is a mentally gruelling game, and the support of the fans can be a priceless asset. The more enthusiastic the crowd, the more it inspires a player’s confidence. It’s as though the fans are our team’s 12th player, encouraging us to play our best.”
He continued by stating, “We need to invest in our mental conditioning, just as we do with our physical health. Regularly practising mindfulness and meditation is one approach to achieve this. Cricketers who use these methods can maintain their composure, control their stress levels, and build mental toughness.”
He further added, “I cannot express enough how important fan support and cheers are throughout our games. The motivating claps of our fans, who are like family to us as athletes, are what keep us going during those important times. Our fans experience joys, sorrows, excitement, and nervousness with us. They encourage us with their cheers at those critical times. A crowd’s enthusiasm and cheer can alter the course of a game and inspire us to play our best.”
Role of Resilience in Cricketer’s Life:
Yuvraj says, “Throughout my career, I faced numerous setbacks and obstacles. However, it was my ability to bounce back, stay determined, and keep pushing forward that truly defined my journey. Cricket showed me that failures are not the end of the queue; rather, they are chances for development and self-awareness. I discovered that with the correct attitude and persistent drive, any challenge could be overcome, whether it involved overcoming injuries, taking on formidable opponents, or managing expectations. Similar to how it has been for many cricketers, the consistent support of Indian cricket fans has been crucial to my career as well.”
The Toll on Mental Health as a Sportsperson:
It is commonly established that exercise has advantageous impacts on mental health. But still, sports people are not immune from depression and anxiety.
The mental health of sports people can suffer just like anyone else in any career or area of life. Sports can be tremendously exciting and rewarding, but they can also provide special difficulties and pressures that might affect an athlete’s mental health, including:
1. Burnout and Performance Pressure:
Whether it comes from themselves, coaches, teammates, or fans, athletes frequently feel tremendous pressure to perform at their best. This pressure to perform well can cause tension, worry, and self-doubt. Whereas, burnout may result from the demanding training regimens and ongoing competitiveness. Athletes could feel mentally and physically worn out, lose their motivation, and lose interest in their sport.
2. Abuse, Toxicity, and Bullying:
Sport can promote good connections, but it can also be a place where bullying and abuse are commonplace. Poor individual performance, which may be seen as letting the team down, can be a trigger, as can an athlete’s race, gender, or sexual orientation. Online bullying and slanderous comments can have a negative impact on athletes’ mental health and well-being, leading to stress and anxiety. When there is an imbalance of power, coaches’ aggressive behaviour hurts young athletes especially badly. Consistent criticism may have long-lasting impacts on a person’s emotional and social well-being.
3. Exercise Addiction:
An amateur or professional athlete may develop an addiction to exercising when their commitment to their activity gets out of hand. The addiction to exercise is distinct from daily gym attendance. Individuals have a compulsive drive to exercise continually and go through withdrawal if they try to reduce or stop. A person’s physical and mental health may suffer as a result of it.
4. Sleep Disorders and Stress:
Inadequate sleep and poor sleep quality can be caused by a demanding combination of training, competition, and travel. Sleep issues can sometimes be a result of the need to perform well under pressure. And it can become a vicious cycle where stress affects the quality of sleep while sleep deprivation makes it harder to deal with stress. Increased stress and even less sleep may result from this.
5. Eating Disorders:
The stress of competing and the focus on body image and weight can cause eating problems in athletes of all levels. The danger is increased during sports like wrestling, bodybuilding, cycling, and running where there is an emphasis on weight, diet, and look. A person’s mental and physical health may suffer as a result of disordered eating. These detrimental outcomes include delusional thinking, compulsive actions, low self-esteem, anxiety, despair, self-harm, and suicidal thoughts.
In recent yearsn many sportspersons have been vocal about their mental health struggles, including Virat Kohli, Ishant Sharma, P.V. Sindhu, Abhinav Bindra, Sakshi Malik and Saina Nehwal are some of them.
Athletes must prioritise their mental health and get support when necessary. Athletes should also have a solid network of friends, family, and teammates who can provide emotional support when necessary.
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