Thanks to former Michigan swimmers Emily Brunemann and Kally Fayhee for sharing this story with SwimSwam and its readers.
Mental toughness is a double-edged sword. As athletes, we learn from a young age that, if we put our heads down and tough it out, we typically achieve the goals we set. We see many resilient athletes who are successful because they swim through the physical pain. But when you apply the tough-it-out mentality to everyday life, it can be a dangerous combination. With mental health, toughing-it out is not always the best approach. Sometimes, you have to seek help. This doesn’t mean you aren’t tough, it means you’re stronger than you imagined.
Mental Health Wellness: Once A Taboo Topic, Now More Important To Discuss Than Ever Before
Everyone struggles at some point, whether it’s dealing with the loss of a loved one, living with depression or experiencing anxiety before a competition. Yet, instead of feeling connected to others that struggle, we feel alone because of the culture we live in. This performance-based culture breeds the tough-it-out mindset and promotes perceptions that asking for help is a sign of weakness.
As a community, we have to change that.
The swimming world has been shaken with the tragic and untimely deaths of multiple young swimmers across the country. Mental health wellness and conversations about mental illness are more important than ever.
The most difficult part about initiating a conversation around mental health wellness is that many mental illnesses or struggles faced by athletes can be hidden beneath the surface. When a person breaks their leg, it is a visible injury, one that people not only see, but will force the injured to ask for help. Mental illness does not operate in that way: people can spend years hiding their struggles without reaching for help. This fact makes it necessary to foster honest conversations around mental health wellness, the pressures faced by athletes and the promotion of help-seeking for those who are struggling.
There are unique mental pressures that come with being a swimmer. Not only do we face a demanding practice schedule that we must balance with academics and family life, we also deal with the pressure of having an entire season come down to one meet in the spring and one in the summer. These pressures can be crippling for anyone, from an age group swimmer to an Olympic medalist. Regardless of age or skill level, we all face similar pressures to succeed in something we have devoted our lives to.
It is a reassuring notion to know that we are not alone, that swimmers of all levels are connected through pressures faced. The next step to breaking down stigmas surrounding mental health is to spark conversation, teaching swimmers that it is not a weakness to reach for help. Not only does reaching for help show strength, it also gives athletes the self-awareness needed to be successful in the pool and in life. It is essential to understand that you do not have to have a clinical diagnosis to reach out and talk about mental health. Speaking about pressures is a healthy discussion that will give you a better understanding and awareness both in and out of the pool.
Reaching out for help when struggling may seem frightening, but it is a weight off your shoulders to find that you are not alone. Similarly, reaching out to a teammate who is struggling can be a hard discussion to start, but there are resources to help with that process.
Swimmers know where to turn to when they have a physical ailment, but sometimes it can be hard to gather information on where to seek help for yourself or a teammate when it comes to mental health. Below are some warning signs around mental illness, coping strategies to help with anxiety and resources to help those in need:
According to the Mayo Clinic, talk your parents or a trusted adult if you are experiencing these symptoms:
- Constant thoughts about performance or performance outcomes
- Can’t eat or sleep
- Don’t want to do things you usually enjoy
- Feel like you can’t control your emotions and it’s affecting your relationships with your family and friends
- Feel hopeless
- Feel confused, forgetful, edgy, angry, upset, worried, or scared
- Want to harm yourself or others
The Guide to Better Emotional and Mental Health provides examples of questions you can ask as friend:
- I’ve been worried about you. Can we talk about what you are experiencing? If not, who are you comfortable talking to?
- I am someone who cares and wants to listen. How are you doing?
- Sometimes talking to someone who has dealt with a similar experience helps. Do you know of others who have experienced these feelings who you can talk with?
- It seems like you are going through a difficult time. How can I help you to find help?
When talking to a friend, you may not always get a positive response at first. Regardless of your friends response, the fact that they know you support them in a judgment free way is the best way to create a safe environment.
The American Psychological Association is a great source to find additional coping skills:
- Breathing Techniques: Breathe in slowly and deeply through the nose and out through the mouth releasing all the oxygen. It is important to be present and focus on what your body is doing.
- Mindfulness: Being aware of your thoughts, if you are aware of thoughts you have the choice and opportunity to change them.
- Journal: Write down your thoughts of the day. Be sure to end each journal entry with three things you did well that day.
Additional Resources:
- National Suicide Prevention Line at 1.800.273.TALK (8255)
- http://athletesconnected.umich.edu/
- http://www.activeminds.org/
- http://www.adaa.org/
- http://www.nimh.nih.gov/index.shtml
Speaking up about mental illnesses is a difficult topic for anyone. Ultimately, it is the choice of those struggling to seek help, which can be a powerless feeling for those directly involved. Keeping an open dialogue with those around you, and having conversations about mental well-being, is the start needed to promote help seeking.
It is not always about toughing-it-out. It is about being tough enough to ask for help when needed.
Swimmers or coaches interested in apps to help stay on top of their sleep, stress management and more should check out this list of both free and paid self-care apps, courtesy of Emily Brunemann.
About the Authors:
Kally Fayhee is a former swimmer and team captain for the University of Michigan (’09 – ’13). She currently lives in Chicago, working for a global advertising agency, Leo Burnett. Kally is a member of Athletes Connected, a program at the University of Michigan that aims to increase awareness of mental health issues, reduce the stigma of help seeking and promote positive coping skills among student-athletes (http://athletesconnected.
Emily Brunemann is a professional swimmer, currently training with hopes of making the 2016 Olympic Team in the 10k. She graduated with a B.A. in Psychology from the University of Michigan in 2009 and is currently working on her Master’s degree in Social Work, with a concentration in interpersonal practice and mental health. Emily is interning in the University of Michigan Athletic Department counseling services and helping with the Athletes Connected program. She is a former team captain, NCAA champion, 2013 Open Water World Cup Circuit Champion and a member of the US National Team since 2007.
I’m a mental health therapist with a family history of clinical depression. Swimming laps on a daily basis for the past 35 years has been an instrumental part of maintaining my own equilibrium, as well as helping me stay balanced and strong and supportive through the mental health crises of clients and family members alike.
Great article and thanks. The swimming world needs to better understand the connection between mental illness and substance abuse as well. They more often than not go hand and hand. Both are crippling by themselves without any help. Together they are down right deadly. Serious stuff here folks. More education is needed for coaches, parents, administrations and swimmers. Time for USASwimming ? to step up, invest, set up programs, make recommendations and let people know just how serious this is. I am speaking from years of experience and struggles with a dual diagnoses. I was a national champion swimmer and did well but everything was not “ok “. Although it certainly may have appeared that way while I was winning.… Read more »
This is an excellent piece.Thank you SwimSwam and Kally and Emily for sharing this important message. Ending the stigma around mental health issues is long overdue. We need to shout this message out far and wide among the swimming community. Wouldn’t it be great if USA Swimming were to support programs among all club teams centered around education and awareness? What can we do to make that happen? Thank you again.
Thank you for writing this article. I know great swimmers who have been kicked off teams for psychiatric disorders. Stop the stigma.
Because intense physical effort can be so helpful, and such a relief, for those of us suffering from different levels of depression, I think swimming attracts and retains a disproportionate number of us. But sometimes things get worse, and what worked for a while will no longer. Try to tell some people about it if it hurts to be alive.
Thank you for writing this for SwimSwam. I only hope that many of the readers (coaches and parents, too) begin to understand the depths of depression and mental illness, and that there is no stigma involved in getting help or in helping someone get help.
I second that! Thank you so much for getting the issue out there.