The New York Knicks are in the NBA Finals for the first time since 1999, so the pressure is on.
One player in particular, Mitchell Robinson, has been vocal about his mental health struggles. Robinson announced on Snapchat at the end of May that he was “deleting all apps for a while until I come to my senses.”
He went on to say that he had recently gone through a “very upsetting experience” and added: “I have a new jersey number. My mental health is not at its best right now, but I am fighting to get back on track while playing on the biggest stage in the world.”
Only those closest to Robinson know exactly what situation he is going through, but it is no surprise that this is a uniquely stressful time. “I would be more concerned if it wasn’t affecting him,” says Clarindria Addison, a licensed professional counselor who has not treated Robinson.
The NBA “can and will exacerbate fatigue, isolation, and burnout.”
Addison said athletes perform under immense pressure throughout the season, but the playoffs take on a whole new level of psychological weight.
Like other high-pressure or public-facing work environments, environments like the NBA “can and will increase feelings of exhaustion, isolation, burnout, stress and anxiety,” says Suzanne Wallach, a Los Angeles-based therapist who has never worked with NBA players.
Addison said she plans to add sadness, adrenaline, hope and fear to that complex set of emotions.
“The public, the league and other players are always judging them,” Wallach said, and that feeling has only gotten worse.
“Awareness is the first act of healing”
Not everyone performs on the world stage for a living, but high-stakes situations can occur in everyday life as well. If you’re managing a period of extreme stress, here are Addison and Wallach’s recommendations for managing stress.
Name what you are feeling without judgment. “Awareness is the first act of healing,” Addison says. Create small, non-negotiable rituals that signal safety to your nervous system. “Even five minutes of stillness, breathing exercises, and prayer can help regulate stress dysregulation,” says Addison. “Avoid reading anything about yourself online, and avoid doomscrolling in general,” Wallach says. “Surround yourself with people you trust and are supportive of,” says Wallach.
And please take care of your overall health. “Avoiding illness as much as possible, eating a balanced diet, getting enough sleep, and avoiding mood-altering substances are all essential for good mental health,” says Wallach.
Ultimately, Addison says, “What Mitchell Robinson is experiencing is a very human response to an inhuman level of pressure.” “The fact that he would put that name out there? That actually takes courage.”
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