Common Issues Faced by Players

Anxiety

Feelings of worry, nervousness, or unease

Feelings don’t go away, or happen without any particular cause

Symptoms:

Physical; hot and cold flushes, racing heart, tightening of chest, quick breathing, restlessness, feeling tense, wound up or edgy

Psychological; excessive fear or worry, obsessive thinking

Behavioural; avoidance of situations

Depression:

Feelings of sadness, unhappiness, and despondency

Feelings remain sever, don’t go away, happen without apparent reason

Symptoms;

Physical; tiredness, headaches, muscle pain, stomach issues, sleep impairment, loss/change of appetite

Psychological; overwhelmed, guilty, irritable, frustrated, lack confidence, unhappy, negative thoughts about self

Behavioural; not going out, lack of performance, not getting things done, withdrawing from close friends/family, avoiding fun activities, not able to concentrate 

Physical Injuries:

It’s not often spoken about, but injuries that are restrictive, painful or long lasting can have a detrimental impact on our mental health. This is particularly true for a hugely community based-sport like Rugby Union.

• We lose our weekly routine: Most of us train a minimum 2 nights a week, and many will include extra-curricular training such as a gym or run club. Routine is vital for many of us to maintain a sense of stability.

• We are distanced from our social supports: We can feel lost, lonely and forgotten-about when we can’t engage in the social aspect of training and game-day, and there is a lot to say for the bond we develop together on the field. This can feel like a massive loss for injured players, even if we’re out for just a few weeks. Don’t forget, many of our players have moved far away from home to study and we’ve become their main support system - their friends and family.

• We lose a physical outlet for regulating our bodies - and emotions. I think we can all relate to the angst of watching your team from the sidelines and wishing you were out there with them.

For some student-athletes, the psychological response to injury can trigger or unmask serious mental health issues such as depression, anxiety, disordered eating, and substance use or abuse.

The risk of concurrent injuries and mental health increases over longer recovery time frames. For example; the statistics say that three months after a traumatic injury, one in three people will experience a depressive episode. What’s even more concerning around this is that Depression actually impairs the bodies physiological responses that repair injuries. This increases recovery time and in some instances can make injuries worse.

Pain management is also a crucial factor in the athletes recovery where excessive pain symptoms or ongoing neuropathic pain can be aided through psychological interventions on top of the physical recovery plans.

Early intervention and support is the best recovery plan. It is crucial for all injured players managing longer recovery periods to stay in touch with the club. We endeavour to check in on injured players, offer as much support where possible and ensure you remain involved with the clubs activities outside of simply putting the boots on.