gymnastics team someday. Unfortunately, Ashley’s dreams were recently shattered after she suffered a devastating fall off the balance beam. The injury to her ankle will take her out for the rest of the season and perhaps out of gymnastics for the rest of her life. Ashley is sad, depressed, and frustrated, and Casey—who is doing better than ever in the sport—is not sure how to handle the situation.
Even if you’ve never suffered from a sports injury yourself, if a friend or family member is currently dealing with one, like Casey, you will be affected. If this friend or loved one approaches you for advice on how to deal with an injury and how to stay sane while resting, surely you will want to be prepared with the most helpful and appropriate things to do. This chapter will help you to know what to expect and how to help.
DEALING WITH A SPORTS INJURY DIAGNOSIS
An injury can be hard for anyone to face, but it can be particularly difficult for teenagers who play sports. As a supportive friend or family member of a teenager newly diagnosed with an injury, you can provide help and comfort.
First, if your friend or loved one has suffered a sports injury that is not healing on its own and he or she is resistant to seek treatment or rest, encourage the person to go to the doctor. After all, the only way to get proper treatment is by knowing for sure.
Next, understand that your friend or family member will likely go through a range of emotions following a sports injury diagnosis. Those feelings may be particularly strong for teens who suffer an injury that could take them out of their sports for the season, or worse, indefi nitely. Understanding the specifi c emotions that go along with a sports injury diagnosis can help you to recognize where your friend or loved one is in the coping process.
Anger. When your friend or loved one is fi rst sidelined by an injury, he or she is likely to feel angry at the unfairness of the situation. This anger may be especially strong if the person feels blameless for the injury (if it results from a particularly hard tackle on the football fi eld or an illegal hold in wrestling, for example).
A sense of lost identity. If your friend or loved one eats, sleeps, and breathes the sport, he or she may feel very lost about taking a break from it. You can help the athlete by focusing on other things he or she excels in and encouraging the athlete to focus on those activities as well.
Fear and anxiety. Fear and anxiety are common reactions to sports injuries in teens, both in the athletes who suffer them and the teammates who serve as witnesses. The athlete will be fearful about the pain of the injury, how long it will keep her or him out of the sport, and how fellow teammates will treat the athlete while recovering. Teammates may see the injury as a reminder of their own vulnerability, and they may fear a similar fate.
Lost confidence. As fear and anxiety set in, the injured athlete may feel a sense of lost confidence, both in the ability to play the sport and to do other things. That’s why it’s important to bolster self-esteem by complimenting the athlete on other activities and giving encouragement to focus energy on those things for the time being.
Depression. Once the athlete accepts an injury as reality, he or she is likely to become depressed at the notion of having to take a break from the sport. Symptoms of depression include loss of interest in activities once loved, weight loss or gain, restlessness, or mental or physical fatigue. If you have noticed these symptoms in your friend or loved one, urge the athlete to talk to a health-care professional about feelings and talk to a parent or counselor right away; if left untreated, depression can lead to suicide.
Read More : Dealing With Sport Injury Diagnosing - Student Guide
