Listen. One of the best things you can do to offer support to your friend or loved one is to offer an ear. If he or she is feeling really down about the injury and needs to “vent,” let the athlete do. Often people who suffer sports injuries or other setbacks don’t need advice; they just need to get their feelings out by talking.
Watch. Sometimes teens who are used to spending most of their time on the soccer fi eld or basketball court will use the newly acquired free time in the wrong ways—for example, to drink alcohol, do drugs, or commit crimes. The combination of free time and pent-up aggression from having to rest can be a bad combination. Watch for signs of troublesome behavior in your friend or loved one, and talk to a parent or school counselor if you start to notice a problem.
In addition, as mentioned above, watch out for signs of depression in your friend or loved one, such as loss of interest in activities once loved, weight loss or gain, restlessness, or mental or physical fatigue. If left untreated, this depression can lead to suicide, so urge him or her to talk to a health-care professional about feelings and talk to a parent or counselor right away.
Be there. One of the best ways for teens to avoid becoming depressed or turning to drugs, alcohol, or other troublesome behaviors following an injury is to spend time with friends in positive social situations. So urge your friend to join you at the movies, the mall (if walking isn’t an issue), to get some ice cream, or to participate in other activities that will help to get his or her mind off the injury. If there are certain physical activities that your friend or loved one is permitted to engage in—such as biking—offer to do those things with him or her.
Don’t project. If you also play a sport, particularly if you play the same sport as your friend or loved one who got hurt, an injury may serve as a reality check for you and make you feel vulnerable to injury yourself. Try to put those feelings aside for the sake of the other person. The last thing an injured athlete needs is to feel alienated by friends or teammates.
Overall, keep in mind that teenagers who have recently been diagnosed with a sports injury need the love and encouragement of their friends and family members more than ever. Whether it’s your best friend, brother, sister, or cousin who is injured, your comfort and support will help ease both the physical and emotional burden.
WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW
- Even if you have never suffered from a sports injury yourself, once a friend or family member is currently dealing with one, you, too, will be affected.
- As a supportive friend or family member of a teenager newly diagnosed with a sports injury, you can provide help and comfort.
- If your friend or loved one who has suffered a sports injury shows any signs of depression or loss of interest in activities once loved, weight loss or gain, restlessness, or mental or physical fatigue, urge him or her 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.
- One of the best things you can do to help your friend or loved one is to be there for him or her to listen, talk, and get out of the house with positive activities such as going to the movies, taking a walk (if he or she is able), and spending time with other friends.
