Winston Churchill referred to ill moods and depression as "the black dog." Perhaps the most famous American leader afflicted by depression was Abraham Lincoln, suffering what some called Lincoln's Melancholy. By age 32, Lincoln had experienced major depression twice, somehow channeling moroseness into greatness.
Edvard Munch, The Scream
Many other celebrities, from Billy Joel, Munch (above), Mozart, Sir Isaac Newton, Teddy Roosevelt, and Robin Williams suffered major depression.
Athletes are not immune, despite fame and fortune. Larry Sanders' struggles were well-known, moreso than those of Eddie Griffin or Greg Stiemsma. Dave Cowens famously took a "leave of absence" from the Celtics in 1976. It may not have been "the black dog," but each of us owns our peculiar pooch. Jerry West chronicled his struggles with depression in West by West. It's a tough read. West, a 16 year-old, held a gun to his father who had abused his mother. West remarked, "you can't get much done in life if you only work on the days when you feel good."
Coaching athletes with depression is part of the contemporary landscape. The US Department of Health and Human Services estimates a prevalence of 8.7 percent among persons aged 18 to 25. It's even higher among high school students. "What the coach may witness is a lack of focus, an unexplainable fatigue or lack of energy where formerly the player was a top notch performer. Depression can even look like a shift in “attitude”, a loss of competitive drive, and even apathy."
Depression is common within society and athletes are not immune. The Atlantic shares, "a more pervasive source of stress for young athletes is the Darwinian culture of youth sports, which starts well before university and persists throughout it...when you over-train athletes, neurologically speaking the symptoms are quite predictable: sleep problems, anxiety, depression."
Some coaches influence players through positive relationships and motivation, but unfortunately at times, through degradation. Putting players down doesn't raise them up. Arguing that athletes are "soft" or "lack mental toughness" doesn't account for academics, socioeconomic struggle, emotional baggage, abuse, family mental health issues, substance abuse, and other background stressors.
We can "run them down" mentally and physically, by what we say or what we do not, by bullying or burying them on the bench. We have all seen it. We don't have to countenance it.
We become what we think. "Negative thinking is a hallmark of depressive illness." To overcome negative thoughts, we must recognize them, challenge their validity, and overcome them.
Share positive affirmations with players to encourage confidence:
I score effortlessly.
I am driven to win.
I am a successful basketball player.
My game is improving.
I will focus my mind on becoming a top level basketball player.
Depression is common, real, underrecognized, and difficult to manage. Our job is to support our student-athletes; compassionate coaching matters.
Lagniappe:
Via Herb Welling and John Kresse
Double diagonal.
Multiple options: 5 iso, 1 give-and-go, 1 downscreen
