You may also feel the lack of uplifting hormones. “There are a lot of endorphins and chemical changes that happen in our bodies when we exercise,” said Jared Vagy, clinical assistant professor of physical therapy at the University of Southern California. “If that’s the only method some people have to release these chemicals, then you’ve just lost a large part of what makes you whole or content as a human being.”
And recovery itself brings additional mental hurdles. Damilola Gbolahan, a sports physiotherapist who works with injured soccer players, said people often try to progress faster by overdoing physical therapy. And too much pressure can have adverse effects like “frustration, more stress and depression, which can also slow down recovery,” she said.
Despite the turbulent feelings that arise after the injury, our minds are likely working to regain a sense of order and stability, said Dr. Skritskaya. Here are a few ways to find agency and a little hope while you’re on the mend:
Track your recovery.
“It’s important to understand that you are an athlete and your recovery is now part of your sport,” said Carrie Jackson, co-founder of The Injured Athletes Club, an online community for people who are currently banned from their favorite sports.
If you’ve enjoyed following an exercise plan, or if you’ve enjoyed tracking your progress in a calendar or journal, keep doing this exercise while you recover. This way you can keep track of all the work you’ve done – and treat rehabilitation as part of being an athlete.
Ms. Jackson also recommended listing recovery actions to stop, start, and continue while you heal. For example, you may need to stop taking long walks, find a creative outlet to keep you busy, and continue your physical therapy exercises.
This is a useful way to empower yourself if you’re feeling discouraged by your injury. “It’s hard not to just focus on all the things you can’t do,” said Ms. Jackson. “It’s just a tool to refocus on what’s actually in your control.”
seek community.
Being with others who have had similar experiences is a helpful way to cope with any form of grief. “Community is a big part of recovery. Even if we define a sport like running as a very individual sport, there is a very distinct running culture,” said Dr. bag. “There’s a loss of community that comes from not being in the same place at the same time for the same reasons.”
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