There's no health without mental health.

Hi athletes, weekend warriors and fitness enthusiasts, 

I feel you. 2020 was a brutal year. We all lost our primary source of mental wellness - sport, gym, socializing, traveling, racing. We lost our routine and our favorite way to socialize. Sport and exercise affect us in deep and personal ways. After a year of cancellations, disrupted routines, changed plans and unpredictability, we all feel a profound sense of loss. We lost our self-identity during a time of uncertainty. 

It's not silly to feel a wide range of emotions - almost like a death. Something this powerful and meaningful was taken away. Right now you may still be experiencing any one of the stages of grief - denial, anger, bargaining, depression, acceptance. Left unaddressed, these feelings can lead to more serious mental and physical health problems. 

If you have felt growing levels of anxiety and depression, you are not alone. You may be confused on whether or not it's worth continuing on with sport with so much uncertainty. There's nothing wrong with you. You don't need to feel bad for your feelings. 

But don't give up. 

With such a strong link between well-being and performance, you may feel like you need to hide from your thoughts and feelings. You may feel misunderstood or unheard. You may be confused and left wondering if it's worth continuing to train for your sport with no clear plans of the near future.

Don't give up. Sport and exercise serves you well in so many ways. To keep you thriving, I encourage you to address your mental health. Physical health is nothing without mental health. 

To help with thoughts, coping skills and behaviors during this incredibly challenging time, I encourage you to mark your calendar to watch my live discussion at Trimarni Coaching and Nutrition with Dr. Gloria Petruzzelli on January 8th, 2021 at 1pm EST/11am PST. If you are unable to watch live, you can rewatch the broadcast at a later time. I will also share on my blog, newsletter and on Instagram. 

This talk is not intended to be medical or mental advice or treatment. If your are worried about your mental health while reading this or while watching the broadcast, please contact a local medical or mental health provider. 

Call 1-800-273-TALK (8255); En Español 1-888-628-9454
The Lifeline is a free, confidential crisis hotline that is available to everyone 24 hours a day, seven days a week. The Lifeline connects callers to the nearest crisis center in the Lifeline national network. These centers provide crisis counseling and mental health referrals. People who are deaf, hard of hearing, or have hearing loss can contact the Lifeline via TTY at 1-800-799-4889.

Looking after your mental health

Physical activity is a powerful drug. It can help shift the tide when you are feeling anxious, overwhelmed, sad, worried, frustrated or dealing with a major stressor in life. Daily exercise not only has a positive impact on depression, anxiety, ADHD and PTSD but it is also plays a role in addiction recovery. Because addiction is an illness that changes the structure of the brain and involves compulsive behaviors, exercise can serve as a healthy way to reduce the reduce the risk of relying on alcohol or drugs to cope with emotions.

While staying physically active can help you get through difficult times, it may only temporarily numb the emotions that you are feeling. While I try to do my best to keep others motivated and positived through tough times, I know I can only do so much.

To offer some help during this time, my amazing friend Dr. G (who also happens to be an incredible clinical sport psychologist) will be joining me LIVE on Facebook (at Trimarni Coaching and Nutrition) at 2:30pm EST/11:30am PST on Wednesday 3/25 to discuss the following:

• Reducing the stigma towards mental illnesses. 
• How to work through uncomfortable feelings and emotions (depression, anxiety, fear, worry, loss) without judgement. 
• How to live/function in a time of uncertainty. 
• Recognizing that "athlete self-identity" is separate from who you are as a human being. 
• Identifying your unique qualities, strengths and traits to help you thrive.
• Redefining your purpose of working out and staying active. 
• Limiting social media but recognizing the need to keep authentic connections. 
• Healthy coping mechanisms during stressful times. 

As a reminder, don’t let one disease distract you from treating another. Don't give up on yourself.