So you are injured…now what?

Injury recovery has been at the forefront of our house these past couple weeks.  As an athlete, there is nothing worse than being unable to play. And the helpless feeling of watching your team is so hard.  Yet, as I spent a few days visiting one of our billet sons, who plays professional hockey and was also injured, I was reminded of a few things.

1.        You must find things that make you feel good about your day. When your sport gives you a lot of your self-worth…you must find other things that make you feel proud, content or successful.  Our billet son plays guitar and has many unique hobbies…something that gives him a sense of purpose when he can’t play hockey. One important factor in managing low moods when injured is to do something each day that makes you feel accomplished. It could be learning guitar, or getting a paper done or cleaning your room. Athletes…do you have something outside of your sport that gives you joy? 

2.       The lack of control when you are injured is a feeling that is foreign to athletes.  Athletes pride themselves on controlling their work ethic, their play, the amount of time and energy they put into their sport.  When that isn’t possible, controlling what you can control gets much harder.  What is your self-talk?  How can you control your recovery?  What can you do today to allow you the best chance to play again?

3.       Relationships matter.  Finding people around you that support you is important when you are dealing with an injury.  This could be your teammates or friends, your teacher, your parents, or other adults that care about you.  Use people to help you navigate this time away from your sport…there are lot of people that are ready to help.

As hard as it is to deal with injuries, remember that these feelings are fleeting. Things will get better.You will play again. In the meantime, find little things that give you joy, focus on what you can control and surround yourself with people that care about you.  You’ve got this…