Depression after playing sport

LegacyUser

Apols for posting this if its the wrong area to post in. I just wanted to post this anon and wanted to get any feedback off people.

In the past 6 or so months i've taken to playing contact sport with a local team. I've enjoyed training and getting on with the lads and i'm beginging to feel like i am now more part of the team, accepted by team mates etc and i enjoy the banter and comradary. I never really played team sports growing up and im now in my early 30's, there are all ages on the team.

My problem is, when i go training i look forward to it but dread it a tiny bit too, dreading the physical contact or being agressive. I do get banged about a bit, no more than anyone else on the team and i do appreciate part of me needs to toughen up.

My main question to anyone in similar set up, when i get home from training i actually feel quite depressed and quite sad for the remainder of the day and the next day, i stop talking and become very introverted with my own thoughts which isn't nice. I am only assuming its from playing contact sport. To the point that my partner is kinda pointing it out. I don't know if i should give up playing (i dont necess want to!) but i dont want to feel this sh1tty every week.

Anyways i was just wondering is there anyone in my boat or similar.

LegacyUser

If you enjoy the actual playing of the sport then dont give it up. Hows your life outside of the sport? Socially I mean. Is the sport your only source of contact with a group? If it is it could be that when you finish up a game or training session, you're faced with a void in your life.
But if your social life is fine outside of the sport then It'd be worth tuning into your thoughts after training is over. You feel depressed because your thoughts are distorted in some way. For whatever reason your telling yourself negative things after you've played the sport. Sit down after training when you've come home in the evening with a pen and paper and write down whats going through your head. The answer is there trust me. You think a thought and then you'll feel based on that thought. If its a negative thought you'll feel bad, if its positive you'll feel good. Im not saying to become Polyanna or anything like that, just be fair with yourself and tune into how you think.
One other thing though, hows your diet? That can have a significant influence on how you feel. I mean if you drink alcohol and eat a lot of processed food, then thats worth looking at aswell.

helimachoptor

Are you the same after training as you are after a game?

whippet

I have been playing football all my life and still am (when I should be retired !!) .... I love the game, love watching the game, will watch junior and amateur matches every weekend, read about .... it's somewhat an obsession .....

however, I always noticed that after a match at the weekend when we lost, or I played poorly, got injured .. I wouldn't even be able to watch match of the day, live football, talk about it or read about it. Something similar to depression.

There is always the niggling thought at the back of my mind wondering; did I do my self justice out there? Did I let my teammates down? Could I have done something different to prepare better ....

It has taken me nearly 25 years to come to the realisation that the number of bad days in sport far out weight the number of good days!! But that it is the participation that I love; the butterflies in the stomach in the dressing room; the regrets; the what ifs? and above all the sense of teamwork and the realisation that on your worst day there is someone on your side ready to take up your slack and dig you out of a hole .. and vice versa

LegacyUser

@username54321 - Life is good outside of it, no cause for complaint at all. It's like i just can't get out of my head. Before playing my thoughts are kind of just swamped with 'what if i get injured' and that plays out with me losing my job / breaking a leg etc. I like to give 100% though but that thought is always in the back of my head when tackling or being tackled. I've cut down on alcohol intake and really taken to much more exercise during the week. Look after myself and drink litres of water every day.

@helimachopter pretty much the same but more so after training.

@whippet yeah i feel all these things too, but i tend to feel equal feelings of dread too. Which i can't seem to control.

Part of me thinks i need to just toughen up. Thanks for your feedback guys. It's the only time i've ever really experienced being dark about anything and it just worries me.

helimachoptor

I'm not sure what else to say.
For personally if my team loses I am in a bad mood for a couple of hours and this happens without exception, however it doesnt make me feel sad.

Maybe you feel that you still arent integrated into the team?
I've played on a few teams where they've won/lost finals and where i've been relatively new to the team so I havent been that high/low from the result.

whippet

Sports Questiom wrote: »

@whippet yeah i feel all these things too, but i tend to feel equal feelings of dread too. Which i can't seem to control.

.

as you are relatively new to team sports what you feel as 'dread' i would equate to the nerves before a game. Regardless of how big / small a game I am playing I get nervous - as I want to ensure that I do the best I can. I always had the belief that the day that I am not somewhat nervous is the day that I have lost my edge and it is time to give up.

On the injury front ... that is a genuine concern for just about all sports participants. I can't watch nasty injuries on TV (to this day I still have not seen the infamous David Boost leg break) ... down through the years I have had plenty of minor injuries (sprains, strains, cuts, bruises etc) and a couple of major ones (arm breaks, elbow breaks, dislocated jaw, finger breaks etc ) ... fortunately nothing to keep me off work for more than a day or so. With minor injuries and the like of broken fingers you just get used to them and while you will be in pain for a couple of days .. this goes aways and you just get on with things