Sport

When having a particularly bad day, it's quite easy to shut off from the world by not going outside and/or talking to anyone. Whilst I find alone time useful to reflect, on bad days it can turn quite destructive very quickly: I call this "The Rainforest Effect". For me, one seed of negativity can quite easily become a 'rainforest' in the space 10-15 minutes. I will come back to "The Rainforest Effect", focusing on it specifically in future posts.

One way I have come to terms with anxiety and depression is through sport. For those of you who know me personally, you will know that I am captain of football club: Titans FC. I set the team up with a few university friends back in 2012. At the time, I had no idea how important the team would become in future and how much we would achieve; it was simply a bit of fun with no real goal to be realised. Over the years, that has changed: we have successfully built up a team and regularly organise charity events. An overwhelming majority of the most important conversations I've ever had with regards to my anxiety and depression have been with the team. They were the first to know about the problems I faced. Without a shadow of a doubt, Titans FC have become my most crucial support network: there's absolutely no sense of toxic masculinity where, for example, teammates are targeted for crying, nor is there any emotional repression. An overwhelming majority of the most important conversations I've ever had with regards to my anxiety and depression have been with the team.

It may sound cliché, but for me, football is a massive break from reality. Each weekend, I get to train and play alongside really good guys who I see as effectively being members of my family. During this time, I am able to distract myself from the feelings of pessimism, worthlessness and hopelessness. The pitch essentially acts like a vacuum, the negative weight exists outside the dimensions of the field of play. However, within that boundary, I'm able to detach myself from what is going on in life and just enjoy the 90 minutes. I find that the fresh air, getting out of the house and away from studying can do wonders for my mood. When I combine that with really good friends, who I can laugh and joke around with, the positivity is compounded. It really does brighten up one's mood. In other ways, football also acts as a creative outlet for the stress which inevitably builds up with mental health issues; there is a sense of physically getting the stress out of the system with every pass, every shot and every tackle.

Of course, team sports are only one of many ways to alleviate such feelings in a physical way. A fantastic alternative would be take up running or possibly using weights at the gym. Both activities require a lot of physical effort which can allow you to use up your nervous energy and frustration in a completely positive way, as opposed to feeling isolated in a room on your own. For others, a simple walk in the sunshine (all 2 days of it that we get in the UK that is!) whilst listening to music may be the way to break free from those moments where you feel constricted by negative feelings and/or thoughts.

Sometimes, it's the little things such as going for a walk of 5-10 mins each day, which can really pick you up when you need it. To be my truly nerdy self, and to use mathematics to drive home my point, please see the below graph on "Power of tiny gains":

If we talk the walking example, if you were to consistently go for a walk for 5-10 mins each day, not only would it assist with eradicating negative feelings, but it would also have a positive impact on the cardiovascular system and the peace of mind would provide the opportunity to better focus on a variety of tasks. Whilst small things like this do not address the problem on their own, I do find that they help; the time spent in a new environment can over time, become an integral part of your arsenal to contain moments of self-doubt and catastrophizing.

Remember: you are a beautiful human being. You are loved. You matter. You have so much good that you can offer this world.

Until next time,

J x