When we get a physical injury on the field or the gym or even at home, we are mentally affected as well. This is an aspect that we see many people fail to address as part of the rehabilitation. The first thing we do is seek medical attention and this is critical and recommended. However, we also need to assess how we were emotionally affected. When we coach people, we discover that their relationship with their bodies is negatively impacted and often ignored. Once they’re physically ready to go back to their normal life, they find themselves unable to. They struggle and feel demotivated without understanding the reason behind those feelings.
Let us examine what happens and how to address it in the coming points:
Fear
After an injury, we become aware of our bodies. We will naturally fight to protect them. It is how we are designed as human beings. Our subconscious drives us to avoid the risk associated with any pain or further injury and this is one of our protection mechanisms.
Betrayal
Some people admit that they feel their body has betrayed them after a physical injury. At one point, they thought they were in control. They felt invincible then their body stood in the way. It is their body that stood in the way of reaching their goals and accomplishing what they spent long hours working for. The more this feeling stays the more intense it becomes.
Confidence
Self-confidence is measured based on many elements. Two major ones are how you see your body and how you assess your ability.
After an injury, both elements drop. When we assess our ability to perform, we find that the score drops.
We need to work on our self-confidence step by step as we undergo physical rehabilitation.
It has to be an integral step to ensure that we regain the trust in our physical ability again. One cannot assume that our confidence will recover on its own, each person reacts differently. Some people assume that it has not been impacted and they push themselves too soon only to find their injury getting more complicated. For others, it takes time to regain self-esteem when they view themselves as broken or damaged.
Forgiveness
Lastly, you need to be able to forgive your body for all of the above; for betraying you, for taking the time to heal, for needing time to go back to what it used to be even if that means not competing.
You need to address your body with compassion and understanding and work through this tough time as a team together to go back to the field
One thing that you will gain out of this experience would be growth and mental strength enhancement. By taking note of how you feel and what you think throughout the process and working on them with your mental coach, you will become more aware of yourself. You will also develop a stronger communication channel with your body and mind, which shall make you a tougher person.