LIFE AS AN ATHLETE
Do you "choke" before the big game? Struggle to perform at the highest level in the brightest light? Is your coach noticing a decline in your athletic performance? Do these symptoms get in the way of your training, relationships, personal life and daily responsibilities?
A few facts:
10% of college athletes have depression
The highest depression rate is found in female track and field athletes
The most common anxiety in athletes is adjustment disorder with anxious features
15% of athletes report social anxiety, 15% generalized anxiety and 5% panic disorder
49% of Olympic athletes are classified as “poor sleepers”
25% of college athletes have eating disorders
Athletes may also battle unique challenges such as:
Injury
Retirement from the sport
Overtraining
Concussion
Falling short in the brightest light after spending every waking hours training
WHY SEE A SPORTS PSYCHIATRIST?
My training offers an in-depth understanding of the nuances when diagnosing, treating or prescribing medications for athletes. One major hesitation is inadvertently taking medication that negatively impacts your performance or is classified as “performance enhancer” and is prohibited in your sport. As a former student athlete, I understand.
Every patient is different, and my recommendations are always made on a case-by-case analysis. If together we determine that medication is beneficial, I’ll walk you through different options, thoroughly explaining risks, benefits, alternatives, and potential side effects, so you can be fully informed and content with your next steps.
A few examples:
Propranolol is a common medication for performance anxiety. However, it can also lessen tremors and improve fine motor control, and therefore is prohibited at all times in archery and shooting, and in competitions for golf, automobile, billiards, darts, and some skiing, snowboarding, or underwater sports.
Most bipolar medications may cause weight gain, tremors or sedation that can impair athletic performance. Thus, lamotrigine, which is less likely to produce these side effects, is preferred for athletes.
My Masters in Psychopharmacology and Applied Psychology add even more insight on all things medication and human behavior. Your mental health is as important as your physical health. Let me help you reach your full potential without suffering alone.