Despite increased transparency surrounding mental health in sport, there is still much progress to be made to end the stigma around mental illness. World Mental Health Day, which takes place on 10th October, is one among many initiatives aiming to do this. Regardless of whether it is something you have struggled with personally, being more aware of what mental illness entails, will help you to support yourself and others; whilst understanding the unique pressures which the world of sport can place upon mental wellbeing is something we can all continue to improve.
Rowing – like any other sport – can take its toll both physically and mentally.
If you feel you are struggling, it’s essential that you open up to someone you trust and explain how you are feeling, and recognise when it might be time to take a step back and give yourself the space to recover.
There are plenty of factors which make rowing the perfect sport to combat the pressures of daily stresses and anxieties. It has long been recognised that spending time outdoors exercising releases endorphins and is one of the best ways to stave off anxiety, thus improving mental health and wellbeing. The very nature of rowing ensures a healthy combination of these factors; as most sessions take place early in the morning, rowers have the privilege of watching the sunrise and appreciating the seasons in a way many sportspeople don’t have the chance to. Even after wet and stormy winter sessions, the feeling of accomplishment at the end of a session remains a positive force, often for many hours after.
In addition to this, the social nature of rowing ensures that close bonds formed between rowers and coxes foster a positive and supportive atmosphere, even when a session hasn’t gone according to plan.
Sleep is another factor which rowers prioritise above all else. Knowing that your alarm will be ringing before the sun has risen makes all the more reason to get those eight hours in. Not only that but being well-rested ensures better form for the next training session and a clearer mind to appreciate the beauty of the morning. Sufficient sleep is a cornerstone of mental health, as extended periods of sleep-deprivation are known to have serious adverse effects on psychological wellbeing.
More than anything, rowing can serve as an escape from the stresses of daily life. Whether you row a few times a week or a few times a day, knowing that there is a period in the day in which you can switch off and focus on one thing reduces time spent worrying over daily stresses. Using training sessions productively, helps enormously with creating balance and ensuring that rowing remains something to look forward to.
Despite all the benefits rowing can have for mental health, there are also some issues the sport can throw up of which we all need to be aware.
It’s well known that most successful rowers are very organised, highly motivated and fiercely competitive – three traits which are vital when on the water but can be detrimental to progress when things aren’t going quite so well. It’s easy to become fixated on the negatives after a bad or difficult session and allowing yourself to become too concerned with this can lead to a cycle of negativity and comparison to crewmates. Whilst knowing where your weaker areas lie is necessary for improvement, getting too caught up with comparing your performance to that of others around you makes it very easy to spiral into a negative state.
Connected to the above is the issue of overtraining. Sometimes it can creep up unnoticed, whilst at other times, a conscious decision has been made to increase hours spent on the water, the erg or in the gym. Regardless of the reason, spending too much time training and not enough time recovering or sufficiently refuelling causes serious health problems as well as low mood overall. If you feel that you’re not progressing as you’d like to be, talk to your coach – that’s what they’re there for!
As with everything, the key to success in rowing is balance – if one thing is out of whack it can lead to everything being thrown off course, creating problems that would otherwise have been easily avoidable.
One of the most successful attempts at breaking down barriers when it comes to discussing mental health in rowing is the Rowing Together for Healthy Minds project, which works in partnership with Mind. Founded in memory of Imperial College rower René Zamudio, who took his life aged just 22, the initiative partners with rowing clubs around the country aiming to educate coaches and athletes on the topic of mental health and create more open atmospheres for discussions around mental illness in sport. The profits from their tech tops – now seen in almost every club – go to Mind.
Most clubs have welfare officers who are willing to discuss any issues, no matter how small. Coaches are also an important point of contact; it’s vital that you trust your coach and tell them if something is going on so that they understand that you may not be up to performing at your best. If you don’t, there’s no way that they can be expected to know, and you may find yourself unable to cope with the training load.
Finally, creating rituals with crewmates is one of the best ways to develop a support network and have someone to talk to if you find yourself struggling with your mental health. Even things as simple as going for post-session coffees or organising pre-race pasta parties can be enough to develop bonds within your squad and feel more comfortable sharing problems.
If you feel that everything is getting too much, speak to someone you trust – whether they’re part of the rowing world or not – and find strategies to help you get better. Mental illness isn’t something that just goes away when ignored, and the longer it is left, most likely, the longer it will take you to recover. Even if it means taking a few months off training to allow yourself to get back to a healthy state of mind, it’s more important to take the time to recover than to fear missing out on social events.
See below for some useful links surrounding the issue of mental health in rowing:
- RTHM campaign and tech tops
- Link to various mental health organisations and charities:
- Mind Charity
- World Mental Health Day
- More on Mental Health from JRN
Lucy
That’s all for now. If you’re hungry for more, check out any of our other pieces from The Catch, listen to the latest podcast episode, or flick through our race previews.
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