One of the biggest issues in psychology is the stigmatism that surrounds it. When someone says they are going to see a psychologist people instantly assume something is wrong with them or deny that there are any issues with them since they aren’t visible. Because of this we have a tendency to hide our problems from those around us and those that care about us. For men this can be taken a step further since they are supposed to act like a man and not show emotion and women are overly emotional and that is just the way things are. The side effects of this train of thought can be devastating though.

People have a tendency to shy away from the discussion of mental issues due to the fact that they don’t want to show weakness. There are several issues with this, but one of the main issues would be that by not discussing it, it will only continue to get worse. As an issue gets worse it will slowly start to take over your life to the point that it has invaded every thought you have. When this happens you will no longer be able to function in the same manner that you once were. In sports, if you can no longer function at your best you will be dragging yourself and those around you down with you.

We must get to a point where the discussion of mental health is not just widely acceptable, but normal. Once we can get to this point we can then start to heal not just as individuals, teams, and societies. Be okay discussing emotional and mental needs regarding sports and life. The more that we ensure that those around us are okay the more we can ensure that the group as a whole will be okay. And the once we can ensure that, everyone will be able to accomplish their goals and the goals of the collective whole.