"Postseason depression" is a phrase that's often applied to fans who will miss the excitement of following their teams, whether it's in football, baseball or any other sport. But postseason depression can be a very real problem for athletes, particularly those who compete at high levels. In an article about depression and athletes on Istadia.com, a Web site that looks at issues relating to sports and society, it's noted that "problems of transition" some athletes face are due to the all-consuming nature of their involvement if "athletes define themselves principally by their role in sport, sometimes to the detriment or exclusion of their personal or social identity."
Definition
Depression is a medical condition affecting body and mind, and though it can be a chronic problem, it is often manageable through therapy, medications or other treatments, according to the Mayo Clinic. One can also experience depressive symptoms, and not full-blown clinical depression, brought on by triggers such as stress, illness or injury (post-heart attack depression is so common the American Heart Association recommends all heart patients be screened for depression), and major life events, such as the end of a sports season. Postseason depression in many athletes may be more a collection of depressive symptoms than a major depressive disorder.
Signs
Depression, whether it's related to the end of the sports season or even an athletic career, shares common symptoms with depression experienced by anyone else. The Mayo Clinic lists the most common signs of depression as feelings of sadness or hopelessness, loss of interest in things that once brought pleasure, changes in sleeping and/or eating habits, irritability over minor things, unexplained pains or physical ailments, thoughts of suicide, and difficulty concentrating and making decisions.
Theories/Speculation
In an online article in "Acupuncture Today" magazine (July 2005), Ronda Wimmer, Ph.D., a nationally known expert on natural and sports medicine, writes that post-competition depression is the result of a sudden change in an athlete's day-to-day existence. She writes, "The main theory behind this disorder focuses upon an individual's biological rhythms. When an athlete is finished with the peak competitive season, social demands and personal relationships change." She adds that the competition that drove an athlete all season is gone, forcing the athlete to find other means to fill his or her time.
Prevention/Solution
When depressive symptoms are linked directly to the end of a sport season or even an athletic career, the most obvious first step is to fill that time with other pursuits. The off season is also a time to reflect on the truly important things in your life, aside from sports, such as family, education, career, friends, spirituality and other hobbies and activities. In the "Acupuncture Today" article, Dr. Wimmer notes that it is critical that athletes acknowledge their feelings and depressive symptoms and seek treatment.
Warning
Letting depressive symptoms go untreated can lead to clinical depression, which can lead to physical problems (unhealthy behaviors such as overeating, drug and alcohol abuse and a lack of exercise), as well as damage to relationships, careers, and self-esteem or even potentially suicidal behaviors, the Mayo Clinic warns. So whether it springs from a temporary or permanent break from competition or any other source, depression should be acknowledged as a condition like diabetes, asthma or high blood pressure and should be treated as such.
