Psychotherapist shares how Olympians, elite athletes can deal with stress of performance expectations

From NHL players, student-athletes, and Olympians competing to get on the podium, each deals with performance expectations and pressure — not only put on by themselves but sometimes, an entire country.

A recent study from the University of Toronto found that elite athletes are more likely to experience depression and anxiety than the general population. The survey conducted prior to the Tokyo Olympics last year found that as many as 41.4 per cent of Canadian national team athletes training for the games met the cut-off criteria for depression, anxiety and an eating disorder, compared to an estimated 10 per cent of Canadians in general.

Jhanelle Peters is a registered psychotherapist who works directly with high-performing athletes and other individuals from diverse populations and socioeconomic backgrounds.

“We all know the physical component that athletes push, and they endure. But it’s really important to remember the psychological piece that is there, too, that helps to push physically,” explained Peters.

“They go in hand-in-hand, and one can’t be there without the other. And so, I think when you see people and other athletes that people look up to showcasing that, ‘Hey, I have hard days just like you do.'”

“I think that the hard part is that your identity gets so wrapped up into your sport. It gets so wrapped up into who you are. And I always try to encourage people to remember that you are more than just an athlete,” said Peters.

Many Olympians have intensely trained for four years — all for an instant that can be over in seconds. They either reach their Gold Media goal or leave empty-handed.

Peters says it’s important for athletes not to focus on that moment but what can be next, so it’s not all-consuming.

“Whether you’re an athlete or just your regular everyday person, like you and I, we all have an end goal and focusing on the end goal. Yes, it’s important, but it’s what do I have to do next to get to that step?”

She says it’s key to focus on what the person can control themselves.

“Yes, there’s a whole team of people, and there are all these other things that have to go into play. That’s the part that you can’t control all the time, but I can control what’s next and literally just putting all of me into that can be really helpful. And then, as I said, the other piece of remembering is that you’re more than just an athlete.”

Another step for athletes’ mental health, Peters says, is to really curate who and what you are following on social media because it can be a toxic place.