Starting a sport can be very stressful because of the stress that comes with every physical effort. Often the strength required to perform the exercises is not in line with the athlete's capabilities. This only exacerbates the effects of stress to the point of leading the athlete to injury or burnout. So here's everything you need to know about stress specifically in the sports environment.
Stress, a normal reaction to physical exertion
Stress is one of the main emotions experienced during a sports programme. While some athletes use it as a motivation to succeed in their fitness exercises, others suffer from the manifestations of this state. This is the main reason why it is advisable to channel stress before, during and at the end of sports-related physical efforts.
In order to manage this state effectively and counteract its negative effects, one must first of all know the mechanisms of this state. In this respect, the Canadian endocrinologist Hans Selye states that stress is "a response of the organism to any demand or solicitation exerted on it".
The researcher also calls this state the General Adaptation Syndrome (GAS). In other words, stress is a biological reaction. It is a stimulus and a manifestation of the mismatch between the athlete's capabilities and the efforts required by the physical exercise being performed.
When the athlete is confronted with a stressful situation, his or her body secretes certain hormones such as dopamine, noradrenaline or even adrenaline. These different substances secreted enable the athlete to cope or give up. There are two types of stress: positive stress and negative stress.
In the first case, the athlete succeeds in overcoming the stressful state and maintains the balance with the demand. On the other hand, negative stress occurs when the demand for physical effort exceeds the athlete's resources.
Managing stress to succeed in your sport program
Stress puts the athlete in a situation of danger where everything must be done to survive. The hormone secretions observed lead to an acceleration of the respiratory and cardiac rhythms. Digestive problems and increased muscle tension can also occur. The athlete must therefore control his or her stress, otherwise there is a risk of burnout.
The different causes of stress in sport
Stress can be caused by many different situations. The more you know about the different sources of this reaction, the more careful you are to avoid exposure. For example, in sport, it can be caused by:
- Excessive training;
- Poor financial situation;
- A restrictive sporting and family environment;
- A relationship problem;
The stress caused by these different situations can serve as motivation for some athletes and make other athletes depressed. Let's see how it manifests itself in everyday life and in sport.
Manifestations of stress
There are various signs that allow the coach and the athlete to easily recognise a state of stress. These include physiological, emotional, somatic, cognitive and behavioural signs.
Physiological signs
Fatigue is the very first manifestation of stress on thephysiological level. After that, there is a lack of appetite accompanied by a sleep disorder that appears in the athlete. Finally, there is a vulnerability of the immune system and a considerable drop in libido.
Emotional signs
The athlete who is in a state of stressloses confidence constantly. A kind of demotivation sets in. Thus, he is not really ready to go ahead with his sports programme. There are also other feelings such as anger, nervousness and panic that drive the stressed athlete.
Somatic signs
Somatic signs of stress include headaches, stomach aches, and digestive problems. You may also experience breathing difficulties, muscle joint pain and then the symptoms of eczema.
Cognitive signs
The athlete suffering from stress often lacks concentration when lifting weights or doing an exercise that requires full attention. Also, they may even begin to experience memory problems and constantly make poor decisions.
Behavioural signs
An athlete's habits may change abruptly as a result of stress. Typically, there is a new addiction to doping substances or stimulants. It is also likely that the athlete will become even more aggressive and sometimes apathetic.
What do you need to know about burnout?
"Athletic burnout" is a form of sport-related pathology that results in "psychological and physical withdrawal from an activity with excessive stress or dissatisfaction". The athlete who is a victim of burnout experiences great difficulty in getting back on his or her feet. It is an illness whose factors are influenced by the athlete's motivation and personality.
Burnout creates a kind of discrepancy between the athlete's internal representations of the world and the external reality. Under the effect of stress, the athlete is no longer the one who decides, but rather the one who undergoes the course of events. It is therefore essential for the athlete to become the main character of his or her life by regaining control.
