By Anna Funk — 2021
“We are not really good at fully understanding the relationship between the brain and the mind, or the brain and performance."
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CLEAR ALL
Osaka’s mental health challenges are nothing new in her isolating sport. What is new is the acceptance she’ll face—and the paths back—if she takes a prolonged break.
Through the size of her platform, however, and her decision to choose well-being over pursuit of a Grand Slam title, Osaka offers the promise of bringing mental health awareness—both inside and outside of sports—to an entirely new level.
Experts I spoke with for this story pointed to a couple of reasons professional athletes are particularly susceptible to mental health issues.
Some people harbor the illusion that rest is a luxury they do not have time for, but the reality is that rest is a necessity.
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Sadness is a central part of our lives, yet it’s typically ignored at work, hurting employees and managers alike.
A cancer diagnosis brings a wealth of psychological challenges. In fact, adults living with cancer have a six-time higher risk for psychological disability than those not living with cancer.
Anxiety is a natural response to a cancer diagnosis, whether for ourselves or a loved one. Our bodies engage a flight, fight or freeze mechanism that can become overwhelming.
How one teen is using her tragic injury to take down the warrior culture in sports.
Look more closely and you’ll see.
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In the documentary “The Weight of Gold,” Phelps presents a stark picture of the mental wear and tear Olympians endure.