Welcome:

This is coming to an end so fast! Welcome back to my blog and thank you for continuing this learning journey with me. This will be my last researched inquiry post and in the following days, there will be a final inquiry post where I will be summarizing my entire project so we can look back on all the important information we have learned throughout this process. This week I will be diving into what role having does no access to sports play in mental health. I will also be sharing my struggles and issues I faced while playing and how I could have approached myself as an educator or adult to help. I saved this one for the end as I did not add it into my challenges post from Week 3, and I believe this is plays a pivotal role. There is mentioning of a few things that may not be easy to read for some, so please feel free to skip over or take some time for yourself if needed.

Correlation between no Access to Sports and Mental Health:

I will create a list from the information I have gathered and talk a little bit about each and what I mean. If applicable, I will add my own personal experience with each given issue in a paragraph by itself below the list.

Increased Risk of Depression and Anxiety

• No Endorphin Boost: Without regular participation in physical activity, people may miss out on this natural mood boost, which can cause students to have an increased risk of feeling down or anxious.
• Worsening Symptoms: For people already struggling with depression or anxiety, the lack of physical activity can compound symptoms, making it harder to manage the condition. Exercise has a direct impact on reducing levels of cortisol, the stress hormone.

Social Isolation and Loneliness

• Isolation: When children are unable to engage in sports or activities, they may miss out on key social opportunities. Social isolation is a major risk factor for mental health problems, including depression, anxiety, and in more severe conditions such as schizophrenia or personality disorders.
• Loss of Social Support: Hobbies and activities often create a sense of camaraderie and connection with others. When these opportunities are absent, individuals may feel more isolated, which can intensify feelings of loneliness and helplessness.
• Reduced Sense of Belonging: For many people, participating in sports teams or groups is an important source of identity and a way to feel part of a community. Without these opportunities, individuals might struggle with their sense of self-worth and identity, contributing to low self-esteem and mental health difficulties.

Limited Coping Mechanisms for Stress

• Inhibit Stress Relief: Without access to physical activities that help manage stress, individuals may rely on unhealthy coping mechanisms such as substance use, overeating, or withdrawing from others, all of which can negatively impact mental health.
• Build-up of Unmanaged Stress: The inability to release pent-up emotions through physical activity can lead to chronic stress. Over time, unmanaged stress will build up and it can lead to other mental health issues.

Impact on Cognitive Functioning and Mood Regulation

• Cognitive Decline: Physical activity improves Neuroplasticity, (We learnt about this in week 3’s post, but if forgotten, the definition is linked) which is crucial for mental clarity, concentration, and memory. Without regular participation in sports or physical activity, people may experience difficulties in concentration and cognitive processing, which can lead to increased frustration or feelings of mental fog.
• Mood Instability: Regular participation in activity can help regulate mood by balancing chemicals in the brain such as serotonin and dopamine. When access to these activities is limited, mood swings, irritability, and emotional instability can become more pronounced, increasing vulnerability to mood disorders.

Increased Risk of Obesity and Physical Health Problems

• Sedentary Lifestyle: Without access to sports or other physical activities, individuals are more likely to adopt a sedentary lifestyle, which is associated with higher risks of obesity, cardiovascular disease, and diabetes. Poor physical health often correlates with a lack of motivation.
• Negative Self-Image: The inability to participate in sports and engage in physical activity may lead to feelings of low self-esteem, poor body image, and frustration. These feelings can contribute to the development of eating disorders or other negative mental health outcomes.

Lack of Emotional Regulation and Resilience

• Limited Emotional Coping Skills: People may have fewer tools for managing life’s stresses. Sports provide an opportunity to practice patience, perseverance, and self-discipline which are crucial for emotional regulation. Without these activities, people might struggle to deal with setbacks or challenges, leading to even bigger emotional distresses.
• Lower Sense of Accomplishment: Achieving personal goals in sports can significantly boost self-esteem and emotional well-being. A lack of access to such opportunities can result in feelings of stagnation or lack of achievement, which can lead to frustration, low motivation, and feelings of inadequacy.

Increased Vulnerability to Substance Use and Risk-Taking Behaviours

• Substance Use: Individuals without access to sports may be more likely to turn to substances like alcohol, drugs, or cigarettes to cope with stress or emotional discomfort. These behaviours can worsen mental health problems and create additional challenges.
• Engagement in Risky Behaviours: A lack of structured, healthy outlets like sports can lead to increased engagement in risky or harmful behaviours as individuals try to cope with negative emotions or boredom.

Financial Issues Faced:

Many families struggle with money and many activities cost way too much leaving children out while their friends and other students are partaking. This can lead to many of the factors mentioned above.

Personal Experience:

In my experiences, my mental health would plummet if I had no access to anything activity related. When I fractured my spine and was unable to partake in anything or join my teammates and friends at practices, or on the team trips, I felt lost. I had baseball taken away from me that I would normally be doing for at least 5 hours a day. Team lifts in the morning, practice after school, and in some cases we had recovery sessions at night. It was a lot of time but it was my passion and my dream. Then to have it all come to a stop from a doctor saying I could no longer do sports, maybe ever, depending on how I dealt with treatment and how I complete the necessary actions. It is hard to look back at these moments of sadness, frustration, anger, and inability to be with friends doing what we all loved. Finally, after doing this research, I can put some of that research and information into understanding the ways I was feeling and why. I felt that sense of belonging stripped from me, the loneliness it caused and how my motivation was being dwindled down. I wasn’t able to do many things so I just laid around. Even though I had so much extra time my academics were dropping, I wasn’t taking care of myself to my normal standard, and I was alone. I started getting in my own head and wondering if things would ever revert to normal. I would be so angry at everything and felt that build up of unmanaged stress. This led to me changing how I viewed myself, I would feel mad when I saw my teammates who I thought the world of, continuing to play. I felt it was unfair it happened but did not know how to regulate myself. This was one of the darkest times of my life and I would never wish injury upon anyone. With this story being told, I let you guys into my life with a story I do not normally share. Because we have learned together during this entire project, I wanted to fill you in on why this was my chosen topic. I struggled tremendously with mental health because of no access to sport, and I want to be a person in children’s lives that help them find their own passion and to not give up on anything. With my mental health depleting during this time, one could have argued it was because of my inability to cope with change, however, I believe it was having no access to activity. Living a sedentary lifestyle for half a year took its toll on me and I believe that as educators we have the ability to make a positive impact on how students approach sports and activity and let them understand the importance of inclusivity.

Summary:

This post really challenged me to share my thoughts and feelings but as mentioned, I was finally able to understand those feelings through my own research. This post plays an important role in my life and I hope it can one day help you guys through a tough time. I will be back next week with a summary of our learning journey and thanks for taking the time to continue to read my blog. Take some time this week to do the thing you love and enjoy every second!

– Carter White