The corona virus pandemic emergency situation is the biggest mental shock for athletes in the world.
Reporting from AFP, enormous pressure experienced by athletes in the world because they are accustomed to a very active lifestyle. Now, they also have to undergo independent isolation shut themselves in their homes.
The situation makes the athletes, including the world’s top footballers experience extraordinary boredom. One indication is the unusual activity they carry out during quarantine.
Call it a video uploading challenges juggling toilet paper, to other challenges on social media. The stress is caused by the extreme adaptation situation and the uncertain future they face.
Australian Tennis Medical Staff, Carolyn Broderick, said SARS and swine flu alone had long-term effects on athletes. Most of them experience anxiety, obsessiveness in washing their hands, and fear of being close to people.
Moreover, he continued, the Covid-19 effect could be more stressful for athletes who are also forced to carry out independent isolation.
Serena Williams for example, she claimed to be increasingly depressed by the situation. The 38-year-old said social distancing rules or keeping distance of interactions made her so stressed.
“The slightest thing drives me crazy. I am really struck by anxiety. Every time I see people sneezing or coughing I get depressed,” Williams said in his TikTok account.
The athletes are now forced to stop their activities as they normally do as sportsmen. Especially for Olympic athletes. After the 2020 Olympics in Tokyo were postponed next year, the pressure was even greater.
“I lie if I say that I’m fine. Just like people, I suffer a lot,” explained Olympic weightlifting United States, Kate Nye, told WOODTV.com.
The same anxiety also struck the Australian cricket athlete, Justin Lunger. He claimed to have psychological problems during the corona virus emergency.
“Mental health problems, we talk about this in a joint connection. Especially for the staff and players who are alone at home. We have to keep an eye on close people so they are fine,” Lunger said.
Broderick explained, the effects of self-isolation can have devastating effects on athletes.
“They have the same problems that other people experience, but also stress and anxiety about the future that they cannot easily control.”
“They do not know in the future what it will be like and how long it must be quarantined and isolated,” Broderick was quoted as saying by AFP.
Stress, continued Broderick, could even lead them to abuse behavior such as drugs and alcohol.
“There is anxiety. Maybe upper-level athletes can overcome the problem of lost income, but many other athletes are very vulnerable,” explained Broderick.
“If you lose a lot of activity for several months, then you also lose a lot of income.”
