Depression…Lets Talk About It (3 of 6)
In order to be great one must think great. Bill Gates, Michael Jordan, Oprah Winfrey, Martha Stewart; to these moguls failure was never an option..it was for the next man. My belief is that athletes think the same way. We train to win, not for a consolation prize. We train to be the best, not second best. We strive for perfection knowing it can never truly be attained. So what happens when perfection is not achieved? A few things can occur. We either immediately start working toward it again, dismiss the situation altogether, or deal with some type of emotional battle that can manifest into various forms of depressive states.
A Depressive Disorder (also referred to an unipolar depression) falls under the spectrum of Mood Disorders. There are numerous symptoms associated with depressive states (ie- insomnia, lethargy, fatigue, isolation, anhedonia, guilt, suicidal thoughts, irritability, etc). It is the paring of symptoms over specific periods of time that determine the type of depressive disorder. My point is not to display a checklist of items, as all symptoms must be considered within a contextual setting. Rather, it is to allow others to see why (in my opinion) athletes are so prone to experiencing symptoms related to depressive states.
Think of a Normal Curve. 90% of the average population falls under the normal curve, 5% below average, and the remaining 5% above average. Athletes fall within the above average 5%, as our work ethics, drive, and motivation are what allow us to exceed 
the norm. This means ability wise, we perform better than 95% of the entire population…….that to me is greatness! So why the depression? When we compare ourselves, we do so against others who are also within the “above average” classification and we are often forced to see ourselves as mediocre. A genius is only defined as such because others around him are average. A genius compared to Albert Einstein is just smart; he is not longer a genius. As athletes when we compare ourselves to others who are great, it levels the playing field and makes our quest for perfection much more difficult attain. In turn, this can lead to feelings of failure, sadness, unfulfillment, and ultimately to depressive states…..even though we are STILL performing better than the average person. This is why it is so important to have other activities to help remain grounded and well-balanced. IT IS OKAY to compare ourselves to the “average” person once in a while. Although failure is not our desirable option and our quest for perfection continues, we should ask ourselves this: How much are a few moments of perfection worth if they cost a lifetime of anguish and unhappiness?
NOTE: Obviously depression is not that simple and a true diagnosis is far more complex. But externally it is often difficult for people to understand why someone who looks as if they are in the best physical shape of their lives can be so unhappy and miserable. To these people I say don’t train to be “good”, train to be “great” and see how much of an emotional toll it takes on you.
For those who need it, I encourage you to use or share the provided links below as you see fit.
www.psychologyinfo.com/depression
www.depressiontreatmentnow.com
www.psychcentral.com
www.mayoclinic.com/health/depression/DS00175/DSECTION=treatments-and-drugs
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