There is a crisis facing elite athletes that is hidden in plain sight. The crisis is one of mental health. More recently, high profile athletes like Michael Phelps have been vocal about the depression they have faced during their careers. Many more athletes stay silent, or even worse, ignore their symptoms.
I’ve talked at length about the mental health challenges that face high level athletes. While I’m well read about these topics, I’m no expert, and wanted to get a professional perspective.
I spoke with Dr. Ryan Davis to learn more details about the mental health landscape facing elite athletes. He is a Harvard-trained, Board-certified psychiatrist in Child, Adolescent, And Adult Psychiatry. As the founder of the Mind Health Institute in Beverly Hills, he leads a multidisciplinary mental health practice focused on providing comprehensive, personalized care. He has expertise in both psychotherapy and psychopharmacology. What is special about Dr. Davis is that he also works with elite athletes and business executives as a performance coach. He is the perfect person to talk about mental health in high level athletes because understands them intimately.
In this episode, he goes in-depth into the mental health for elite athletes and shares his wealth of knowledge on improving mental resilience, achieving peak performance, and creating more purposeful, balanced lives.
Ryan's Links:
- https://www.capeperformance.com/
- https://www.mhi-bh.com/
Other Links:
- Stolen Focus Book: https://amzn.to/3DTbceo
00:00:00 Intro
00:01:45 Psychiatry vs Psychology
00:08:55 Process for Intake
00:11:38 ADHD in Athletes
00:16:23 ADHD Treatments in Athletes
00:17:55 Feedback Loops
00:19:56 The Pain Cycle
00:22:31 Burnout
00:28:52 Toxic Habits
00:31:43 Signs You Should Seek Help
00:35:25 The Mental Health Stigma
00:37:25 Injuries and Mental Health
00:45:11 Retirement
00:51:54 Icarus
00:53:13 Having a Team
00:56:22 Anxiety in Athletes
01:03:47 Actionable Items
01:06:23 Mindfulness Practice
01:11:09 Yips
01:12:48 Solving problems and getting ahead
01:16:37 Sleep
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