UNDERSTANDING SIGNS & SYMPTOMS
1 \ General Behaviors & Patterns
It is good to be knowledgeable of the following behaviors and patterns within yourself as well as close friends/teammates. Recognizing situations of distress is important for coaches, athletic trainers and other close friends to realize if something is out of the norm. This list is just a few examples.
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Lack of interest in things they once enjoyed
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Loss of motivation
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Change in eating and sleeping habits
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Irritable and argumentative
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Talking negatively about oneself
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Excessive worry or fear
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Irresponsibility or lying
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Withdrawing or isolating from social contact
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Feeling out of control
2 \ Depression Signs & Symptoms
Here and there we may feel down on ourselves, sad or isolated. However when these feelings last for a long period of time and get to the point they are hindering you from completing day to day activities. College can be a time where it is easy to fall in times of sadness and especially as a student athlete, falling into a depression can impact ones performance on the field. Below are some signs and symptoms you or a friend might be experiencing depression. This list is just a few examples and many can experience depression differently.
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Loss in daily activities one once enjoyed
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Appetite or weight changes
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Anger/Irritability
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Sleep Change (usually tend to sleep more)
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Reckless Behavior
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Feelings of hopelessness or helplessness
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Feeling fatigued
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Difficulty concentrating
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Lack of self worth
3 \ Generalized Anxiety Disorder Signs & Symptoms
Not only do parts of life cause anxiety, but sports can be a major drive of anxiety for student athletes. As athletes, we constantly ask ourselves, "Am I working hard enough?", "Am I playing well enough?", "What are the coaches thinking?" and "What are my teammates thinking?". With generalized anxiety, one struggles to recover from negative thoughts like these. Below are some signs and symptoms of generalized anxiety. People may experience anxiety differently.
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Restlessness
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Feeling "on edge"
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Difficulty concentrating
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Repeatedly going over thoughts
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Difficulty controlling worries
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Muscle tension
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Nausea
4 \ Panic Disorder Signs & Symptoms
Panic disorders is a type of disorder that causes panic attacks which are experiences of sudden feelings of terror when there is no realistic danger. Panic attacks feel as if you are losing control of your surrounding and yourself. Below are some signs and symptoms of panic disorders. People may experience panic differently.
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Heart Palpitations
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Accelerated heart rate
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Sweating
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Worries about when the next attack will happen
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Feeling like you are choking
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Trembling & Shaking
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Avoidance of areas where panic attacks have happened before
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Feeling of impending doom
5 \ Social Anxiety Disorder Signs & Symptoms
Many experience anxiety in a more specific way through social anxiety. This consists of uneasy feeling and extreme worry when facing day to day social situations and interactions. Social anxiety is usually rooted in an irrational fear of social situations or fear of possible embarrassment that tends to be triggered from previous traumatic or stressful events. Below are signs and symptoms associated with social anxiety disorders. People may experience social anxiety disorders differently.
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Highly anxious when around others
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Having a difficult time speaking to others
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Extremely self-conscious around others
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Afraid others will judge them
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Worrying days before an event where there will be others
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Difficult time making friends
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Feeling sick to your stomach when others are around
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Fear of rejection