Returning to play your sport while you’re still experiencing symptoms is not an option
Even though I knew something wasn’t right with me, my sense of guilt and anxiety led me to make one poor decision after another—the worst decision was returning to the field to play soccer when I was not fully healed. Regardless of who you are and what sport you play, you should never, ever return to play your beloved sport unless you are symptom free at rest and during exertion (Schneider KJ, et. al 2017).
During my concussion ordeal, I stepped onto the field for a few minutes, but I was later forced to leave due to my overwhelming symptoms. There I was taking 100 steps back (at least, that’s what it felt like), as I played the waiting game—impatiently waiting for my symptoms to go away. You will come to understand, as I did, that returning to your sport when you’re experiencing concussion symptoms can be detrimental to your overall health. As an athlete recovering from a concussion, you should only return to your sport after having completed a step-wise progression treatment—a treatment plan that is progressed based on your symptoms and developed by a qualified health care provider—to ensure that you make a safe transition to your sport (McCrory, et. al 2017).
Communicate
During my waiting period, I spent a lot of time alone in my room. It was then that I realized how much I craved the interaction and support from my family, friends and team. There were moments when I felt like my life was an absolute emotional train wreck because I found it challenging to manage my emotions. But, I refused to share my troubles with anyone because I didn’t want to become an emotional burden to anyone. So, I figured the easiest thing for me to do was to deal with my problems on my own—alone, isolated—and I did just that.
Of course, it didn’t take long for me to understand that this was not the way to go. I was at such a low point in my life, and I knew something had to change. It was obvious to me that I needed to talk to someone. So, I slowly started to open up and talk to my family and friends. Initially I was hesitant expressing how I felt, but eventually I started to admit to the fact that life was a struggle for me. Opening up I realized how fortunate I was to have so much support. It may appear to be a hassle to share your feelings and genuinely communicate with others around you, but I strongly encourage you to do it. Be honest! Be vocal! And don’t stop communicating with those around you until you are certain that you are no longer in danger of surrendering to an emotional train derailment. Your friends, family members, trainers/doctors, coaches, and teammates are there for you!
Remember, patience is key
I experienced so much pain and frustration during my recovery that I sometimes tried to console myself by comparing my concussion to others’ recovery schedules. As a student-athlete, it led me to place unrealistic and unfair expectations on myself. Sometimes, I felt like an idiot when I couldn’t grasp the concepts that I desperately needed to complete my school work.
At the time, I didn’t realize how much concussion recovery varies from athlete to athlete. What I later learned is that during the early stage, a brain needs rest from both physical and cognition exertion. Go figure! But, I was doing the opposite of what my brain really needed. All those late nights just forcing myself to read (even when I couldn’t understand a thing) was certainly not the best decision to do. While a brief period of rest is needed, individuals should be encouraged to gradually progress to becoming more active while staying below their physical and cognitive symptom- exacerbation (Tapia et. Al 2017). So take your concussion recovery one day at a time, and most importantly, don’t assume your recovery schedule will be the same as another person.
Don’t be afraid to seek help
For months, I bottled up my frustration before I voiced my anxieties to individuals in the sports psychology department, who eventually advised me to speak with a psychologist. Initially, I was hesitant about talking to a psychologist because I feared the stigma of having a mental health issue and the inevitable judgement from others that came along with it. Yes, my family and close friends were always a call away for me to chat with, but I was at a point in my life where I needed to release my worries by talking, in person, to someone who was willing to listen to me and to offer some solutions–and that important aspect was missing. As a student-athlete, it is critically important for you to utilize the resources available through your school and/or organization’s athletic department, which was beneficial in helping me to get back on the right path for my concussion recovery.
Be informed and advocate for yourself
In order to help myself, I had to learn the hard way to take some action and learn more about concussions. At the time, I thought that I was making the best decisions and taking the steps in my recovery that I thought were good for me. But, I was clearly mistaken, and it didn’t take me long to realize that I didn’t have a clue about what was best for me. Only after I completed an extensive research paper about concussions were my eyes opened. It was painful for me to learn about the impact of multiple concussions on athletes many years after ending their sport. It wasn’t until then that I realized a concussion is not a mere head injury—it’s a major physical wound with long-term emotional and mental outcomes. I only have this current view of concussions now because I took the time to educate myself. It was an education that I lacked at the beginning of my concussion journey. So, I hope you can learn from my initial mistakes by taking the time to learn as much as you can about concussions and how they can affect your body—your overall mental, emotional, and physical health. Learn to take care of yourself and be the best source of support for yourself!
Life is more than a sport
For as long as I can remember, I ate, drank, and pooped soccer—I know that’s a little gross. But, you get my point. I was a driven student athlete whose entire focus and reason for existence was solely sports. While I acknowledged other aspects of my life existed, I took a great deal of it for granted. But, my concussion experience helped me gain an appreciation for other facets of my life because I was no longer the athlete who wanted to hit the field (at all cost). In fact, I found it easier to ask myself the really tough questions before making an irrational decision when it came to injuries. While I’m all about striving for excellence in sports, I encourage you, as a student-athlete, to ask those important, difficult, and possibly life-altering questions when you find yourself wanting to return to your sport while you are still battling concussion symptoms. Playing a sport only constitutes one, small part of your life—your existence, which may be forever altered by a serious brain injury if you fail to properly heal.
Final thoughts
Remember, a concussion is not a joke. It is a brain injury that requires constant care, instead of silly pretense or an emotional game of charades where you pretend your symptoms don’t exist. At one moment, you may feel like a hero who returns early to make that game-winning play during the last seconds of a match. But, I can assure you, you’re the only person, in the long run, who will truly experience the devastating impact of ignoring your concussion and recognizing the urgent need to heal and properly recover. Now, I challenge you not to succumb to the pressure from your favorite sport, team, and others around you. Do yourself a favor by giving your brain the best chance to heal and recover. Remember that you have one brain and one life with years to live and to discover what it means to be alive and healthy. So, live it well!
Educational Resources
Recognizing concussion symptoms: 1) https://www.cdc.gov/headsup/index.html; 2) https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/concussion/symptoms-causes/syc-20355594
Physical Therapy: Finding a qualified vestibular physical therapist may be beneficial for those experiencing concussion symptoms (dizziness, balance difficulties, headaches etc.) and assist in building up strength and endurance in a safe graded manner. https://www.moveforwardpt.com/symptomsconditionsdetail.aspx?cid=4f2ebb00-f1c0-4691-b2ab-742df8dffb99
NCAA Guidelines on Concussion: http://www.ncaa.org/sport-science-institute/concussion-diagnosis-and-management-best-practices
McCrory P, Meeuwisse W, Dvorak J, et al. Consensus statement on concussion in sport: the 5th international conference on concussion in sport held in Berlin, October 2016. Br J Sports Med. 2017;61:838-847.
Schneider KJ, Leddy JJ, Guskiewicz KM, et al. Rest and treatment/rehabilitation following sport-related concussion: a systematic review. Br J Sports Med. 2017;51:930–934.
Tapia RN, Eapen BC. Rehabilitation of persistent symptoms after concussion. Phys Med Rehabil Clin N Am. 2017;28:287–299.