The Psychology of Concussions
A sport psychology consultant weighs in on the recovery process.
Posted October 20, 2014 | Reviewed by Abigail Fagan
Over the last several years, key organizations, including USA Football, the CTE Center, and the CDC, have been actively trying to educate the community on the dangers of concussions. Through cutting -edge research, we have learned that concussions can lead to Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy (CTE), a degenerative disease of the brain found in athletes with a history of head trauma , and according to the Sports Legacy Institute, it is a disease associated with memory loss, impaired judgment, paranoia , depression , and, eventually, progressive dementia .
Even though the dangers are broadly publicized, athletes and coaches are still not fully cognizant of the risks of playing with a concussion and failing to properly rehabilitate. The lack of concussion education was on full display during the Michigan and Minnesota college football game that took place at the end of September. Michigan coach Brady Hoke failed to pull quarterback Shane Morris from the game when he took a vicious hit that left him dizzy and confused, prompting the ESPN announcers to laud heavy criticism on Michigan Coach Brady Hoke.
With all we know from the research community, the inability to recognize concussions at the collegiate level is unacceptable, and it is clear that athletes are still failing to report concussions because of a sense of bravado and invincibility that a successful athlete has to play through the pain—which is exacerbated by irresponsible coaches. But this has to be overcome in order to improve the safety of our athletes. It's important to consider the role of the sport psychology consultant in the recovery process.
Recovery from Concussions
The first step of improving the safety of our athletes is the continued education of our community on the proper ways to recover from concussions. Ever since Washington State enacted the Lystedt Law in 2009 , which requires a medical professional to clear the athlete to return to the game after a concussion, it has been crystal clear that it takes time for athletes to recover from concussions, and several professional guidelines have been implemented. However, judging from the Michigan incident, there is still a disconnect between the recommendations and enforcement of these protocols.
A concussion can often happen without a loss of consciousness or even visible signs. Failing to take proper precautions could lead to dangerous and sometimes deadly repeat concussions, which according to the CDC “occurs before the brain recovers from the first—usually within a short time period (hours, days, weeks)—can slow recovery or increase the chances for long-term problems.” For example, Nathan Stiles , a high school football player in Kansas, died on the football field during the last game of the season due to multiple hits to the head.
Breaking Through Toughness
The hardest part for athletes at this level may be to overcome their sense of toughness and competition . When they suspect they might have sustained a concussion, they stay quiet because they want to be a part of their team. In fact, some of these athletes have large scholarships they are competing for and believe their future is on the line.
At this level, it is important to sit these athletes down and explain the long-term costs that they might experience if they do not communicate symptoms like dizziness, sensitivity to light, depression, or other various ailments that are not visible. Their future is on the line—perhaps just not the way they expect.
This is where a sports psychology consultant can be most valuable in order to move beyond the first layer of responses and find out exactly how these athletes are feeling. Concussions are a unique injury that requires a different type of recovery. The injury happens to the brain and the symptoms are not visible, so athletes cannot recognize the pain or injury the same way as they would a broken leg. Sometimes the symptoms are as vague as emotionally feeling down, and this is one of the hardest parts for a young athlete to overcome: admitting that there is something wrong emotionally, because they are worried about what others may think.
As a sports psychology consultant, I often have my athletes come into my office, and I sit them down and start to talk to them about what has been happening since their head injury. What I often find is they are experiencing situational depression. It is important for me to help them realize that in order for them to return to normal activity, they need to recover emotionally. Athletes are apprehensive to admit they feel depressed and seeking out a sport psychology consultant may be viewed as a stigma .
Often times, athletes are dealing with these emotional issues, but they do not realize it is holding them back physically. I have seen the progress that occurs once young athletes identify emotional stress . They begin to heal physically as they utilize and implement psychological techniques. In order to heal physically, the mind must be in sync with the body.
After a concussion, it is essential for the athlete to completely shut down. Stimulation will not help the mind, and athletes have to turn away from television, computers, and even homework. Many young athletes ignore these requests. They return too quickly to social media and television, but they do not understand how this brain activity is harming their recovery.
In order to help athletes through this process, I walk them through relaxation and mindless thought activities. In a quiet room, I help guide them through meditation , asking them to see nothing but the blackness behind their eyes. This is very difficult for millennials, because they are so technologically connected, but as they start to shut down their mind, I sometimes see they are dealing with larger emotional issues. They might be struggling with the demands and pressures of school, parents, or athletics, and the sports psychology consultant has to help this student shut down in order to recover and become asymptomatic.
It is certainly a difficult task to teach mindless thought and meditation to competitive athletes who have a tough time admitting when they are in pain or will be out of play. It takes a commitment from parents, coaches, and educators to reinforce this recovery.
The Emotional Side of Recovery
In order for our athletes to truly recover from concussions, it is important to start thinking about the role of the sports psychology consultant. Young athletes already have so much pressure on them to perform, but they also face enormous pressure to recover quickly. That just cannot be rushed. The negative outcomes are too significant, and the way to ensure the long-term safety of these athletes is to educate them on the potential outcomes and show them how to shut down and recover properly.
The recovery and psychology of concussions are still issues that are not discussed enough in athletic circles. Once athletes develop these mental techniques, it will also assist them in other areas of their competition besides injury recovery.
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Laura M. Miele, Ph.D., is an adjunct professor at Ohio University's Coaching Education program and Montgomery county community college's Exercise Science and Wellness program.
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This article is part of the Bringwise Psychology Journal — daily insights on human behavior, mental health, and personal growth.