Don’t judge Williamson for needing break

Mental fatigue is a genuine issue for sports stars, says Karen Nimmo.

When Black Caps skipper Kane Williamson got to Mental Fatigue Camp this week he would have found himself in very good company.

Williamson had asked for time out from his Yorkshire cricket duties to ‘‘clear his head’’. Just an ace ahead of him was world tennis No. 1 Novak Djokovic who sought some mental respite after his shock early exit from Wimbledon. Already in camp was All Black Julian Savea who had been working on freeing himself from ‘‘mental clutter’’.

When athletes put their hands up for time out, coaches often rush to downplay the issue to protect them from the stigma of having something wrong ‘‘up top.’’

But we need to acknowledge mental strain in sport the same way we do physical injury. It’s normal. Every high performance athlete has mental challenges. So do coaches and officials.

That’s because it’s not possible to do your job on a public stage, stretch mind and body to the limits, be away from home and family for long stretches of time, withstand criticism and fear failure, know you could be one game away from a career ending crash — and not wage war with what’s going on in your head.

Mental fatigue is among the most common psychological challenges reported by athletes.

In its simplest form, it is weariness born of long periods without a break or the burn of constant pressure. At the other end of the scale, it can be a flag for mental illnesses, such as depression and anxieties. It can also lead to dysfunctional coping with alcohol or substances, gambling, food or aggression.

That Williamson, Djokovic and Savea were all struggling with their form is no coincidence, because that’s when mental difficulties flare.

They would each have noted someof the key indicators of mental fatigue which include:

Mistakes - stressed athletes make more errors or report clumsiness. Focus – it becomes harder to concentrate or hold focus. Overthinking - thoughts race or scramble which causes anxiety. Forced action – movement feels stiff instead of intuitive and free. Loss of enjoyment – leads to decrease in motivation. Negative thoughts – obsessing about mistakes and worrying about the future.

Sometimes the solution is as simple as taking a break and focusing on other things until the fog lifts. When an athlete’s confidence dips and their thinking gets into a negative loop, they may need help to break the cycle.

There’s no one-personality-fitsall for emotional stress. Three very different men, Williamson, Djokovic and Savea are the best in the world at their peak. But even the best have problems.

When sport goes wrong, athletes – and those who coach and guide them – need to play the long game, mentally as well as physically. After all, if bruised and battered bodies deserve serious attention, why not tired and troubled minds?

* Karen Nimmo is a clinical psychologist who works with elite athletes. This column originally appeared here: https:/ /medium.com/@karennimmo