NFL Total Wellness, along with the entire NFL community, send our thoughts and prayers to Damar Hamlin, his family, and the entire Bills and Bengals communities.
As much as Total Wellness has been working to provide support and resources to the NFL community throughout this week, it is important to also acknowledge the impact this experience may have had on some of our fans. We know many of you deeply care about these players and organizations – and feel a connectedness and closeness with them. You look forward to watching them compete every week and many of you have traditions centered around their games. You offer support for your teams – for that, we are very grateful. We have seen this through your outpouring of support for Damar and his family this entire week. We appreciate all of you as valuable members of our community.
We all watch sports for the enjoyment, the competition, and the excitement. Although we may know traumatic events and injuries can occur, it is not something that is ever-present on our mind. Therefore, when we witness a life-threatening medical crisis, it can be shocking, disorienting, and unbelievably heart-breaking. These types of experiences have an impact on us – similar to the way being exposed to other public tragedies and traumas affects us.
It’s important to keep in mind that our reactions will vary greatly. Some of us may feel somewhat “stuck” on these images or thoughts – we may have a hard time placing our attention elsewhere. We may also experience waves of emotions – concern and sadness for Damar and his family, anger or frustration with the reality that this happened, or maybe some anxiety the next time we view a game. Alternatively, some of us may not feel much at all and wonder why that is. No matter what your experience is, we encourage all of you to observe and accept these as understandable reactions. There is not a “right” or “wrong” way to respond. Try not to judge or question yourself for any reaction you may be having.
It can be therapeutic to simply label the emotions we are feeling or name the thoughts we are having. You can do this by talking about your experiences with loved ones or a professional resource (e.g., mental health clinician), journaling or writing, praying, or through meditation.
Mindfulness is a skill that involves being aware of your moment-to-moment experience in a clear & balanced manner. It allows you to be more observing of your thoughts and to be able to let go of any worries or difficult emotions, instead of getting stuck in them. This skill is particularly beneficial when we are encountering stress that is outside of our control. There are many websites and apps that offer guided mindfulness meditations (e.g., Calm, Headspace, UCLA Mindful Awareness Research Center).
If you’re having a wave of more intense emotions or thoughts, these techniques help to re-center you in the moment & connect your mind with your body. Here are some examples:
Following these experiences, it can be helpful to stay informed and connected through various forms of media; however, sometimes too much of this can increase our distress. We encourage all of you to be mindful of your experiences as you are consuming information or scrolling on social media. If you notice yourself start to have some distress, consider taking a break and using one of the three strategies listed above.
Written by Joanne Perry, Ph.D.
Director of Sport Psychology | Novant Health Orthopedics & Sports Medicine
Team Clinician | Carolina Panthers
