I feel terrible during wrestling season emotionally, but why?

Question

Alright I truly love the sport of wrestling and all but for some reason during the season I get really depressed, anxious, jumpy, and sour in the stomach. Usually before Saturday (when tournaments are) I get nervous which is normal probably from the competition. But I will get sweaty in the palms just doing nothing.

And about the depression. It strikes randomly but often enough during season that I know its coming from wrestling. I get terribly depressed and feel almost worthless in the world. Very rarely do thoughts of suicide come up but they have once in awhile.

It's not from cutting weight. I've only had to really cut weight badly once for alpha weigh ins and I made sure to start early so it wasn't a problem. I'm not the best wrestler on the team but I'm almost not the worst. Could it be my average performance, despite my work in the summer that brings me down? Or is it from the stresses of a long practice and such. Has anyone felt this before? Could it be hormonal?

Answer 1

I'm trying to put myself in your shoes as a memory from my life, The point of wrestling is to win and when you don't win (which you say you do not do much of the time) You feel down and depressed. You remember when a guy had a 3/4 nelson on you and then pinned you and it is not pleasant. Anticipating these moments before a match and in general during the wrestling season is probably with a fear (maybe unconscious) that you will be pinned again and you get an injection of adrenalin from this fear, which results in sweaty palms etc.

The depression is probably due simply to not seeming to be able to be any more than low average and not feeling confident you can improve. This confidence or spirit is what you have to work on.

If you opt for a dominate or be dominated way of life (which is what wrestling really is with a vengence) then you have to gain the attitude constantly that "I can win and I'm going to pin this guy" before every match. If you can't maintain this attitude then you have to expect the extreme tension before matches and depression ( there may be other factors involved in the depression) after a loss or series of losses. If you don't have an idea "I have to be best!" and can love the sport for its fun thrills, body building and comraderie aspects, for example, then your confidence will not be devastated by a loss.

Dominate or be dominated is a stupid way to live in my opinion (it's a constant state of war) and my suggestion is to rid yourself of the need to "Have to be the Best". Love the sport because it's fun!

Good luck in getting a right attitude, good mental health peace and Love!