Basketball fans know March Madness refers to the NCAA college basketball tournament in the United States. The competition is between 68 teams in four regions and leads to the Final Four and then the Championship Game.
Are you wondering why a Psychotherapist is writing about March Madness? Here’s how March Madness relates to mental health.
The Qualities and Traits Needed to Win the NCAA Title
- Resilience. Resilience is the bounce back you have after a challenging situation. In the game of basketball, you need to be able to shake it off if a play doesn’t go the way that you wanted it to go. In the world of mental health, resilience allows you to manage your daily stresses and disappointments. If you have good resilience after a mistake, you stand back up, figure out what you did wrong, modify and try again.
- Emotional Regulation. In basketball at this level, the competition is fierce, and players put their all into the game. As fans, we see tempers flare, but the losing team manages the upset. If we have good emotional regulation, life is easier and typically our mental health is better. Poor emotional regulation can lead to significant mental health challenges like anxiety and depression impacting families and jobs.
- Perseverance. A winning team in any sport needs to persevere through wins and losses, good physical condition and injury. Like a winning basketball team, we face challenges on a regular basis. There are days when we are more stressed or feel low, and days that are more positive. If we consistently respond in a healthy way to these challenges and persevere, we are unlikely to develop conditions that require significant intervention.
- Positive self-talk. A winning basketball team without a doubt will engage in more positive self-talk. You are more likely to hear “we can do this” versus “we are terrible team”. Coaches can be heard engaging in positive talk with their players from the sidelines. When we face challenges in life, it is much easier to master them if we tell ourselves “I think I can” versus “there is no way I can do this.” Positive self-talk is almost non-existent when individuals are suffering from significant depression and anxiety.
Pass it on (pun intended)! If you or someone you know is struggling, reach out for support. Connect with Annette Poechman or Book an Appointment. Not sure if you and Annette will be a good fit? Go ahead and schedule a free 15-minute consultation.
As a Psychotherapist and Counsellor, Annette’s training is similar to the coach of a basketball team. Support, focus, goal setting and understanding are only a few of the fundamentals she uses so people can reach their full potential and get the most out of life!
Listening. Guiding. Caring.
