The Sports Psychology Blog
This Sports Psychology blog, comes as former Hull City striker Dean Windass reveals that he has tried, unsuccessfully, to take his own life.
Sports Psychology: Dean Windass - The Pain Of Loneliness
Gary Speed's unexpected death at his own hands shocked the world of football to the core. But equally as shocking, have been the revelations from the happy-go-lucky former Hull City Wembley winner, Dean Windass, that he has tried to take his own life.
Dean admits to having hit rock-bottom. Drinking heavily. Separated from his wife. No life beyond football. What was there to live for? He won't be alone in asking this question.
Within the bubble of the world of football, everything is taken care of. You have nothing to think about. You get the emotional highs from success that give your life a sense of purpose. There is the banter and comaraderie of the dressing room. The daily routines of training to get out of bed for. The recognition in the streets from fans, that give you a sense of worth. And then...
The bubble pops. Your career comes to a natural end. But if football is all you know, what do you do? What motivates you? How do you channel your energy? Where do you get the emotional highs from?
It becomes very easy to lose a sense of purpose. You may have the money. But what use is money without a meaningful existence? Allied with another major issue, which is that most footballers don't like asking for help. They perceive it as a sign of weakness. And thus are left alone with their dark thoughts.
Dean Windass was given a pundits role by Sky Sports. Live updates from grounds. But that unto itself isn't sufficient to give a life meaning. It's something to look forward to. But that's it.
A retired footballer needs to challenge himself. Do something he has never done before. Set himself a personal goal that when achieved, will give him a deep sense of personal satisfaction.
But he may not be able to do it alone. The path into the world of football is a natural one. You are spotted as a youngster, then nurtured and managed for twenty years. Then it's time to leave.
That's when you need help. To be able to talk frankly with someone. What do I do now? Open a shop? Run my own academy? Become a coach? Play golf? With no answers to these questions, Dean Windass was left alone with his thoughts. No camaraderie. No sense of belonging. Life had lost it's meaning.
But having hit rock-bottom, and opened up about his crisis, Dean Windass now has a second chance at life. A chance to discover a sense of purpose, that draws on his natural qualities and attributes. And in coming out in this way, he may have spoken for many ex-professionals at a loss with how to live a life beyond football.
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Posted by Martin Perry : Sports Psychology, Sports Psychologist - January 19th 2012
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