NAME THAT FEELING
Disappointed, Sad, Frustrated, Jealous, Bored, Left Out, Content.
Name a body reaction to stress.
Sweaty palms, heart racing, stomach ache, headache, muscle tension, shaking.
Name a professional athlete who came back from an injury.
Tom Brady, Adrian Peterson, Derrick Rose, Kevin Durant, Kobe Bryant, Simone Biles
True or False: "If I feel something, it will last forever"
False - feelings come and go, even strong ones.
Name one coping skill that takes 2 minuets or less.
Deep breaths, drink water, stretching, music, step outside, going for a walk
What emotion might you feel when you watch your team play while in recovery? Name at least two possible emotions.
Proud of them, Happy for them but sad for myself (mixed feelings), Anxious because I'm ready to play and Hopeful that they'll win
How can being injured change your mood or motivation?
Feeling bored, unmotivated, frustrated, isolated, sad about missing being active
What's one thing you CAN still do for your sport while recovering?
Do upper-body training, workout at home, attend practices and support teammates, watch film, talk with coach
What thinking trap is this? "I can do it all myself, I don't need anyone else to help me"
Hyper-independence, all-or-nothing thinking
What's one coping skill that helps when you're bored or frustrated at home?
Any answer - Movie/shows, games, reading, calling a friend, video games, music, etc.
Name a situation where you might feel two emotions at the same time (excited AND nervous).
First day back at school (nervous + excited), returning to play (excited + scared), trying something new (curious + anxious)
What's one thing your body is improving at right now, even if progress is slow?
Strength, flexibility, balance, pain tolerance, walking, bending the knee more, muscle recovery.
What part of recovering is the hardest mentally?
Slow progress, fear of re-injury, boredom, losing confidence
Turn this thought into a more balanced one: My parents never trust me to handle things on my own.
My parents want to offer their support because they care. My parents worry because they want me to be successful. I can show that I am handling things through my actions.
What's one thing that might be helpful to do before a physical therapy session?
Positive self-talk, listening to calm or hype music, stretching, etc.
Describe a moment this week where your body gave you a clue about what you were feeling (chest tightness, low energy or high energy, sweaty palms, etc).
Chest tightness (anxiety), Low energy (sadness), Clenched jaw (anger), Butterflies (nervousness), Relaxation (peace), Fast heart rate (excitement/fear)
When pain or frustration show up, what can help calm your body down?
Deep breathing, stretching, listening to music, playing guitar, heat/ice, resting, grounding exercises
Describe what you want your comeback to look like next year.
Answers vary - whatever you want your involvement to look and feel like
Name a time you were worried about something but it turned out okay.
Any example - tests, surgery, social situations, sports performance, getting in trouble, etc.
Imagine another athlete or someone you know is in recovery. What's one piece of advice you would offer them?
Any answer - "be patient", "ask for help", "all progress counts", "this is temporary", etc.
Which emotion is hardest for you to express out loud, and what makes it challenging?
Answers vary - could be
Anger (doesn't want conflict), Sadness (doesn't want to appear weak), Anxiety (afraid of being misunderstood), Disappointment (might feel embarrassing)
Explain how taking care of your mind can help your recovery go better/faster.
Staying motivated for PT, lowering stress levels and maintaining hope, positive mindset improves effort, self-advocacy and asking for help when needed
Who can support your comeback, and how can you let them? (A teammate, friend, parent, coach, doctor, therapist, etc.)
Answers Vary - Whoever you feel has and will support your recovery and comeback
When a negative thought shows up, what's one thing you can do to challenge it?
Look for evidence that counters that thought, think about what you'd tell a friend in that situation, find a more balanced thought, talk it out with someone
Create a game plan for a tough day: one coping skill for your mind, one for your body, and one for distraction.
Mind: talking to someone, writing out thoughts, meditating.
Body: Stretch, rest, PT exercises, heat/ice to soothe
Distraction: Friends, hobbies, games, etc.