“ How can you deal with anxiety not of a specific reinjury, but a more generalized fear about your sport being taken away from you again? That fear does help me appreciate what I have now that I'm running again, but also makes disruptions to my training or race plans—whether from how I'm feeling physically, or work/life stress—harder to deal with. How can I cope?”

In this episode of The Injured Athletes Club podcast, mental skills coach Carrie Jackson answers a question from Emily regarding handling the anxiety associated with the potential permanent loss of her sport due to repeated injuries. 

In her response, she describes common fears athletes face during injury recovery, emphasizing not just the fear of re-injury but the broader, more generalized fear of losing access to their sport altogether. 

To manage these anxieties, Coach Carrie underscores the importance of mindfulness and the practice of staying present. Becoming hyper-aware of the previously injured part of the body can trigger stress responses based on past experiences, she says. But shifting one's mindset toward acceptance and focusing on what is within your control, today, can ease your mind and help you move forward.

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DISCLAIMER: This content is for educational & informational use only and & does not constitute medical advice. Do not disregard, avoid or delay obtaining medical or health related advice from your health-care professional because of something you may have heard in an episode of this podcast. You should not rely on this information as a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Please consult with a qualified medical professional for proper evaluation & treatment. Guests who speak on this podcast express their own opinions, experiences, and conclusions, and The Injured Athletes Club podcast hosts nor any company providing financial support endorses or opposes any particular treatment option discussed in the episodes of this podcast and are not responsible for any actions or inactions of listeners based on the information presented. The use of any information provided is solely at your own risk.