This era of fitness and combat sport encourages not only being physically in shape. It also requires your mentality and mental health awareness to be in top form. This October RDX Sports stands by the fighters and fitness athletes that have seen the thick of life and still persevered through. We all need to stand up for our own voices, be heard and seen by our loved ones and peers, so that in time the weight of pain is lifted off our shoulders.
Key Takeaway
- What Causes Mental Health Problems?
- How To Move, Improve And Evolve Your Mental Health?
- Mental Health In Combat Sports
- Some Benefits Of Good Mental Health Awareness
Prologue: Causes Of Mental Health Problems
With world events, politics and media continuously dogging our minds. Meanwhile social media is feeding our needs for attention in endlessly scrollable screens. The new generation is falsely taught that they have infinite possibilities and are all-capable in every regard. On the other hand jobs are scarce, inflation is globally on the rise and physical health is unstable in a post-corona world.
It’s no surprise that people are tense, scared, worried and confused. Prolonged periods of problems with the following can cause mental health issues that can last:
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Culture
The norms of your culture do not align with your personal beliefs.
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Wealth
Cashflow, debt, buying power problems.
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Education
Difficulty in finding mentors, teachers and scholars on topics and ideas that interest you.
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Family
Internal family disputes and issues such as difficulty providing, violent behavior, negative upbringing and the possibilities of divorce.
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Physical health
Physically being hindered by medical problems and the costs associated.
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Society
Lack of social acceptance or peers to share with and relate to.
How it may affect you may differentiate from another person. Everyone creates their own coping mechanisms and some may not be similar to others, however sometimes the brain copes in unhealthy ways.
How To Move, Improve And Evolve Your Mental Health?
Now that we’ve identified some issues that create mental health problems, let’s look at some methods to rectify some of these bad mental habits. Changing habits isn’t easy and requires active time, dedication and hardwork. Especially for the more extreme forms of mental disorders. There is recommended medication to stabilize those illnesses however our recommendations revolve around behavioral solutions.
Return To Nature
Getting closer to nature to re-orient yourself. Go camping, a trek, a hike, a run in the local park but do go out to nature and attempt to accustom yourself to the natural order. From retuning yourself with the day night cycles, to breathing fresh air and getting out of the house, nature will help you find better harmony.
Talking More
Managing and Understanding your feelings on a clinically precise level. This will assist you in talking to yourself calmly and kindly, especially in stressful situations. Furthermore, talking to someone you trust for support and comfort. Men tend to struggle with communication and vulnerability across the globe. However talking may change the way you feel about the situation and provide you some insight to put things into perspective.
Don’t Depend On Drugs
Be aware about using alcohol or drugs to cope with your difficult feelings as these may help you ignore and avoid problems rather than dealing with them and creating a solution.
Manage Your Money And Seek Financial Assistance
Try to make the most of your money and get help with problem debts. Often cashflow, debt and dependencies can cause overwhelming stress. Especially when one is the sole provider of a family. However that burden shouldn’t stop you from seeking help whether that be from a financial non-profit organization or from a bank that may charge you for financial advice.
Get A Full Night’s Rest
Sleep is extremely important for your health. More stress filled late nights won’t improve things as much as consistent night’s rest with focused attention during the day. All the while avoid using narcotics, watching tv or scrolling through your phone when you attempt to sleep.
Keep Moving, Improving And Evolving Forward
Always keep future goals and attempt to deconstruct them in a manner that you understand. If your goal is 5 years ahead in the future, create milestones and clear paths to achieve those goals. Remember those are approximates however and the real world may give you different circumstances and that should by no means bring you down.
Eat Healthy Food
Remember that food is essential for good mental health and to actively improve your diet will also help you think more clearly and effectively.
Mental Health Awareness In Combat Sports
Combat Sports have been here for a long time and the stereotype of the strong silent fighter is prevalent even today. But fighters no longer have to be stoic, bottlers of their emotions. In fact that behavior has consistently proven to be problematic for everyone involved.
Combat Sports most commonly have mental health problems related to imposter syndromes, anger or overall health anxiety. Often in association with the many expectations and requirements of physical perfection. All the while attempting to reach the top and achieve unlike any other human, but not receiving recognition for these accomplishments.
Despite this, combat sports fans who value traits like toughness can now embrace openness and vulnerability with fighters like Tyson Fury, Paddy Pimblett and many others coming out with their stories.
The Gypsy King, Tyson Fury;
“It’s frightening to imagine how many people out there are suffering in silence and don’t know who to turn to, like me; I was in a lonely, dark place forever,” Fury said. “I didn’t know who to turn to or where to go, I didn’t know anyone with any education on the matter.”
The World Heavyweight Champion went on to say: “Who was I going to tell? Who wasn’t going to laugh at me and think I was a pathetic, weak person? That was the stigma in my mind. For sure [there was an element of shame and embarrassment]. At that time, I was a man who had everything the world had to offer – money, fame, glory, achievements, family – but I still felt like dying on a daily basis, and I didn’t know why.”
Paddy The Baddy
On the other hand Paddy Pimblett, who recently faced the loss of a close friend has said;
“I woke up on Friday morning at 4am to a message that one of my friends back home had killed himself. This was five hours before weigh-in. So, Ricky, lad, that’s for you,”
“There’s a stigma in this world that men can’t talk. Listen, if you’re a man and you’ve got weight on your shoulders and think the only way you can solve it is by killing yourself, please speak to someone! Speak to anyone,” Pimblett continued.
“I know I’d rather my mate cry on my shoulder than go to his funeral next week. So, please let’s get rid of this stigma and men, start talking!”
Benefits Of Good Mental Health
Good Mental Health Awareness is all the talk in Combat Sports. If you truly want to be a champion, fight fans across the globe expect you to conquer your health as well. Furthermore, fighting legends like Mike Tyson and George Saint Pierre make sure to openly declare when their colleagues bring their problems to the world stage. Both have criticized Floyd Mayweather and Jon Jones for their family lives multiple times.
Some of those good mental health benefits include but are not limited to:
- A more focused and sharper memory.
- Clarity in thought and action.
- Increased self-esteem and self image.
- Better sleep and rest.
- Increased energy and passion in all activities.
- Stronger resilience both physically and mentally.
- Increased BDNF (Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor), which improves neurotransmission.
- A greater sense of calm or inner peace.
- Improvements in relationships and social situations.
Meanwhile other fighters like Khamzat Chimaev and Tony Ferguson have been advocating for self-motivation, teamwork and respect in all aspects of life. Not only just fighting. Good mental health awareness and mental attitude is what makes fighters after all.
RDX would like you to search for the resources and explore the opportunities that you have today. Mental Health should show you that you have room to grow into a greater better human being rather than bring you down for what you feel you are lacking. Self Improvement is always possible and only then can you Evolve into the brilliant fighting super star you are.
