By Austin Brown
Next Level Coach & former pro football player for the Texans and The Saints
Next Level Coach & former pro football player for the Texans and The Saints
Growing up a three-sport athlete, unlike many athletes now, I was always on the go. This revolving door of practices, games, meetings, lifts/workouts, and treatment hasn’t had a halt in over 10 years. This has been my life blessing and curse all wrapped in one. I was fortunate to stay “healthy enough” to have a pretty successful college football career; I wasn’t hit with this lengthy injury bug until my senior year of college when I had two fractures running down the L4 and L5 portion of my spine.
I still remember the excruciating pain crawling to my car just to get to the team doctor’s office. In this moment of pain everything had stopped. Classes didn’t matter that day, practice didn’t matter that day, time of day didn’t matter … all that mattered was relieving this pain and toning it down enough to walk normally and function normally. I couldn’t think about anything else until this pain was gone. This was my first experience of having the sport I loved and prepared for (since the third grade) taken away from me and I was hit with the reality stick right in the face.
So on and off through a series of depressive moments, wearing a back-brace for 6 months, and “encouraging” letters from my grandmother asking me to basically stop playing football and cease and desist hurting myself, I switched my hat from all-conference defensive tackle to intern student coach for my true senior year. This “year off” from playing refocused my mind on being a human and not a combative warrior 24/7, 365 days out of the year . It allowed me to refocus values in my life and it also allowed me to prepare for life after football.
Not every moment was so optimistic of course there were tears and heartache but there were also joys in seeing my teammates compete and step up when their number was called. The coaching I did during this year allowed me to find my passion in helping others and making that my life’s work. As much pain and suffering I went through, there was also so many avenues that opened up for me! After re-examining this crazy time in my life, I’ve realized many people need to hear this because they may be going through something similar. Whether it be a lifetime of physical activity or playing a sport they love and it getting swiped away from the from a period of time, someone will be able to use these tips and get back on track.
Instead of lamenting what I had lost, I made a conscious decision to make significant changes in my life and redirect that energy to helping athletes and young adults with their fitness goals. Over the last 2 years, I have focused on learning about injury prevention, especially strength and conditioning methods. Overcoming physical adversity is a true test of mental strength. For some people it can seem like a never ending process and to others a life-changing event.
In this post, I have listed a few tactics on dealing with injuries and refocusing your mindset. It is very easy to give up on oneself when faced with hardship or change in our routines. The struggles with this disruption not only plague a handful of us, but increasingly hold all of us hostage to varying degrees. This can play out as physical, emotional, and psychological rollercoasters in our lives. Let’s see how many people can change their outlook on acute or chronic injuries!
- “Control the Controllable.” One of my favorite quotes all time! When injuries occur, time is the deciding factor and rarely is there a way to speed that process up. No need to waste emotions and energy on things we have no control over. In other words, BE PATIENT!
- Don’t Feel Sorry for Yourself. No doubt, you’re going to feel terrible and be asking yourself, “why me”? That’s normal, but if you wallow in the “woe is me!” mentality, you’re not helping yourself physically or mentally. I guarantee you’re not the first person in the history of mankind going through this struggle. It’s time to step up to the plate and complete your duties as much as you can regardless of your situation. This is something you can control to varying degrees and is a case by case basis but what does a physical injury have to do with one excelling mentally or spiritually? Find a new avenue to excel your life for the better!
- Look into new hobbies or activities. If the doctor placed a timetable on your return to the gym or sport and there is always something you wanted to complete, read or do…. Get it done! It helps fill the void of being away from your normal routine as well as gets something off of your bucket list! We often use the “to busy” excuse and now that’s out of the window.
- Lean on loved ones. You shouldn’t feel like a burden to loved ones! I used to tell my parents not to come help me when I was injured and that’s the first thing I would want to do for them if they were injured so let it be and receive the love without thinking too much about it! The Macho Man attitude is very hard when you’re alone.
- Reward. Make a list of steps and milestones that can be rewarded in your rehabilitation process in order to be on track for your target date of return! Rewards can vary from tangible items to experiences that have been on hold because of limitations of your injury. Now that you are able to walk without a cane or walker maybe it’s time to go to the mall and strut your stuff!
- Remember it’s not about you. What?! It’s not about me?! One of the greatest feelings in the world is to feel that you are a part of something bigger than yourself. Military personnel, sports teams, co-workers and even friend/family groups have a team atmosphere where the WE is greater than the I! Being a blessing for someone else when you have every right to be down in the dumps because of an injury. It tricks your emotions! It gives your world a sense of being again! Gratitude reciprocates. Don’t let your mood bring down the mood of others. Positive Vibes Only!
What a great post. You’ve made some amazing points and I’m going to share this with all of my student athletes. I hope there’s more of this to come. You’ve provided insight on a subject that many are afraid to to touch on and with raw, unedited emotion.
Thanks Kyle. Having played, been injured and now coaching, Austin has a unique and insightful perspective that is sometimes overlooked by coaches and parents, so we’re glad you plan to share!