We all know that our sports can take a serious toll on our mental health. In fact, nearly 50 percent of us suffer from psychological illnesses like anxiety and depression, and yet mental health is still an issue that, oftentimes, goes unaddressed in the athletic world. 

But you know what? That’s why professional runner and VIS League™ Member, Grayson Murphy, wants to address it. She knows how intertwined sports, depression, and anxiety are. We sat down to discuss her experience and advice on how to best overcome this global phenomenon.

“I played competitive soccer in high school and found that, as I got older, acquired more responsibilities, and had more pressure on me to perform, my mental health was negatively impacted,” she explains. “After a period of dealing with emotions like anger, depression, control issues, and disordered eating in high school, I came to the realization that I was just not equipped with the right tools to protect my mental health.” 

That’s why Murphy started to prioritize her headspace, which she continues to work on in her sport and in personal life to this day. Keep reading for Grayson’s thoughts, tips, tricks and more when it comes to strengthening our mental health. (Take notes!)

Create a mental health toolbox. 

Just because mental health issues are common doesn’t mean there aren’t proven strategies to tackle them head on. This is where Murphy’s ‘mental health toolbox’ comes in. A practice she uses to keep anxiety and depression at bay. 

“I try to build up my mental health toolbox so that I have what it takes to encounter the various stressful and challenging situations that being an athlete brings,” Murphy says. “A few of the most coveted and important tools in my toolbox include therapy (both for sports and general life), meditation, and medication.” 

Check in on your teammates!

Some good news: We don’t need to tackle mental health issues alone—we have our teammates to lean on.

“I can think of several situations personally where I was winning races and running faster than I ever had before, both in college and as a professional, all while my mental health was at an all time low,” Grayson says. “No one but those who were very close to me would have known that.” Even as a professional athlete, the difference for her was found in her support system. 

Seek out mental health professionals. 

If we’re feeling off (even just a little bit!) we shouldn’t be afraid to talk it out with a coach, teammate, parent or therapist. 

Murphy explains, “It’s good to talk about how you are feeling and you will usually find that whoever you are talking to has felt the exact same way at some point in their life, too,”. She continues “I have made use of both general therapists as well as sports psychologists, depending on what better suited my feelings and situation at the time.”

Wherever we find our mental health solace, everyone is different and it’ll take time to find what’s best for us as individual athletes. While the first step to take action may be the hardest, it's the most important step of your journey. Let's lean into this together.