There is no better field than sports to teach you a thing or two about life — wins, losses, ups and downs and the spirit to never give up — it all keeps you balanced.
So, when Deepika Padukone, after an ad campaign that is now going viral, spoke about how sports helped her deal with depression; how when she “was sinking” sports taught her “to survive and how to fight”, it only reiterated the point — sports can help you deal with depression.
Apart from the life lessons that are imparted to you on the field, science backs this theory too — the release of endorphins, the fact that you socialise with others and that, coupled, with how sports helps reduce stress just goes a long way to prove that sports can really help you overcome depression.
The world of sports has had plenty of examples of players who with the help of their game not only got back to a better mental state but also helped their family cope with losses. People from the sports fraternity tell us how sports helped them, why it is important and how it is not just a game, but a way of life.
‘Makes them feel better’
When you go out and play, you wake up early, set and achieve goals, meet new people... it subsequently changes the way you look at life. Many cricketers open up about their problems to coaches. If a player doesn’t get selected repeatedly he may feel depressed, and we coaches talk to them. They spend more time playing and practicing and it helps them feel better.
John Manoj, cricket coach
‘Sports helped me handle life’
When I lost my sister, my parents, like any other in such a situation, broke down. It was difficult for them to accept and handle the situation. I found that my sportsmanship helped me bring the family together through that tough time. I was able to be handle the situation differently and that helped me immensely. Sports gave me the skills to cope and handle life, and I’m glad my parents introduced me to it.
Parupalli Kashyap, badminton player
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I totally agree with Deepika Padukone. Playing a sport does help people fight depression. It acts like a stress-buster and helps relieve pressure. There were a lot of times and situations in my life where I was depressed over things, and, playing cricket helped me feel better. When I was 12, my father passed away, and after a few days I started playing a lot of cricket. It helped me shift my focus and get more serious about life.
— Hanuma Vihari, Cricketer
Sports is definitely a great stress-buster. It helps you relax and is more beneficial than meditation. For instance, when you play badminton for even 45 minutes, your concentration will be on the shuttlecock. You will not have anything else on your mind. Sports helps inculcate other values — one will experience victory and failure just like they do in life, and that will help them handle tough situations.
— S.L. Rajiv Reddy, Director of Referees at the Squash Racquets Federation of India,
Sports is more like a preventive measure to stop depression bouts from happening again, because when someone is depressed, he or she may not feel like taking part in physical activities. It however does help, since it has physical and emotional components that make the person feel better — when they win, they feel good about themselves and when they lose, they know it’s a game and that it’s okay for that to happen sometimes.
— Dr K. Siva Prasad,
Professor of psychology, Indian Institute of Mental Health
Physical exercise helps improve the mood and helps people think positively. It’s something I often recommend to people who are depressed or anxious. Working out — cardio activity — improves mood as it causes positive chemical changes in the brain that helps lift depression as well as calm down a nervous mind.
— Diana Monteiro, Counselling Psychologist
