Unraveling the Stigma: Mental Health in the Fitness Industry
As we observe Mental Health Awareness Month this May, it's an opportune time to shed light on topics that often remain in the shadows. This series of blogs is dedicated to opening up conversations about mental health, unraveling stigmas, and advocating for a broader understanding and acceptance. From exploring mental health in the fitness industry to addressing the misconceptions about mental health medications, each entry seeks to provide insight and foster a supportive community. It is through understanding, dialogue, and compassion that we can truly make strides in mental health awareness.
Introduction
The fitness industry is a powerhouse promoting strength, endurance, and the quest for physical excellence. While the industry plays an essential role in encouraging a healthy lifestyle, it often focuses primarily on physical well-being. This emphasis can sometimes overshadow a critical component of holistic wellness - mental health. Here we delve into the complex relationship between the fitness industry and mental health stigma and explore potential avenues for change.
The Fitness Perfection Paradox
One of the most significant stigmas associated with the fitness industry is the pursuit of perfection. Fitness enthusiasts and professionals alike often face immense pressure to achieve and maintain the "perfect" body or the "perfect" lifestyle, images that saturate social media feeds and glossy magazine covers. Such unrealistic expectations can create an unhealthy mental landscape, fostering body dissatisfaction, leading to mental health issues such as anxiety, depression, eating disorders, and body dysmorphic disorder.
As a coach myself I have found that a lot of people can equate physical appearance to the skills of a fitness professional. Often it does not. The job of a coach is to focus on you, but unfortunately can feel this pressure ourselves. It can be really tough to navigate a sense of self-worth when a lot is attributed to your body shape in this industry. Moreover, when we are not feeling at our peak, we tend to feel miserable as well as we tend to beat ourselves up over not reaching certain goals. Just like anybody else, the imposter syndrome can hit us hard in those moments and affect our mental health negatively.
The Misguided Mantra: Mind Over Matter
The "mind over matter" mantra is frequently perpetuated in the fitness world, suggesting mental health struggles are a simple question of willpower. This misconception could lead to the downplaying of mental health issues and drive individuals to push their limits, ignoring warning signs of conditions like overtraining syndrome, burnout, or mood disorders. Mental health is not a matter of "toughing it out"; it's a vital part of our overall wellbeing and deserves as much care and attention as our physical health.
Fitness professionals can at times feel like a fraud because of their own vulnerability. Personally, I feel like this narrative pushes too far into the hustle and grind culture, and as a recovering people pleaser and overachiever, I am slowly rejecting this way of thinking, and learn to accept, process and openly admit how I am feeling in the moment. If you have been to my classes, you will know that I am very open about my mental state before we start, as energy is important to me and for my student to understand why at times I need to lead a softer class as an instructor.
The Taboo Talk: Mental Health Conversations
Often, in the fitness industry, mental health topics can be seen as irrelevant or even taboo, given the overarching emphasis on physical strength and resilience. This environment can deter individuals from opening up about their mental health struggles, reinforcing a silence that can compound mental health issues and hinder individuals from seeking the help they need.
One of the most common “toxic trait” I have seen in all of us fitness professionals (me included) is that due to our compelling obsession to help and provide immediate solutions to people, we have a tendency to always give advice, which is not always the outcome needed from someone sharing their struggles. We have an opinion on everything, what works for us, what did not, what is the new trend etc… From being on both sides from times to times, I have found myself occasionally frustrated at how this and this can help, or feeling a sense of pity on me, when all I wanted to do was to share. I know I have to make more work myself to ensure I ask beforehand when someone is about to share : do you want advice, or just an empathic ear to listen.
The most disappointing comments I had were when I decided to go on medication back in 2021. The biggest negativity I came across was from fellow fitness pros, and it was saddening to see how stigmatised mental health meds are still perceived. I discuss this more in this other blog and podcast.
The Misconception of Physical Health Equating Mental Health
It's a common belief that physical fitness and mental health are directly proportional, suggesting that physically fit individuals are immune to mental health issues. While physical activity can contribute positively to mental health, it isn't a universal solution. Ignoring this fact perpetuates the stigma around mental health problems, causing many who are suffering to remain silent.
It is also not uncommon not keep a fitness routine as a mental health lifeline, particularly at a time of crisis or struggle, just as much as losing every bit of motivation to do anything. The spectrum is wide and does not necessarily fit one or the other. It is very subtle and everyone goes to the gym for very different reasons, which does not translate into mental states. There will be times when training can take me to the edge of a panic attack because I feel too fragile and sensitive to feeling my heart rate rise. It does feel silly to me, but a trigger is a trigger, and managing them are just part of accepting how you are feeling in the present moment, without judgement.
The 'No Pain, No Gain' Attitude and Its Fallout
The fitness industry's "no pain, no gain" mentality often downplays the importance of rest and recovery, leading to a stigma around taking necessary breaks. This approach can result in both physical and mental health issues, as overtraining can cause severe stress, mood swings, and chronic fatigue, among other problems.
Eating Disorders: The Hidden Epidemic
The intense focus on body size, shape, and weight in the fitness industry can fuel eating disorders. Unfortunately, due to a lack of understanding and awareness, these conditions are often overlooked or minimized. This scenario further entrenches the stigma, creating a challenging environment for those struggling to seek help. Let’s be honest, not only social media is increasing the risk to develop these kinds of disorder, but there is an additional disorder on the rise within the health and fitness universe: orthorexia nervosa, a pathological obsession with healthful eating” (Dunn &Bratman, 2016, p. 12) in order to pursue health and to avoid ill health and disease.
You probably have been so confused many times about what foods are labelled as good and bad for you? Influencers waging war on sugar, or even some pushing to experimenting new age reversal treatments, which in my opinion could be an entire episode of Black Mirror. Again, I am not pointing fingers, as it is easy even for me to become obsessive with my own training, feeling like I could always do more, be more, and beat myself up when I am not disciplined enough. Fitness professionals can sometimes forget what our real duty of care is: engaging our clients into healthier habits for themselves, that can create overall better longevity for their lives. This includes a positive relationship with food, particularly if we have to deal with people who are recovering from ED, and it means that we do have to work on our own toxic traits related to our profession.
Conclusion
Addressing mental health stigma within the fitness industry requires a paradigm shift towards a more holistic view of health. Encouraging open conversations about mental health, promoting balanced fitness goals, emphasizing rest and recovery, and educating on the reality of eating disorders are essential steps towards this change. The fitness industry can become a place that uplifts not just physical strength but mental resilience too, truly embodying the ethos of overall wellness.
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Disclaimer:
"The content shared in this blog post/podcast episode is intended for informational purposes only. It is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek advice from your healthcare provider or a qualified mental health professional with any questions you may have regarding a mental health condition. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it due to something you have read or heard here. If you're feeling suicidal or in crisis, seek professional help immediately."
Resources:
Samaritans: Call 116 123. Samaritans offer a safe place for you to talk any time you like, in your own way, about whatever's troubling you.
Mind: Visit www.mind.org.uk for information and advice. You can also call the Mind Infoline at 0300 123 3393 or text 86463. Mind provides advice and support to empower anyone experiencing a mental health problem.
Shout: Text 'SHOUT' to 85258 if you are in crisis. Shout is a 24/7 UK crisis text service available for times when people feel they need immediate support.
NHS Mental Health Services: Visit www.nhs.uk for information about mental health services available through the NHS. The site provides resources, advice, and support for individuals dealing with mental health issues.
