Harvard Psychiatrist: How Elite Athletes Master Crippling Stress (Exclusive Interview)

There is a crisis facing elite athletes that is hidden in plain sight. The crisis is one of mental health. More recently, high profile athletes like Michael Phelps have been vocal about the depression they have faced during their careers. Many more athletes stay silent, or even worse, ignore their symptoms.

I’ve talked at length about the mental health challenges that face high level athletes. While I’m well read about these topics, I’m no expert, and wanted to get a professional perspective.

I spoke with Dr. Ryan Davis to learn more details about the mental health landscape facing elite athletes. He is a Harvard-trained, Board-certified psychiatrist in Child, Adolescent, And Adult Psychiatry. As the founder of the Mind Health Institute in Beverly Hills, he leads a multidisciplinary mental health practice focused on providing comprehensive, personalized care. He has expertise in both psychotherapy and psychopharmacology. What is special about Dr. Davis is that he also works with elite athletes and business executives as a performance coach. He is the perfect person to talk about mental health in high level athletes because understands them intimately.

In this episode, he goes in-depth into the mental health for elite athletes and shares his wealth of knowledge on improving mental resilience, achieving peak performance, and creating more purposeful, balanced lives.

Ryan's Links:

- https://www.capeperformance.com/

- https://www.mhi-bh.com/

Other Links:

- Stolen Focus Book: https://amzn.to/3DTbceo

00:00:00 Intro

00:01:45 Psychiatry vs Psychology

00:08:55 Process for Intake

00:11:38 ADHD in Athletes

00:16:23 ADHD Treatments in Athletes

00:17:55 Feedback Loops

00:19:56 The Pain Cycle

00:22:31 Burnout

00:28:52 Toxic Habits

00:31:43 Signs You Should Seek Help

00:35:25 The Mental Health Stigma

00:37:25 Injuries and Mental Health

00:45:11 Retirement

00:51:54 Icarus

00:53:13 Having a Team

00:56:22 Anxiety in Athletes

01:03:47 Actionable Items

01:06:23 Mindfulness Practice

01:11:09 Yips

01:12:48 Solving problems and getting ahead

01:16:37 Sleep

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