Team Sidelined Sidelined USA

In this episode we explore the physical, mental and social aspects of dealing with chronic illness as an athlete —— navigating the physical challenges , learning how to advocate for yourself, and managing the tension of the “athletic mentality" with the realistic need to listen to your body. 
We cover various psychological components such as the impact of a lack of understanding from others, the burden of self-doubt, the unpredictable and confusing nature of chronic illness, feelings of weakness and loss of athletic identity . . . we discuss insights into coping with feelings of isolation, changes in relationships, and how to identify your true support network. And we wrap it the discussion by talking about medical retirement, factors involved in making the decision to medically retire, and the pros and cons of staying involved with your sport. 
If you are an athlete coping with chronic illness, know that we have incredible respect for all the ways you fight your invisible challenges. We hope this episode provides encouragement to you as well as practical tips and ideas for managing life as an athlete with chronic illness. 
For the rest of us, we encourage you to listen in on this discussion, learn about the athlete experience with chronic illness, and share this podcast within your network of athletes, athletic trainers, and coaches. There are athletes out there who need our informed understanding, our empathy, and our support. ❤️💙

It’s not uncommon for athletes to experience body dissatisfaction and body grief in the transition following their retirement from competition. After all, it’s not especially realistic to maintain the same physique as schedules and priorities shift when the competition days come to an end. What’s much less common though, is meaningful conversation on the topic. Body dissatisfaction and body grief can at times lead to maladaptive behaviors related to food and exercise as it can take some time for athletes to get into a new rhythm and shift expectations. It’s important for athletes in transition to be mindful of thinking patterns and habits related to food and exercise which don’t serve them well. 
In this podcast we discuss this topic and the implications for potential eating disorders with Stephanie Wilson, a medically retired athlete who has personally experienced maladaptive behaviors related to food and exercise and now works professionally in this space as a Registered Dietitian specializing in athletes experiencing disordered eating, eating disorders, and Relative Energy Deficiency Syndrome (RED-S).
Join us for this engaging discussion and share with others! You never know who you could help and what important conversations this could start. 
Show Notes: 
1:47 Stephanie’s background & personal experience
5:05 The complex relationship with food & body for athletes
Perfectionism & comparisons Different fueling needs for different sportsPressures from coachesPressure to conform to social/athletic normsBody monitoring &  hyper-body-awareness10:30 The role of an athlete’s own expectations in post-athletics body changes
Body shifts and the struggle to find a new normal 14:20  Maladaptive behaviors in dealing with unwanted body changes 
What is a maladaptive behavior? Do maladaptive behaviors automatically equal an eating disorder? Examples of maladaptive behaviorsUnhealthy coping behaviors, both eating and exercise The possibility of “a new normal” that serves you better18:27 Compensatory behaviors 
What is my motivation for this behavior? Behaviors as “punishment”“I should be doing this” vs. “this is what I want to do”What movements bring you joy?How do you fuel the movements that bring you joy in retirement? 21:26 How fear can often drive our behaviors related to food/exercise post-retirement 
Acknowledgement & acceptance of our fears How to appropriately challenge our fears The power of “Sitting in the suck”26:37 The lesser known eating-related disorders
Binge eating disorderShame & stigmaSecrecyMuscle dysmorphia disorderCompulsive exercise disorderHow less can be moreOrthorexia nervosaFear surrounding “taboo” foods34:51 Key factors in overcoming “body grief” and moving towards “body acceptance”
Body image & the value of “body neutrality” Identity outside of sport, feeling “whole"Body change expectations Acceptance of the “journey” 38:58 Shame and stigma 
The isolating effect Shame as a barrier for not getting help How to begin to open up to someone41:02 What professional help looks like
Finding the right fit: dietitian, therapist, sports psychologistWhat if it doesn’t feel right? What if I can’t afford it? 45:40 Final words of encouragement to athletes listening who are struggling

Every athlete goes through it at some point when the playing days are over — athlete transition. Whether an athletic retirement is caused by being medically sidelined, not being good enough to continue to the next level, or aging out, there are common themes and pitfalls many athletes in transition experience. Today we’re having a conversation about “life after sports” . . . the good, the bad, and the ugly. Where does an athlete begin to channel that "inner competitor" to move forward? How do you figure out what’s next? What if you’ve lost your motivation and drive without your sport? How does “identity” play into all this? 
Today’s podcast guest is Taj Dashaun, a former athlete, now author, speaker, and athlete transition coach. When his football career ended, Taj struggled heavily with depression. Because he had been so focused on the game, he never fully developed a clear vision for his life. After several years of stumbling around in the emotional darkness of uncertainty, Taj began to take his eyes off of himself and focus on serving others. He now runs holistic programs for retired athletes who, like he once was, are struggling to adapt to life after the game. It's his personal mission and passion to help others overcome the fear, frustration and uncertainty associated with life post-athletics. 
Join us for this rich discussion! Whether you're an athlete going through this transition process yourself, or you're a coach, parent, or friend looking to support someone in this situation, this episode is for you.
Show Notes:
(3:32)  Taj’s own pitfalls and triumphs in athletic retirement 
(8:20)  Lack of purpose, uncertainty, and the “Who am I now?” question 
(12:05) Finding clarity in the “Who I want to become”
(16:54) How opening up our focus to serving others can help in the quest for what’s next
(21:56) How fueling our mind and body can help in the transition following athletic retirement 
(23:30) Approaching life as your sport

(26:26) How asking better questions will lead you to better answers 
(28:06) Self reflection and the value of asking for feedback from the people around you 
(32:36) How what you loved about your sport can offer clues as to where you will find fulfillment
(35:35) More on “life as your sport” 
(37:00) Auditing your circle
(40:05) Practical tips for drafting mentors
(45:04) Finding more resources from Taj

(46:25)  What if working with a life coach is not in the budget? 
(49:25) Final thoughts for athletes going through transition right now  
Finding Taj for more on Thriving After Sports: 
www.tajdashaun.com

We understand how difficult this can be for not only your athlete but also you as well. Your athlete may or may not be opening up about what they’re feeling. They may be resistant to help. They may be isolating or turning to unhealthy coping mechanisms. So what can you do to break through and provide the best possible support as they go through this difficult transition? Today’s podcast guests can speak to this topic both professionally and personally. In this episode, a parent of a permanently-sidelined athlete interviews two sports psychologists who personally experienced a medical disqualification themselves. Listen in to glean insights from others who know first hand the challenges of helping a young person through the transition following a medically-forced exit from sport.
* Valuable insights for all members of the sidelined athlete support network:  spouses, athletic trainers, coaches, as well! 
Show Notes:
(1:50) Guest intros
(10:25) The sidelined athlete experience
(13:45) Advice for parents helping their son/daughter through this transition
The processTiming of therapeutic help Triggering pointsOutward signs of inner turmoil(17:30) Helping the athlete through the grief process
Questions to ask athletesImportance of being a non-biased participant in grief processUnderstanding the purpose of emotionsWhat true empathy looks likeAvoiding “silver lining statements”Why denial isn’t “all bad” Why suggesting your own ideas may not be preferredImportance of  “when the time is right”Offering an anchor of hope & confidence(27:20) How parents can help alleviate the severity of identity loss
Key questions to askIdentifying how values play into their identity Bringing the “athlete mentality” into whatever’s nextTransitioning from reckoning/grief to “reinvention” phaseThe value of finding a professional for the athlete to talk toTips for finding a sports psychologist(37:11) Tips for getting the athlete to open up
Talk with them while they are moving/activeOpen-ended questionsEngaging again down the roadRemind them that it’s a process and they can talk to you at any timeAcknowledging they may prefer opening up to someone else(42:22) The decision to stay involved with the team or not
What serves the athlete best? How can the athlete stay connected to the people most important to the them? Trusting the instincts of the athlete Working through the pros and cons with the athlete The crux of the decision (49:15) Unhealthy coping mechanisms/strategies to watch out for 
Substance abuse / numbing out Reckless behaviorsHelping the athlete identify healthy ways to take a break from their hurtIsolationPay attention to the duration of symptoms Depression symptomsUnbalanced reliance on romantic partner(56:00) Conclusion/Wrap up
Empathy as a learned skill Additional Resources: 
Finding a sports psychologist (as mentioned by Kelsey): 
PsychologyToday.comAssociation for Applied Sport PsychologySidelined USA resources:
“Meaningful support” articles Sidelined Stories podcast

What a crazy thing to emerge from a full academic year of pandemic impact on sports! You may be tempted to just try and forget about the 2020-2021 athletic season and move on. We get it!!! But what if  by taking some time to decompress and process what was lost and what was not to be, we can gain valuable perspective which can help “redeem” this year’s disappointments for a purpose greater than just "getting through"? Consider the possibility that this year in sports has potentially changed you forever . . . 
In this final episode of Season 1, we interview Sidelined USA’s very own Director of Marketing & Development, Jackie Allibone, a former D1 lacrosse player who experienced multiple disruptions in her athletic career due to serious injuries as well as a devastating career-ending injury. Jackie talks about some of the transformative thinking that helped her not only make peace with her losses, but also grow through them. In the “athlete after-huddle”, she is joined by former competitive athletes Val Jones and Tene Thompson who also both experienced injuries which ended their athletic careers before they were able to play out their aspirations. Together this trio explore: 
The power of GRATITUDEThe value of INTENTIONALITYAcknowledging the VALUE OF SPORTS in preparing you for life beyond sportThe wisdom in not COMPARING JOURNEYSRetaining your COMPETITIVE DRIVE beyond your competition daysHow being an athlete prepares you to face ADVERSITYPERSPECTIVE on disappointments, losses, and thwarted plans You’ll be challenged by the perspective our guests gained over time working through the tough realities of their losses and connecting meaning and purpose to gain perspective. Join us for this memorable discussion of what it looks like to reframe your losses come out on the other side - stronger. 

It’s something we can take for granted — our personal identity and how it shapes our view of self, our perceptions, and our challenges. Often times due to intense personal schedules for athletes, it’s challenging to find time for personal reflection on “lofty” things such as how we find our self-worth and where we find meaning. But what if those “lofty” things were impacting us in significant ways? What if taking the time to think through our identity could change everything? 
It’s important to take a step back and acknowledge that there’s a “shadow side” to the high-performance mentality so often employed by dedicated athletes. Our pursuit of excellence can sometimes come at the cost of our own emotional health without us even realizing it. 
Our guest today, former professional athlete, researcher, and licensed therapist, Dr. Ben Houltberg, specializes in the topic of identity with athletes. In this conversation, he discusses:
How performance-based identity impacts our response to setbacks and roadblocksThe “markers” of an unhealthy athletic identityThe difference between a high-performance mentality and a performance-based identity How we can go about dismantling some of the unhealthy habits we’ve formed that feed into a performance-based identity Practical advice for how to cultivate a healthy identityThe power of pain being transformed into purposePerspective for athletes struggling with feelings of disappointment and let-down from an unfulfilling sports season or the loss of their sports season altogether due to COVID-impact or injury, etc. And more!➡️ A thought-provoking interview about how understanding who we are and what we value connects us with something bigger than ourselves and leads us to the greatest fulfillment in our sport participation and in life beyond sports as well.