By Gabrielle Grosbety, Staff Editor
Mental health has been a major consideration for almost everyone in some capacity in the last year. Between the COVID-19 pandemic, 24/7 news cycle, and general rat race that propels us forward without giving any time for a breather, each of us are feeling the world in new and pressing ways. The question of mental health has now come up in a big way on the public stage whether it be for Olympic gymnast Simone Biles, professional tennis players Naomi Osaka and Emma Raducanu, or singer Brittney Spears and the controversy behind her conservatorship. It takes a certain kind of emotional endurance to be an athlete or performer because no one can completely understand what your body and brain are undertaking on a daily basis. Everything they do is constantly placed under a spotlight, which intensifies the way that their appearance is being perceived and, in some cases, dramatically magnifies their flaws for the world to speculate on. It is more important than ever then to, rather than judge, be gentle with others and ourselves as we experience moments of life that can be debilitating in unseen ways.
Biles, a fan favorite, was given high expectations going into the 2021 Tokyo Olympics, and Osaka and Raducanu faced their own set of hurdles with tennis and the press. They each made the conscious decision to step back from the intensity and scrutiny that awaited them through a more public lens. In turn, they were rewarded for their decisions to prioritize their own self-care by the release that they felt for reserving time for themselves in their usually action-packed days. Self-care is something that can’t be neglected. Whether it be devoting a certain amount of time to relaxing in the sun, catching up with family or friends, or taking a bubble bath, it is essential to do what’s best for your mind, body, and soul.
It was incredibly brave of each of these athletes to do their part in breaking down the stigma surrounding mental health by taking a stand for themselves and their bodies. It was deeply empowering to witness these women become humanized as people that also go through conflict and challenge and have to find ways of overcoming those obstacles. It made me feel less alone in my own struggles and gave me further insight into the idea that it is okay to take time off or find a quiet, reflective space that allows you to recharge and replenish what has been lost to external chaos.
Spears has been affected by mental health to a slightly different extent, though one no less impactful. Since 2008, her whole life has been dictated by someone else’s rules: her father’s. With her conservatorship playing such an integral part of her life, she has undergone severe trauma and the urgent need to be heard amongst the ways she has been silenced and made to feel crazy. It is difficult to be thrust into a painful situation which seems to have no escape, but luckily there has been a public rallying around Spears and change on the horizon. I hope many can take that as a positive in how people are responding to mental health even though this milestone was a long-time coming and only part of all the work to be done.
Today, there are more resources than ever to stay connected to people and professionals who will be there to listen, understand, and engage in healthy dialogue about how to go forward. It is undeniably important to be aware of others and what they could be feeling for you never know what could be going on in their lives. Hopefully, our society will reach a place where mental health can be even more openly discussed. That is the only way people will feel less alienated in themselves for feeling a disconnect and will begin to notice, instead, that they can have the opportunity to feel, process, and hopefully come a little closer to healing.
Image Credit: The New York Times
