It's not an easy transition.

1. Athletes meet retirement
It’s not an easy transition.

2. Most of us look forward to the “golden years” of
retirement…
For professional athletes, that’s not always the case.

3. Some even say that athletes die twice;
once when they retire.
It’s not surprising that retirement often leaves athletes highly
susceptible to depression.

4. Athletes retire for many reasons:
• Health (including injuries)
• Age
• Unemployment
• Family issues
• Financial reasons
• Transition to a new career

5. Most professional athletes begin rigorous training in childhood, and
have never known any other way of life. This is sometimes referred to
as “tunnel vision syndrome”.
As a result, they can experience a variety of cognitive, emotional, and
behavioral effects in retirement.

6. -feelings of distress or emptiness
-loss of identity
-loss of the spotlight and recognition
-decrease in serotonin levels, due to
less physical activity
-decrease in overall physical fitness
Potential consequences

7. “People don’t understand that being a
Rockette entailed more than kicking my
legs . . . I feel like an outcast, like all the
energy has been drained out of me, like I’ll
never find anything else . . .”
-Dottie Belle Meymann, former Rockette

8. But there are solutions . . .
• Expanding one’s self-identity
• Discovering and pursuing new interests
• Managing time and stress well
• Maintaining strong personal relationships

9. “One of the upsides of retiring was regaining
my love life. The boys in ballet are terribly good
fun, but they’re mostly gay. Even if you do meet
a fellow dancer, the ballet companies are a
crucible in which it’s hard for a relationship to
survive.”
-Lynne Wake, former professional ballerina

10. … and seeking professional help is always
an option.
No one has to tough it out alone! There is no shame in
seeing a sport psychologist for additional support.

11. Just remember:
It gets better, and you are
never alone.
For more information, visit: http://believeperform.com/wellbeing/life-
after-sport-depression-in-retired-athletes/