Write your search in the input below and press enter.
Esc to close.

The Sports Doc Chalk Talk with Dr. Chris Stankovich

Peak Performance:
Not Just for Sports, for Life

  • Products
    • Toolkits
    • Audio
    • Videos
    • Books
    • Apps
  • Services
  • Chalk Talk
    • Recent
    • Athletes
    • Coaching
    • Sports Parenting
    • Sports Administrators
    • Life
    • Administrators
  • About Dr. Stankovich
  • Testimonials
  • Contact
  • Products
    • Toolkits
    • Audio
    • Books
    • Videos
    • Apps
  • Services
  • Chalk Talk
  • About Dr. Stankovich
  • Testimonials
  • Contact

Hello. Sign In

My Account
  • Login
  • Register
0
The Sports Doc Chalk Talk
Subscribe
The Sports Doc Chalk Talk with Dr. Chris Stankovich
  • Recent
  • Athletes
  • Coaching
  • Sports Parenting
  • Life
  • Administrators
Home / Blog / Labels Matter: Mental “Illness,” or Mental Toughness?

Labels Matter: Mental “Illness,” or Mental Toughness?

By: Dr. Chris Stankovich | @DrStankovich | Dec 02, 2020

No Comments

As our country becomes more educated and accepting of mental illness, I have been thinking about how so much of the previous apprehension and irrational stigmas have been attached more to words than the actual cognitive, emotional, and behavioral issues.  For example, common knee-jerk reactions to mental illness can include shame and embarrassment, and those reactions can result in people putting off mental health assistance, even when it’s desperately needed.  Conversely, if we frame the same mental challenges as simply developing mental toughness, an entirely different paradigm unfolds —  one that is more inviting and without embarrassment or stigma.

Anxiety: Illness or toughness?

Millions of people struggle with anxiety on a daily basis, and many of those people never pursue mental health treatment because of fear of being singled out as abnormal.  But what happens if we don’t label anxiety as a mental “illness,” and instead frame it as a normal mental toughness issue?  Using this example, rather than creating an image of someone suffering from a unique (and potentially debilitating) mental illness, we have instead created a more normal, fixable, mental toughness challenge.  Notice, we have not changed anything else, including seriousness of the challenge or means in which we might address the challenge through counseling.  Can you see how less intimidating things become by simply framing the anxiety as a normal human hurdle to overcome, versus a unique mental illness that often leaves individuals feeling flawed and stigmatized?

As a practicing clinician, I have found that the more I frame mental health concerns as normal issues that most of us encounter in life, the faster and more committed clients of mine become in working to overcome their struggles.

Words make a big difference

I vividly recall a conversation I had with a coach some 20+ years ago when he politely advised to me to downplay the use of the word “psychology” whenever describing my background, and instead recommended that I just say “mental toughness.”  The coach went on to say that athletes and coaches shy from anything psychologically-related, but when you call something “tough,” even when the word mental is in front if it, athletes respond differently.  It’s funny, but now when I look back I can say the coach was really onto something, as the positive reactions to using terms like “mental toughness” have proven to be far more inviting to people compared to using words relating to psychological disorders or illness.

Over the years I have also learned another subtle word-exchange that makes a big difference to people today: Mental illness and mental issues.   We all experience mental issues in life, and on rare occasion these issues might meet the criteria of mental illness.  More specifically, you could display a few symptoms for depression, yet not qualify for any mental illness categories relating to clinical depression.  It’s important to remember that the diagnostic criteria used to assess mental illness changes over time, and there are subtle distinctions that differentiate whether something qualifies as mental illness according to the DSM (the guide most commonly used for mental health diagnosis).  Here again, words really matter, and they can make all the difference when it comes to the likelihood someone seeks mental health treatment or not.

Final thoughts

Mental health is different than physical health, especially as it applies to stigmas and the likelihood one will pursue professional assistance.  While it might seem trivial whether we refer to a mental challenge as an “issue” rather than “illness,” the former is more inviting and leads to increased treatment seeking and compliance.  When we frame hurdles as challenges rather than problems, an entirely new and optimistic mindset often unfolds, allowing for the greatest chance for future self-improvement.

drstankovich.com

behavioral, cognitive, emotional, illness, mental, psychology, toughness

  • Author
  • Comments
  • Details
Get to Know the Author

Dr. Chris Stankovich

Dr. Stankovich has written/co-written five books, including Positive Transitions for Student Athletes, The ParentsPlaybook, Mind of Steel.

Latest Blog Posts

  • March 22, 2023 Nature or Nurture? Exploring the Psychology of Sport Success
  • March 20, 2023 Morning Sports Practice Before School is Becoming the Norm, but is this Healthy for Kids?
  • March 14, 2023 Understanding Intelligence: Putting Knowledge into ACTION!
  • March 13, 2023 3 Important Tips for Today’s Multi-Sport, Youth Sport Athlete
  • February 26, 2023 The Most Important Sports “Ability” Might Surprise You

PREVIOUS POST

Success is Achieved by Striving for Excellence, Not Perfection

NEXT POST

Maximize the Strength of Your Team through Care, Concern, & Compassion

Category

Continuing Education , Emotional Intelligence , Habit Change , health psychology , Life , Mental Disorders , mental illness , Mental Toughness , Performance Enhancement , Sport Psychology , Sports Performance Science , Stress , Uncategorized

Tags

behavioral, cognitive, emotional, illness, mental, psychology, toughness

  • Recent Posts
  • Most Read
  • Nature or Nurture? Exploring the Psychology of Sport Success
  • Morning Sports Practice Before School is Becoming the Norm, but is this Healthy for Kids?
  • Understanding Intelligence: Putting Knowledge into ACTION!
  • 3 Important Tips for Today's Multi-Sport, Youth Sport Athlete
  • The Most Important Sports "Ability" Might Surprise You
  • The Psychology Behind Breaking Bad Habits
  • What has Happened to Free Play and Recreational Sports for Kids?
  • The Importance of Efficiency Applied to Success & Productivity
  • The Most Important Sports "Ability" Might Surprise You
  • Accident Prone & Forgetful? Poor Stress Coping May be the Reason
  • The Sports Doc on TV

    Catch Dr. Stankovich’s tv, radio, and print interviews and columns here!

    Dr. Chris Stankovich Watch Videos
  • Sport Performance Assessment

    Dr. Chris Stankovich Quickly and accurately test your level of mental toughness in just a few minutes using the Sport Performance Assessment.

    (SPA), an easy-to-use sport psychology system specially designed to help you REACH YOUR FULL ATHLETIC POTENTIAL.

    learn more
  • SportsSuccess360

    Life strategies for performance and character development for coaches, parents, and student athletes competing in youth and interscholastic sports.

    Life Strategies learn more
  • Contact Dr. Stankovich

    1395 Grandview Avenue Suite 6, Columbus OH 43212

    (614) 561-4482
    Media & General Inquiries
    information@drstankovich.com
    Sales & Product Support
    sales@drstankovich.com
  • About Dr. Stankovich

    • Media
    • Blog
    • Testimonials
  • Products

    • Toolkits
    • Videos
    • Books
    • Audio
    • iPhone Apps
  • Services

    • Athlete Performance Training
    • Parent Community Forum
    • Coach Education & Development
    • Athletic Crisis Response and Intervention
    • Drug & Alcohol Assessment
    • Life Success Programs
    • Counseling & Consulting Services
  • Blog
  • YouTube
  • twitter
  • facebook

All rights reserved © 2023 Advanced Human Performance Systems™

↓ ↓