If you're an athlete, you're probably used to hearing things like “push through it,” “toughen up,” or “don’t let them see you sweat.” But the truth is, performing at a high level—especially as a teen or young adult—comes with real mental strain.
Behind every practice, performance, or post-game photo, there’s often a mix of pressure, anxiety, and exhaustion that people on the outside don’t see. And if you’re reading this, you might be wondering: Why do I feel so stressed when I’m doing what I love?
This guide is for you. Whether you’re pushing through long training blocks, coming back from injury, or trying to juggle sport, school, and social media without burning out—we want to help. Athlete mental health matters, and you deserve support that actually works.
Athletes are often seen as strong, focused, and resilient—but that doesn’t mean you're immune to stress. In fact, high-performing athletes often carry more pressure than their peers.
You’re managing intense schedules, physical demands, academic pressure, and social expectations. Add in the nonstop feedback loop of social media—where you’re not only competing, but curating your identity—and it’s easy to feel overwhelmed.
Athletes in high school and college report high rates of performance anxiety, depression, and burnout, yet many hesitate to ask for help. Why? Because it can feel like needing support is a weakness. But it’s not. Prioritizing your mental health is part of building long-term success—not something that takes away from it.
Stress in athletes doesn’t always look like panic attacks or visible breakdowns. It often shows up quietly:
You might tell yourself it’s just part of the game. But long-term, that kind of pressure can lead to mental fatigue, injury risk, and burnout. Studies show that up to 30% of elite athletes experience performance anxiety or symptoms of depression and anxiety—especially when juggling identity, image, and performance.
Here are CBT-based tools and mindset strategies to help build resilience—even if you’re not currently in therapy.
Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) teaches athletes how to challenge distorted thinking by talking through the pain points and making space to change the way you think, just like you’d do if your training routine wasn’t working. For example, “If I mess up, I’m letting everyone down” can become “Mistakes happen. One moment doesn’t define my worth” if you train your mind with consistent, strengthening skills through sports mindset coaching.
Thoughts shape feelings. Learning to spot and shift unhelpful patterns can lower performance anxiety and boost confidence.
Burnout doesn’t just come from doing too much—it comes from not recovering enough. Make space in your week for recovery that isn’t “productive”:
Social media can feel like a second scoreboard. Try this:
Social media stress is linked to body image issues, anxiety, and even disordered eating in athletes—especially among teens (British Journal of Sports Medicine).
Before games or performances, calming your nervous system matters. Try box breathing (inhale for 4, hold for 4, exhale for 4, hold for 4) or a quick body scan to release tension.
These tools aren’t magic, and they can be hard work. But just like your training, using these tools consistently will help you respond to stress more intentionally.
You don’t need a diagnosis to start therapy. You just need space to talk about what you're carrying—and support to figure out how to manage it. Sports counseling and teen athlete therapy are designed with your world in mind.
You don’t have to carry this alone.
If you're navigating the mental side of sports—whether it's the pressure to perform, burnout, or recovery after an injury—know that support is out there.
Pure Health offers sports counseling and mindset coaching for athletes in Chicago who want to protect their mental health, build emotional stamina, and feel more grounded. Reach out if you're ready for something real and practical.
And if you're looking for something to read between sessions or just not quite ready for therapy, we’ve got some good reading for you. Check out our books on Amazon written by our team for athletes like you who want to feel their best from the inside out.
Your sport is part of your life. But it’s not the whole story. You deserve to feel okay, even when you’re not at 100%. Let’s work on that together.
