Mental Side of an Injury

YB! What's crackin?! I hope everyone has had a good start to the week!

I wanted to reach out and talk about something I've been one, getting a lot of questions about recently, and two that I've been personally dealing with for about 3 months now!

I've never been seriously injured before so when I went down earlier this summer, I figured it would simply be rehab, rest, and then I'd jump right back on the field and pick up right where I left off. And that's NOT the case at all. I'd say an injury is more mental than it is physical. In working on with my trainers the past few months I've noticed that they're constantly trying to get me to push the fact that I was injured OUT of my head. You see athletes get hurt all the time in the NFL, MLB, and NBA and hear them speak about their injuries and recovering, but you don't really understand the process until it actually happens to you.

My biggest thing to overcome thus far has been thinking about the injury while playing. The problem with thinking about an injury while playing is that is messes with EVERYTHING else. It makes you second guess a movement or trying to make a play that you're used to making, and all of a sudden you're NOT the confident player that you once were. It's tough to swallow, and you can be the be the most mentally tough athlete in the world, but once you're injured, you start to question things, it's just part of the process.

However, I'm happy to say that I am 100% healthy now, and back to training as hard as I possibly can. Back in the summer of 2008, I was playing my best lacrosse I've ever played, seeing the field differently than I ever have and feeling as confident as I ever have. So, the plan starting last week is to work until I get back to that level again, and push all thoughts about any injury out of my head. Can't wait to get back out on the field and compete next summer at full strength.

I need to go grab some lunch and get ready for my trainer in an hour or two, but I'll check in later this week with a video!!

Talk soon,

KMH

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• jaydub9 said September 08, 2009

  Hey Kyle, it was great to see you and the Outlaws make it all the way to the Championship game this year. I hear what you're saying about the mental part of an injury. I blew a hamstring right as the club season was starting this summer, and coming back from it 6 weeks later I was still hesitant to turn on the jets covering a fast break or even coming in from the wings on a FO - what if it pops again..all that rehab..
  Anyway, glad to see you're on the upside of all that - here's to a great 2010 for #18.
  
  Best,
  -JW

  Reply

  
  • KyleHarrison replied September 20, 2009

    I know the feeling man..
    
    I appreciate the kind words, and have a GREAT Sunday!