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You win some, you lose some — and the Super Bowl yearly isn’t any exception.
As the Kansas City Chiefs and San Francisco 49ers went head-to-head in Super Bowl LVIII on Sunday evening, followers had been headed both for a victory dance or a serious let-down.
So what occurs when your team loses? Experts say it may lead to sports fan despair.
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Although not clinically acknowledged as a medical situation, sports fan despair is a “very real experience for avid sports fans,” stated licensed skilled counselor Jill Lamar, who relies in Pennsylvania.
“Sports fan depression occurs when your team or favorite player loses to the competition,” she informed Fox News Digital.
A Chiefs fan (left) and a 49ers fan react to performs in earlier video games. (Scott Winters/Icon Sportswire through Getty Images; Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)
“For those who are overly invested in the outcome of sporting events — especially something as titanic as the Super Bowl — their emotional attachment to their hometown or favorite team can get in the way of their happiness and mental health.”
Lamar, who gives counseling companies at Thriveworks in Philadelphia, famous that sports fan despair can depart folks with emotions of disappointment, frustration, numbness and lack of curiosity in actions they beforehand loved.
These feelings can final for 2 weeks or extra after the sport ends, she stated.
“You may be distracted at work or withdraw socially, especially now that the season that brought you together with your fellow fans has ended,” she stated.
Christopher La Lima, PhD, a licensed psychologist at NYU Langone, additionally mentioned the situation with Fox News Digital, noting how a lot goes into being a sports fan.
Chiefs fan “KC Mike” yells out to Chiefs gamers throughout warmups earlier than a sport towards the Chargers at SoFi Stadium on Dec. 16, 2021. (Robert Gauthier/Los Angeles Times through Getty Images)
“Time, effort, money,” he stated. “Being a sports fan can involve a shared common cause and building of a community.”
The psychologist echoed that sports followers might expertise emotions of loss and grief when their team loses.
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“Loss can be experienced in many ways, such as through the loss of a loved one, a relationship, aspects of health, a job or a role where someone feels a sense of purpose,” he stated.
“While sports fan depression is not a formal mental health diagnosis, the emotional distress is real.”
Clocking the warning indicators
The pals and companions of sports followers are “most likely well aware of the impending reactions to their team losing,” according to Lamar.
Some warning indicators of sports fan despair embrace turning into pissed off and upset when your team drops a ball, a discipline aim bounces off the aim put up or a play is thwarted by the opposition, Lamar stated.
Frustration throughout a sport can construct till it turns into a “frightening rage,” a psychologist stated. (iStock)
This situation most frequently seems in males, though it’s not unique to one gender alone.
“Everyone who cares about sports is rooting for someone or a particular team,” she stated. “And their disappointment will show — a sigh, the occasional frustrated outburst, a sad face at the end of the game as they leave the bar or turn off the game.”
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“If these reactions continue to grow into sadness and irritability way past the last whistle, it could be a sign of sports fan depression.”
Frustration throughout a sport can construct till it turns into a “frightening rage,” according to Lamar.
But after the sport, sports fan despair turns that anger “inward” and can “become debilitating,” she stated.
Jessica Rodriguez and her husband Tony Rodriguez of Concord, California, react whereas watching the San Francisco 49ers play the Kansas City Chiefs throughout a Super Bowl watch get together at SPIN San Francisco on Feb. 2, 2020, in San Francisco, California. (Philip Pacheco/Getty Images)
While the standard response of a sports fan after a giant loss is just a few days of complaints and disappointment, folks experiencing sports fan despair can expertise signs for months.
LaLima confused the significance of constructing the excellence between sports fan despair and acknowledged depressive issues.
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“Clinical depression, and more specifically major depressive disorder, involves specific diagnostic criteria and persisting symptoms that cause clinically significant distress or impairment in social, occupational or other important areas of functioning,” he stated.
Some main depressive dysfunction signs can embrace depressed temper, lack of curiosity in actions, vital modifications in urge for food or weight, fatigue, modifications in sleep, and emotions of worthlessness or extreme guilt, according to La Lima.
How to cope
Since not everybody could be a winner, Lamar and La Lima provided some tips about how to cope with the preliminary wave of disappointment after a loss.
Lamar recommended that “putting things into perspective can help shift a sports fan’s view of the outcome, whether it’s good or bad.”
People experiencing sports fan despair can see signs proceed for months, according to experts. (iStock)
“With many platforms showing games 24/7, it’s easy to let a preoccupation with sports become a mind-numbing habit bordering on addiction,” she stated.
“Don’t let your interest in sports overtake the other more important aspects of your life.”
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Lamar inspired sports followers to “take a deep breath” and checklist their objectives and the “priorities necessary to realize them.”
While folks have a tendency to assume in “black and white terms” when experiencing adverse feelings, La Lima suggested sports followers to assume extra flexibly.
“Problem-solving and impulse control can improve when these negative emotions become less intense,” he stated.
“Don’t let your interest in sports overtake the other more important aspects of your life,” suggested a licensed mental health counselor. (iStock)
“When acting in these moments, I like to think, ‘Cool the iron before you get burned.’”
Other coping abilities can embrace taking a quick separation from sports, in search of out different distractions and utilizing self-soothing strategies like deep respiration and self-care, La Lima stated.
“Tackle feelings of emptiness after a big loss by identifying where you feel purpose, [such as] in relationships with family and friends, and in your interests and community,” he stated.
Fans ought to make completely different use of the time beforehand devoted to the game, stated an professional.
“Sports can provide a structure for socializing … It can be helpful to stay socially connected and lean into social support,” famous La Lima.
Lamar additionally recommended making an effort to join with pals who love the identical sport — in addition to with those that don’t.
San Francisco 49ers followers cheer within the first quarter of their NFC Championship sport towards the Green Bay Packers at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, California, on Jan. 19, 2020. (Ray Chavez/MediaNews Group/The Mercury News through Getty Images)
And when the season is over, Lamar stated, followers ought to make completely different use of the time beforehand devoted to the game.
“Learn a brand new ability, choose up chess, take a cooking class, be a part of a MeetUp group — something that sounds fascinating,” she recommended.
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LaLima added that troublesome emotions usually want to be spoken about, as “holding onto them can make us feel like a shaken soda bottle.”
“Rather than letting pressure build and opening it all at once, loosen the cap a little at a time,” he suggested. “Talk about day-to-day thoughts and feelings in real time.”
Christopher Nicholas La Lima, PhD, is a licensed psychologist and medical assistant professor at NYU Langone. (NYU Langone)
The psychologist reiterated that depressive issues usually require analysis and remedy from mental health professionals.
“Those involved ought to search skilled mental health help on this regard,” he stated.
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Regardless of whether or not the Chiefs or the 49ers win the Super Bowl this 12 months, Lamar joked that followers ought to “wave to Taylor Swift.”
“She’s made one helluva effort to get there,” she stated.
For extra Health articles, go to foxnews.com.com/health.
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