Unit3d w/ B1G Team at Indiana University

No one enjoys failure, even though we know it is part of the process of getting better. So how can we take a more analytical approach to our experiences so that not having the outcomes we want take less of an emotional toll? Dr. Erin Haugen discusses ways to approach these times so that experiences of failure cause us to improve and learn rather than compromising our confidence.

Destroying the stigma that surrounds mental illness will take people from all different industries speaking out. This week on Unit3d Dr. Zack Burton shares his amazing mental health journey and the Manic Monologues, a play that he co-created to help others struggling to find mental health stories of inspiration from real people. Dr. Burton is a scientist who is also dedicated to disrupting stigma and changing our culture by openly and honestly talking about mental illness.

With so much uncertainty happening around us these days it makes sense that anxiety can be kicked in to high gear. Thoughts that go along with these feelings can be overwhelming and uncomfortable. Dr. Bailey Nevels helps us understand cognitive diffusion, a helpful technique of gaining distance from and a different perspective of our thoughts so we can see things more clearly. Humor is an effective way to gain this distance, and the use of humor can help us cope with difficult times.

Many young athletes dream of playing their sport in college. Very few get that opportunity. For some who do, however, the reality doesn’t match the dream and college athletics isn’t right for them. For others like this episode’s guest, Sydney Eddy, the university or team doesn’t fit. Transferring universities or walking away from one’s sport altogether can be a terrifying idea. Sydney Eddy shares her experience of how she had the courage to walk away and the bravery to try again.

There is a stigma for men around connecting with and expressing emotions. Many men grow up equating being stoic and not showing emotions with being tough. That stigma runs deep through the culture of athletics. Dr. Chris Carr has worked for decades with many collegiate athletes, as well as Olympians and professional athletes in the MLS, NBA, and now is with the Green Bay Packers. On this episode of UNIT3D Dr. Carr talks about the importance of being able to share what you are feeling is healthy and indicates strength.

When going through difficult and challenging times, practicing self-care is vital. We often don’t think of self-compassion as an aspect of self-care but extending ourselves grace when tackling obstacles can help us along the way. Dr. Marcia Edwards talks about the importance of self-compassion and the value it has to our performance.

Morgan Weaver is a professional soccer player for the NWSL team the Portland Thorns. She was an athlete at Washington State University at the time of Tyler Hilinski’s death. In this episode of Unit3d she discusses the importance of truly checking in on each other, talking through difficulties and struggles with someone as well as being there for those who are struggling. She also talks about the fight to eradicate stigma surrounding mental health issues and her experiences as a collegiate and professional athlete.

So many athletes were unexpectedly faced with a dilemma during the pandemic: not having access to playing their sport, many were left wondering what to do with their time? So much of an athlete’s life is built around who they are as an athlete that they have not had opportunities to develop other aspects of their identities. Dr. Monique Marsh-Bell talks about the questions some athletes face now having been given another year of eligibility of whether to continue playing or pursue other interests. She discusses a few different ways athletes can discover and expand different parts of themselves.

We are all leaders in our own way, but leading in tough times can be a challenge. We often think that we cannot lead if we are struggling ourselves. Dr. Megan Harrity discusses how vulnerability can be a key component to effective leadership.

Dean Worsham is a Licensed Professional Counselor in Oxford, MS. He is also a certified Gong Master and Buddhist practitioner. In this powerful guided imagery he draws on Native American roots to connect us with that part of ourselves which wants the best for us, holding our wisdom and our strength. Lose yourself in this meditation so it can lead you to connect with your best self.

Dr. SooJean Misailidis is housed in the Kapiolani Medical Center for Women and Children in Honolulu. This soothing relaxation exercises transports us to the beach where we can let go of the day, feel the water on our feet, and connect with gratitude for all we have. Enjoy this relaxing gift from the Aloha State.

Dr. Anne Weese of Kansas State University shares this gift of a wonderful and relaxing mindfulness exercise to help you breathe and ground. Scanning the body for tension and discomfort, staying connected to our breath is a great way to take a break in a hectic day. “The breath is always with us and can be a provide a powerful tool toward a more relaxed and more present focused experience.” So relax, be present, and enjoy!

Dr. LaTisha Bader offers this wonderful guided imagery leading you to connect with your inner strength, peace, and authenticity. This is a great way to wrap up your day! Enjoy.

Jack Howard, doctoral intern at North Carolina State University’s counseling center and doctoral candidate in the counseling psychology Ph.D. program at the University of Southern Mississippi, talks about the basics of mindfulness, how it works and why it is helpful. He shares two short grounding/mindful exercises and a longer mindfulness exercise for a nice, relaxing break in your day.

2020 has been one heck of a year and for many the holidays will be a time of spirit-lifting good cheer, but the holidays aren’t bright for everyone. In this episode of UNIT3D, Dr. LaTisha Bader and host Dr. Josie Nicholson talk about the common experience of “holiday blues” and offer some ways to mitigate the toll of the season.

Reagan Rust is the first woman from Mississippi to play on a Division I ice hockey team, was captain of her top-10 team, and plays professionally. Her achievements on the ice are impressive, but she has also overcome mental health struggles along her path to success. On this episode of Unit3d, Reagan shares her journey and strategies she has adopted to help her through that have kept her in her game.

This holiday may be a longer break than is typical for many athletes. These times of “breaks” may provide an opportunity to explore other areas of an athlete’s identity and expanding one’s sense of self can improve one’s performance. Athletes may also have expanded their identities while away at college and may be returning home for longer than other holidays. KC Cross, Mental Health & Performance Clinician at the University of Arkansas, talks about a variety of ways to explore and expand one’s identity outside of sport and how to handle going home where one’s family may have expectations that confine one to a past self.

Victoria Garrick played volleyball at then ranked #1 USC and worked her way from walk-on to starter. As with many successful athletes, she appeared to have it all together and had everything to feel happy about, but as we know, things are not always as they seem on the surface and Victoria was fighting the hidden opponent of pressure, anxiety, body-image and struggles with mental health. She shared her story in a very popular Ted Talk (The Hidden Opponent), and now works as a mental health advocate and also hosts a podcast called “Real Pod.” On this episode of Unit3d, Victoria shares insights from her journey and the importance of leaning on each other through tough times.

Physically, yoga practice can bring flexibility, strength, and a different approach to training. However, yoga brings all of these things for the mind and the soul as well as the body. In this episode of Unit3d yoga instructor Stevi Self, co-owner of Southern Star Yoga Center discusses many of the ways that yoga teaches us lessons that can help us thrive in difficult times as well as train our mind in ways that improve our performance.

We are approaching the end of what has been an extremely bizarre semester and we are looking toward the end of an equally bizarre year. On Unit3d we have covered many psychological skills that can help get one through difficult times, but goalsetting is one that can help all day get us through a tough day. Dr. Wendy Borlabi is a performance psychologist in the NBA and helps us understand how to use goalsetting as a tool to help us conquer obstacles and triumph through tough times.

We talk a great deal about the stigma around mental illness and seeking help, but the stigma is at its strongest with men. The idea around what it means to be tough and strong has many men ignoring emotions and struggling in silence. Jack Colquhoun plays football for Southern Illinois University and is actively fighting the stigma on his campus. He is speaking out and creating programs and groups to help athletes and other men experience the power of “name it to tame it, feel it to heal it.” Jack also shares some of his own favorite mental health tips on this episode of Unit3d.

One of the missions of the UNIT3D podcast is to break down the stigma that surrounds mental illness, and this stigma is very strong within the Black community. Mental health care does not have to look the same for everyone. Engaging actively in social justice movements in a way that allows people to use their voice and be heard can be therapeutic. Dr. LaKeitha Poole discusses this stigma, breaking it down, and encouraging mental health care in a variety of ways on this episode of UNIT3D.

“Your scars say you found a way, you’re stronger than what tried to hurt you.” – Joshua RadinAthletes benefit from hearing other athletes talk about the obstacles they have faced and overcome, and Patrick Cacciatore is providing a platform for student athletes to share their stories. His podcast “No Struggle No Story” features athletes from all over the country who share their stories of resilience and courage. In addition to playing tennis at the University of Nebraska, Patrick is putting good out into the world with his efforts to tell others they are not alone in their struggles and provide examples of hope to remind student-athletes they can overcome whatever challenges they face.

“Embrace the suck” is a phrase that embodies a military mindset. Athletics culture and the military have more in common that we might thing, and embracing the suck is definitely something we need to engage in now. Dr. Erica Force talks about her experience in the Air Force and how there are many lessons athletes can learn from our military to help thrive in difficult times.

As has been discussed before on Unit3d, there has been a shift in conversation and prioritization of mental health and wellness over the past decade, particularly in the past 5 years. Much of that has come from the voice of Generation Z, calling for institutions to create resources that address mental health needs. Dr. Chelsi Day is a big fan of Gen Z and discusses how this generation has changed the future of mental health and wellness for all of us

The art of self-care is a life-long pursuit and although we all have different ways of approaching how we take care of ourselves, we all must make an effort to create ways to weave these efforts into our daily lives. Gabby Reece has performed at the highest levels in volleyball (collegiately and professionally), sports announcing, modeling, authoring books, and now hosting a podcast, The Gabby Reece Show. On this episode of Unit3d, Reece discusses the importance of self-care as a mindset and how she has approached it throughout the years as her career has taken a variety of turns.

Enna Selmanovic was a swimmer at University of Cincinnati training for Olympic trials when she had a career-ending injury. Working through issues of identity and loss, this injury has brought her to the path she is on with a passion for student-athlete mental health. Enna shares the story of her journey to making meaning of her experience and how it has influenced her future. Enna was the recipient of the 2019 JED Student Voice of Mental Health Award. During her college career she was a leader nationally with Division 1 SAAC, is currently a clinical research coordinator at The Mount Sinai Brain Injury Research Center, and is working toward a career as a doctor.

In order to face a fall of uncertainty we will all need to tap in to our inner resources. Dr. Tom Golightly discusses the concept of Grit as one that embodies the courage, strength, passion and perseverance we will need to continue to pursue our long term goals. Building and tapping into grit can mean the difference between simply surviving a difficult time and truly growing from it.

The beginning of this semester, especially for sports, does not look like we would have imagined it 6 months ago. The NCAA has worked to support the health and safety of the student athletes, but how are decisions made and guidelines created? How has mental health factored in to conversations with the NCAA leadership? Dr. Brian Hainline, Chief Medical Officer for the NCAA discusses some of these questions and also lends his medical expertise to talk about the importance of seeing our impact on other’s health when taking precaution.

This fall is going to be full of challenges and opportunities. Each one of us has it within ourselves to conquer the obstacles and learn from the experiences we will be faced with. Licensed Professional Counselor Bruce Buggs discusses times in his life he has drawn on his inner resilience to overcome disappointment and perceived failure, and what has helped bring him through difficult times.

With so much uncertainty and so many obstacles facing us everyday, finding a positive approach can be difficult. Using our strengths and focusing on what we can do can help bring balance during difficult times. Dr. Jesse Steinfeldt discusses practical tips for positive psychology to help carry us in to the fall.

Knowing who you are and what you value elevates your performance and as a high-performance psychologist working with the Seattle Seahawks for the past eight years as well as some of our country’s most elite athletes, Dr. Michael Gervais has seen this play out. We live in a doing-based world, especially in athletics where it's about outcome, so finding who you are apart from what you do can be challenging. On this episode of Unit3d Dr. Gervais discusses the importance of embarking on this challenge of finding your identity and some practical ways to start this vital journey.

Self love is hard. Often times finding love for ourselves can be more difficult because we look at what we do to define our self-worth rather than who we are. We also often mistake modesty for humility, dismissing our strengths and awesomeness. Jordan Hughes, LMSW talks through how to cultivate our inner self-worth and value independent of what we do or what others think of us in this episode of Unit3d.

With all that is going on in the world, so many of us have been looking for ways to put positivity into the world. Step Up! is a bystander intervention program for student athletes that encourages recognition of times when there is an opportunity to intervene. Doug Everhart talks about this program and the importance of learning ways to Step Up! in our every day lives.

Trauma can impact an individual for months, years, or even a lifetime. Traumatic events can be difficult to ignore; however, there are smaller events some refer to as “little t's” that have a cumulative effect on one’s life and often fly under one’s radar. Athletes are practice at being resilient and “going with the flow” when it comes to difficult situations, and may be more likely to leave these “little t's” unresolved. Sarah Noll, LCSW discusses the importance of addressing trauma in one’s life, particularly those “little t's” that add up in this episode of Unit3d.

Conner Beth Ball was an SEC Golfer at the top of the game, but it’s her courage and resilience off the course that is most impressive. She shares her story of struggle, persistence and triumph in this episode of UNIT3D

Student athletes are under more pressure and are experiencing more stress than ever before. As mental illness increases in the student athlete population, so has the importance making of services available. Dr. Gary Bennett has been working with athletes for over 20 years. He has seen the landscape change in the conversation around student athlete mental health. So much of the shift has come from student athletes speaking out and asking for more help. Understanding how mental health has become more of a priority for athletic departments will help student athletes now continue to champion this cause and prioritize their own mental health.

Awareness is not enough when it comes to mental health; we need education in order to reduce stigma and for more people to reach out for help. Ross Szabo has a powerful personal story that has fueled his mission to create resources to help people understand their own mental health. A pioneer, award winning educator, and book author, he is changing the way communities learn about mental health.

Everyone has been impacted in one way or another by the events that have brought about much needed conversation and change around inequality and racism. Many are asking the question “How can I be a better ally to Black friends and teammates?” Dr. Derek Vigon outlines some important considerations as athletes begin to return to campuses and rejoin teammates. Being an advocate and an ally means making a commitment to do the work. Athletes can be an ally in this movement and amplify the black voice and contribute to the change.

Sports have definitely looked different since the beginning of the COVID-19 crisis, and among the major changes is the delay of the Tokyo 2020 Olympics. How do you stay optimistic, consistent in training, and engaged in your sport win the biggest competition you have has been pushed back by a year? Sam Kendricks is currently the greatest pole vaulter in the world (having wine the world competition in 2019). What is his mindset that keeps him motivated for greatness when he’s not sure when his next competition is? Given all the uncertainty of sports right now, how does he continue to train to be the best? Sam shares the mindset he has that has propelled him to the top of his sport on this episode of UNIT3D.

It is becoming much more common to hear that its OK to not be OK and at the end of every Unit3d episode I encourage listeners to reach out to a licensed mental health professional. But how does one go about getting help? What happens in therapy? What should I say? How does it work? For those whom have never before seen a counselor therapy can be shrouded in mystery. From when you may want to think about seeking help to what you should look for in a therapist, Dr. Doug Hankes demystifies and normalizes therapy for everyone.

Owning your story and loving yourself through the process is one of the bravest things you can do. – Brene BrownFranky Harrison is a beach volleyball player passionate about student athlete mental health. This passion led her to host a podcast her last year at South Carolina that focused on student mental health. This experience allowed her to hear other’s stories as well as heal from an event she had experienced. Through an injury, an accident, and other mental health struggles, Franky has persevered. She is sharing her story with us on Unit3d.

“Be careful what you say to yourself because you are always listening.” – Lisa M Hays An aspect of self-talk is self-coaching. We can get through situations by coaching ourselves in productive ways. But just as there are coaches who bring the best out of us with the way they coach us or hinder our performance, the ways in which we coach ourselves can yield different results. Dr. Carmen Tebbe Priebe explains more about this technique and encourages that we ask ourselves about our self-coaching: is it productive or unhelpful?

The way we talked about mental health has dramatically shifted in the past decade, and this is particularly true in the world of sports. Ivan Maisel, senior writer for ESPN covering college football, has seen these shifts happen in his time as a writer covering college sports. His desire to see student athletes get the support they need comes from a personal story of loss and tragedy. His awareness of the needs of student athletes gives him a unique perspective as he sees a new landscape unfold.

We are heading into the next few months with very little certainty. We all look for a map and a plan to feel better about where we are going, but right now that just isn’t an option. Athletes, however, are uniquely equipped to face an uncertain road ahead because of the skills they use to adapt in unexpected game situations. Dr. Bradley Hack talks about the importance of approaching the unknown with an attitude of curiosity and a flexible mindset. When we recognize our ability to adapt and be flexible we can move forward into the unknown with confidence.

Dam Worth It is a campaign at Oregon State University that serves as a call to student athletes to take care of their mental health because they are worth it. Nathan Braaten and Taylor Ricci started Dam Worth It after connecting in times of darkness. They created meaning out of personal tragedy by starting a platform that helps others. The pillars of the campaign are Education, Resources, and Awareness/Comfort, connecting student athletes to encourage conversations around mental health. Nathan and Taylor continue to help run Dam Worth It, supporting the OSU students currently on the Dam Worth It team, consulting with other student athletes at other universities on how to begin a similar campaign on their campuses, and co-hosting the upcoming Str3ngth In Stories conference with D1on1 and the Hilinski’s Hope Foundation. From the Dam Worth It games to helping student athletes share their stories, Nathan and Taylor continue to impact others across the country.

There is a great deal of unrest right now. Many are protesting, speaking out against injustice and taking a stand. When athletes take a stand however, it carries with it a great risk. Dr. Kweku Smith helps us sort through how we can stay true to our identity and our beliefs when that may seem risky. For some it may be choosing when to speak up around conflicts related to religion, gender, sexual identity, race, or other facets of identity and values. For others, it may be taking a stand against injustice and inequality that costs them their standing on a team, their career, or even their life. We all must decide how to navigate our environment while staying true to ourselves.

Every person has a story worth telling. That’s the driving philosophy behind D1on1, a platform for student athletes to tell their stories. Andrew Cooper and Kyler Little share the inspiration behind and evolution of D1on1 in this episode of UNIT3D, and encourage every athlete to be the author of their own narrative.

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) is a structured way to approach difficult transitions that can be helpful to move us through. When we accept the discomfort that comes with change, find what we value and commit to moving toward that, we find that we are flexible enough to tolerate negative feelings and can make helpful movement in our lives. Licensed Counseling and Sport Psychologist Dr. Sheriece Sadberry weaves Buddhist philosophies in to an explanation of how to use ACT to help us to thrive through change in this episode of Unit3d.

The stigma that surrounds mental illness keeps so many silent. For those who struggle, the worry about what teammates, friends, coaches, family, and others will think can force them into hiding their pain. Sydney Anderson kicks stigma in the face as she talks about her struggle with anxiety and depressive symptoms, sharing her experience, her struggle, and her triumph. Her story is unique, and yet shares so much in common with so many athletes. Listen to her story of resilience and courage in this episode of Unit3d.