sport injury:/

Ask a Therapist Is This Normal?
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well basically on top of all my like sadness, unproductivity, hopelessness and other mental difficulties, i injured myself while doing my sport (which i do competitively) and was out for quite a while. came back a few months ago and honestly the recovery is sooooo much more painful than the injury itself.

i have lost so much strength and probably skill after not being able to train for 3 months and right now nearing like 5 months since i got injured i still haven’t made a comeback and its so frustrating. the sport used to be the love of my life and now im so tired of attending training cos it just reminds me how bad i am and how everyone is improving so much while i got worse and not even improving. its so mentally and physically draining, throughout training i js keep thinking to myself that i want to quit the sport and js die cos there is like no reason to live, no more fun of joining competitions and doing my team proud or having enjoyment from doing the sport. my coach told me he wanted the old happier and bubbly me back. but i just cant, i just want to give up. i cant do this. what if all this pain is all for nothing, all my physio sessions, all my trainings, just for me to stay shitty.

anyway to preface i have a session with a care corner counsellor soon its just cant keep this in anymore.

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Hi @thegreatwar,

It sounds like you’ve been carrying a heavy emotional and physical burden, and the frustration of recovery has been overwhelming. The sport that once brought you so much joy now feels like a reminder of what you lost, instead of what you love. Not only is the physical strain exhausting, but the mental toll of watching others progress while you struggle to regain your footing is crushing. It makes sense that the disappointment and exhaustion feel never-ending, especially when the thing that once made you feel strong and alive now feels discouraging.

Coming back from an injury is a battle on so many levels, and it’s understandable that the setbacks make you question whether all the effort is worth it. The pain, the physiotherapy, the dedication—it’s easy to wonder if it’s all leading nowhere. And when even those around you, like your coach, are asking for the version of you that feels impossible to bring back, the pressure to be your old self just adds to the weight. It’s heartbreaking when something that used to drive you forward now makes you question everything. You’re not alone in feeling drained and stuck in this struggle.

But even if you don’t feel it now, your journey has worth—not because of an end result, but because of everything you’ve fought through. Recovery isn’t just about regaining strength; it’s about rediscovering yourself through the struggle. Maybe it won’t look the same as before, and maybe the joy will come in different ways. But even in this pain and exhaustion, you are still here, still pushing forward, even if it doesn’t feel like it. And that matters.

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I’m really sorry you’re going through all of this. It sounds incredibly painful, and it’s completely valid to feel overwhelmed, frustrated, and lost after everything you’ve been through. Coming back from an injury, especially in a sport you love so deeply, can feel like being a stranger in your own body, and it’s okay to grieve the version of you that felt strong and joyful. You’re doing something incredibly brave just by continuing to show up, even when it hurts, even when it feels pointless. The fact that you’re still here, still trying, says so much about your strength, even if you don’t see it right now. You matter, and your pain is not for nothing. Please be kind to yourself, and hold on until your counselling session. You’re not alone in this.

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Possible to find something else that u will become passionate about or meaning?

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im not sure, this sport is like really my life, i have to many friends in my team and im so close to my coaches and my training place is like my second home :confused:

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Hey @thegreatwar,

Injuries in competitive sports aren’t just physical—they take away a part of your identity, your joy, and your sense of progress. It’s okay to feel frustrated, exhausted, and even hopeless right now. You’re grieving the version of yourself that thrived in this sport, and that’s a real loss.

The comparison game is brutal. Watching others improve while you’re struggling to regain what you lost is mentally draining. But try to measure yourself against your own recovery, not others. Small wins—like a little more strength, less pain, or nailing a move you couldn’t do last week—are still progress, even if they feel insignificant right now.

It’s heartbreaking that something you once loved now feels like a source of pain. Maybe there’s a way to reconnect with the sport in a lower-pressure way—focusing on movement, helping newer teammates, or even taking a short mental break if that’s possible. Your coach’s comment about wanting the “old you” back probably comes from care, but you don’t owe anyone that version of yourself right now. You’re allowed to be where you are.

Most importantly: Your thoughts about wanting to give up or not seeing a reason to live are serious, and I’m glad you’re talking to a counsellor soon. If those feelings ever feel too heavy, please reach out to someone you trust or a crisis line immediately. You don’t have to carry this alone.

Recovery might feel pointless right now, but it’s not. Every physio session, every training, every day you show up—it all matters, even if the results aren’t visible yet. And if, in the end, this sport isn’t part of your future? That’s okay too. You’re more than your performance.

Hang in there. Keep going, even if it’s just one small step at a time. You’re stronger than you think, even if strength right now just means getting through the day. :blue_heart:

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Dear @thegreatwar ,

I am so sorry about the troubles you are facing. It is a really tough situation and cirmsumstance. Im grateful that you have reached out on this platform.

To share, I am an avid runner and a crucial part of my self identity. However, i got into an injury and for months, every step was really painful. I forced myself to run, which caused more mental and physical pain, and hindered my recovery. You’re definately not alone in feeling this way.

While it is tempting to start training again before you fully recover, i hope that you will listen to your body! It is worth taking a break for your body to fully recover and you to cone back stronger. Research has shown that bodies that underwent training will have a faster rate of training progress again after taking breaks. On the note of comparison, i think everyone has their own path! Secondary and tertiary schools makes it tempting for us to compare to our peers, but really, life has so much more in store for you!

Lastly, i want you to know that you are more than your sport. Beyond this sport, you are a friend, a daughter or son, and you are uniquely you. Dont lose your sparkle! And try not to think of this as “losing” the ability to play sports. The truth is, if youre willing to put in work to train when you’re better, the sport will never lose you.

Take care :slight_smile:

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It isn’t easy when you experience a sports injury especially in a competitive sport.
It’s the feeling of inadequacy that surrounds you when you see your teammates progressing and you feel like you’re left behind. It’s the frustration at the circumstances that you can’t control and the feeling of hopelessness of being in this plight. I know it can feel discouraging, because you’ve given so much to the sport, so much dedication, unseen time and effort and this setback feels overwhelming.

You might feel the fear that you might not be able to restore your previous physicality but I want you to know that it will be okay. Even if it feels damning now, like everything is too much. Take a step back and take a deep breath.

When I sustained an injury that put me on the benchside during an important season. I remember the tears prickling at my eyes and i remembered telling my CCA coach that if i can’t play this season, I wouldn’t want to play this sport anymore because I felt that my efforts were for naught. But he said to me.

“sometimes in life, you can’t control certain things, if you get injured now, you’ll learn a lot from it. You’ll learn how to take care of yourself better. You’ll learn how to cope with this feeling as you see your teammates play on the field. It sucks. It feels horrible. it’s okay to cry. But you still have your skills, your training and your discipline. Dont quit from this setback, learn from it. You are not any less better of a player because you couldn’t prove yourself on the field this time”

Take your time to process your feelings,
It’ll be okay. Slowly pick back up your habits and discipline when you can physically. If you can achieve it once, you can achieve it again and more. Recovery might feel horrible right now, with all these complex mix of emotions you feel. But it’ll be okay. Take care of yourself and let your body recover okay?
Please don’t ever feel like you’re alone in this situation.
You can always reach out to me if you need a friend to talk to.
Much love :heart:

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