Nas wrote:
In fairness, it's difficult for many of us to separate the person from the entertainer or athlete. We ASSume they should be able to overcome any "minor" issue because of their fame and wealth. We probably wouldn't do the same with a friend.
Edit: Anxiety IS a mental illness.
i don't agree with that at all; everyone has anxiety, not everybody is mentally ill. it's about handling your anxiety that makes the difference.
i can't get inside the mind of simone biles; the eye test in the video showed me nothing more than quitting. she didn't like how she landed, and said to her teammates she was done. that's how it looked. if there is more to the story, it's her story to tell.
however, the media playing this parent/teacher coddling angle is more dangerous than what people's armchair opinions are. athletes, like any other public profession, are going to be in the spotlight for criticism and for praise. you don't need to be a part of that spotlight to understand there is a price to pay for the fame. that's been known since the entertainment industry began.
someone mentioned hating on the USWNT earlier in the thread--i actually liked what rapinoe said after the loss to sweden. she wanted to see the criticism. she put it on herself, and it gave her the drive to win. that's what an elite mind does when they face adversity. like venus williams said about pressers: "i'm better than you, so have at it." you have to strengthen that part of your mental game, because it's part of life.
trying to cherry pick through life will only hurt your mental health, because you'll never be able to let anything go, or roll off your back.
i know from personal experience that criticism built me up better than praise did.
You have to remove yourself from the equation. I've been told the same thing a million times in my life. Especially being with someone who works in the mental health field. Anxiety, depression and MANY other issues that will all deal with at times in our lives just don't affect us all the same way. There is no "magic" solution that makes everyone better. In a different environment praise and positive reinforcement could have led to you being just as good of a person as you are today.
I didn't see the video and I have no interest in looking at it. I just saw kinda looked at the last 2 pages around mental health and commented. I'll take your word that she simply quit.