Caren Khaddaj | Staff Writer

Wars may leave behind physical scars, but it leaves a silent lasting battle inside the minds of those who survive it. For many athletes who have experienced this trauma, healing may feel impossible. However, when they’re on the field, they find a path back to themselves. Sports give them the feeling of belonging and relief. Sports can be a powerful mechanism to help athletes rebuild themselves and heal from emotional scars.

One of the benefits of athletics post-war is emotional relief. Engaging in regular physical movement provides a method to release stress, depression, and anxiety. According to the American Psychological Association, “exercise can significantly reduce levels of stress hormones like cortisol while boosting the production of endorphins, the brain’s natural mood enhancers” (Weir, 2011). This chemical balance created moments of stability for athletes that were affected from the psychological effects of the war. Moreover, sports offer a healthy distraction from the painful reality each and every one of us had to endure. Sports gave athletes a chance to escape the trauma, even if it was just temporary.

Another way sports proved itself to be an effective coping mechanism was by giving athletes a structured path and sense of purpose. After experiencing the unpredictability of war, many lose their sense of direction in life. Sports introduced discipline and order, two essential elements. According to Dr. Frank Gardner, a clinical psychologist specializing in trauma recovery, in Psychology Today, “[engaging] in organized sports can help trauma survivors re-establish a structured lifestyle, which is crucial for emotional regulation and healing” (Gardner, 2021). Through succeeding again, athletes begin to feel a sense of control over their lives, and they begin to regain their confidence, self-worth, and competitive edge. In this way, sports serve not just as a physical form of outlet, but also as a way to reclaim self identity and personal abilities.

Lastly, sports create a strong sense of community and support. Individual sports offer so much to the athlete; however, team sports in particular are where the support shines. Teams foster deep connections, relationships, and friendships, all of which are important for emotional recovery. Sharing the field, court, track, or pool with others builds trust, communication, and fosters a sense of belonging. They all hold so much value in general, but even more in tough periods, especially war. Beyond just the team and teammates, the coaches, family, and friends have all become a part of the wider support system that encourages healing through success, encouragement, and shared goals. These connections give athletes not just a team, but a new family to lean on during their journey to recovery.

To sum up, sports play an important role in healing athletes primarily from their emotional scars. On a mental level, physical exercise eases stress, anxiety, depression, and helps clear the mind from traumatic scars. Also, it helps the athlete rebuild their identity and self-worth. Socially, the team atmosphere creates bonds of trust, support, and friendship, all that are essential in aiding the healing process and moving forward. The benefits of athletics go far beyond just exercise. For athletes that will always carry these quiet wounds of war, stepping back into their sport is their way of reclaiming their lives. Sports is not just a distraction from healing; it’s a journey that offers hope in places where there was once just pain.

References

American Psychological Association. (2011, December). The exercise effect. APA Monitor on Psychology. https://www.apa.org/monitor/2011/12/exercise

Gardner, F. (2021, April 5). How sports help trauma survivors recover. Psychology Today. https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/the-resilient-brain/202104/how-sports-help-trauma-survivors-recover

Imperial War Museums. The Royal Navy during the Second World War [Photograph]. IWM (A 7605). https://www.iwm.org.uk/collections/item/object/205185596

Imperial War Museums. A short history of sports in wartime. https://www.iwm.org.uk/history/a-short-history-of-sports-in-wartime