Olympic Gold: Mental Health to Winning

by Tizita Seifu MA, LPC | Therapist

Post: @TizitaSeifuLPC | Picture: Glamour Magazine

mental health to winning

Many of us have been glad to see Simone Biles looking well and back in her athletic winning season. There was a foundational process before this winning season was possible. It was there in 2021, that she discovered 2 things that we all will discover are necessary to continue to function at our best.

In order to continue to function at our best we must discover 2 things:

1. how to have a mentally healthy FOUNDATION

2. how to have a mentally healthy process

the toll of hard times

Before this winning season, was a very difficult season where Simone discovered the toll that harmful events had taken on her mental health and physical health. Before this season, she discovered what she needed to do to get and stay mentally healthy and get back to functioning optimally.

In the 2021 Olympics, Simone suffered physical and mental affects due to prior traumatizing events. Her body could no longer function as needed as she faced the growing effects of traumatizing events. She then learned that to avoid increasing her injuries, she needed to pause and tend to her mental health. At the time, many grossly oversimplified her experience and decision, and then made judgments of her strength, will and commitment.

stress, health & Function

Mental illness, such as clinical trauma, depression or anxiety, can and does reduce our ability to function well physically and mentally.

Here are some signs that stress or illness is likely adversely affecting your mental health:

• reduced ability to focus

• impaired sleep

• reduced motivation

• reduced interest in things you used to enjoy

• reduced energy

• feeling nervous

• difficulty managing thoughts of worry

• more easily annoyed

Even the strongest of will, when faced with prolonged stress, will eventually find it difficult to function when we do not engage in regularly practices for mind, body and spirit health. If we do not have a habit of engaging in mentally and spiritually healthy practices, we will at some point be faced with the realities of the toll of stress, such as reduced functioning even if we do not struggle with mental illness.

mental health and success

Simone began and continues in therapy, which has helped her gain confidence and regain her ability to function at her best. The road to success must be undergirded with relationships and ongoing practices for wellness. Though wellness does not always guarantee success, wellness often fuels and supports success. Experiencing wellness, such as through functioning at our best, requires our regular and intentional effort.

Simone Biles is a living example that you have more to gain than to lose when you invest in your mental health.

Have you considered therapy as a way to develop the wellness and practices to function optimally through the challenging seasons of life?

The above image and quote was first posted in 2021 on Instagram @TizitaSeifuLPC

Simone Biles publicly references details of her mental health in the 2024 Netflix series.