Sports Depression Following Team Loss

Sports can generate such a high rush of adrenalin, especially when your favorite team is playing a long awaited game. For many sports fans, the adrenalin rush can span through the course of many days prior to the big game and then, leave a feeling of depression or melancholy when the game is over. Commonly referred to as "sports depression", or atypical depression, sports fans experience this sense of loss whether their favorite team wins or loses.

If, after experiencing a favorite sporting event, you feel a sense of depression or melancholy, this is quite normal. In fact, expressing sadness through anger, crying, and even disinterest in activities is quite common in the day or two after the sporting event. However, when the long anticipated game has ended, if you still feel a sense of depression or melancholy, it may be prudent to seek out mental health services for you depression.

For men, in particular, the onset of sports-related depression, can lead to rage and anger - common symptoms of depression. When a sporting event has taken place, and the excitement and hype of that event has dissipated, the depression may suddenly turn to feelings of anger and this can lead to poor outcomes in your interpersonal relationships - even affecting your ability to work or socialize normally. With early treatment, many adults with sports depression can overcome their sadness and melancholy in time for the next long awaited game.

If your sports depression does not seem to recover following a few days after the game, mental health services may be needed. In most cases, short term counseling with a therapist is effective as is the use of rest, sleep, exercise and improved diet. Rarely is the use of medications necessary although your doctor may recommend modifying some use of prescription medications if they were previously prescribed and may be exacerbating your depression and feelings of sadness.

Sporting events lead to a variety of emotions in adults and children and often the hype associated with them can linger over into other fans. When the snowball effect of excitement pours in prior to a much-anticipated sporting event, depression is almost surely to affect those same fans after the game is over. It doesn't matter if the game is won or lost, fans typically feel melancholy after the huge adrenalin rush and that feeling of melancholy is normal. If, however, your ability to function normally is affected, be sure to consult your doctor about the onset of sports depression and seek treatment accordingly.

Sources: Sports Medicine 2003; 7:300-313.