There is a widespread belief that kids are born entirely perfect, and it is the environment and the parents who “ruin” them, causing them to have different issues; it is not true. However, how parents deal with a kid that gets easily upset upon defeat or is used to cheat to win impacts that kid’s development. 

Joining us today is Dr. Marianne Engle, Ph.D. She is a clinical psychologist, sports psychologist, and vice president of inCourage, a not-for-profit organization that helps young athletes and adults redefine success in youth sports. 

In this episode, we delve into the link between the mental health of traditional sports and competitive gaming athletes and the unresolved issues during their childhood. Dr. Mariane talks about the right timing for athletes to seek psychological support and how to identify when their mental issues become dysfunctional to their athletic performance. We also talk about the harmful effects of interacting with the world exclusively in the digital plane and the questions gamers and streamers should ask themselves to avoid developing mental health issues.

Resources:

Visit the inCourage website: https://www.incourage.com/.

Or connect with Dr. Engle on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dr-engle-7b930a2b/.

Full Episode Breakdown:

1:34 – Dr. Engle talks about her journey into Psychology and why she decided to work with kids first, and then athletes as well.

5:35 – Dr. Engle explains the link between unresolved issues during childhood and mental health issues athletes develop throughout their careers.

8:32 – Dr. Engle debunks the myth that every kid’s issue is rooted in environmental issues. 

11:02 – Dr. Engle and Gary talk about most parents’ preconceived ideas regarding psychological support.

16:54 – They seek help when they start to lose. Dr. Engle talks about why most athletes contact her and when is the right time for athletes to start working on their psychological issues.

19:01 – Dr. Engle shares her thoughts on parents who push their kids into becoming successful athletes ignoring other areas of their kids’ development.

21:48 – Dr. Engle advises how to teach kids how to detach themselves from social media and the content they consume. 

25:30 – Dr. Engle talks about the effects on kids’ heads who spent most of their days in contactless relationships with other people.

30:36 – Dr. Engle talks about the potential dangers the metaverse could bring to people’s psyche.