Mental Health in Extreme Sports - We Need To Talk
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- Опубліковано 28 вер 2024
- DIRTY HABITS Presents “We Need To Talk” a heartfelt documentary about Mental Health in Extreme Sports and action sports athletes. It follows Professional Kiteboarder, Graham Howes & Pro Wakeboarder Ryan Peacock as they explore the unique challenges and stigma surrounding mental health in the high-stakes world of action sports from wingsuiting to downhill mountain biking.
*If this video resonated with you, go give our previous video a watch:
- "Is Depression & Anxiety the New Normal?" a watch: • Is Depression & Anxiet...
Through intimate interviews with top athletes and a professional sports psychologist, the film delves into the personal struggles and triumphs of those who live and breathe extreme sport and compete on the highest level.
From Kiteboarding and Downhill MTB to BASE jumping and wakeboarding, these athletes push the limits of what is possible, often at great physical and mental cost. With raw and honest storytelling, the film shines a light on the very real struggles that many action sports athletes face, including anxiety, identity, depression, and addiction.
We Need To Talk is more than just a film about struggles - it is also a celebration of resilience and the power of community. Through the stories of these brave and inspiring athletes, the film showcases the strength and courage it takes to confront and sometimes overcome mental health challenges.
Featuring interviews from 5 times world champion Aaron Hadlow, Kiteboarding pioneer Ruben Lenten, Wingsuit flyer Jason Baker and true legends of the action sports, Theo Erlangsen, Matti Buys & Tommy Swaan. Mental Coach and Author, Paddy Upton joins them along the journey to shed some light on recurring topics that a lot of elite athletes and people are struggling with.
Whether you are an action sports enthusiast or simply looking to better understand the mental health struggles of those around you, Mental Health in Action Sports is a must-see documentary that will leave you inspired and motivated to take action.
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DIRTY HABITS Production by:
Graham Howes
Ryan Peacock &
Nicolas Cattelan
Graham Howes - / grahamhowes
Ryan Peacock - / ryanxpeacock
Aaron Hadlow - / aaronhadlow
Ruben Lenten - / rubenlen10
Theo Erlangsen - / theo_erlangsen
Jason Baker - / bakingjasonbaker
Matti Buys - / mattibuys
Tommy Swaan - / tommyswaan
Paddy Upton - paddyupton.com/
Nicolas Cattelan - / nic_cattelan
Credits:
Thank you to everyone involved in this project, from the conversations we had along the way, to the videographers who’s footage we used in this project. We are forever grateful.
If you are struggling or someone you know is struggling with mental health, please start a conversation.
If a conversation is hard… it’s probably the one worth having.
Guys. The problem with depression and anxiety in extreme sports is complicated. It's the other way round. Recent studies show that we the extreme crowd are weak before we even enter the sport. We go to adrenaline sports to compensate for the things our brains lack. In order to enjoy life we need the rash. When it ends for whatever reason we break. And because we are so vulnerable to begin with we can break in any moment. Love you guys. Stay strong.
I think this is the best take
thanks for joining the conversation, I personally am now seeing it the way you do, although I can't say its the case for everyone, it has got me thinking! Cheers G
I think you’re spot on for probably 80% of people at least!
many studies are also showing a trend of superstars whom after a whole career of taking constant slams & impacts are finding themselves to be "shells" of their oldselves & dealing with some or other form of cognitive deficit or issue so just like one can enter the sport weak minded & empty to then become whole, the opposite seems to be more likely that the opposite is just as true but will only show up late 30/40's - its not just concussions one has to watch out for, but they are the main culprit & Dave Mirra (R.I.P) was a tragic example of an entire industry not taking notice & not doing enough for its ppl because even in mainstream professional wrestling, it happened & was kinda hushed over because of the scandal - Chris Benoit is an extreme example of this. i dont condone his actions but like Mirra, benoit also pushed his body to the absolute limits in love of the game, both paid the ultimate price & some
It takes a kind of personality to even start doing more extreme sports than for instance football or another regular sport, the last group has all kinds of coaches, health and other training facilities and more important perhaps qualified coaches too.
In "extreme sports" (read alternative lifestyles), especialy from the early years people just kind of went with the hype of it, people somehow identify a lot with feeling and acting different then "regulars" do is my personal experience.
Am 53, still trying to ride bmx freestyle and getting back into racing too after a +3 years injury adter bteaking my knee, ankle, etc...
Some vertebra's are still not in place, couldnt get surgery cause of Covid-19 so knowing me i stayed "strong"
wich resulted in a huge scoliose, pinched nerves in my spine, sometimes not feeling my leg, knee or foot wich realy s*cks.
But i got to admit i never ever regretted going into this lifestyle of extreme sports and all that comes with it, as it litterly also saved my life as i had some crappy youth traumas wich still follows me till today.
Ride, slide, glide or fly on i would say, but with a longer time in life feeling rhings are not feeling great and totaly fed up doing anything at all for more than +-4 weeks just try to talk about it to someone you trust, or better go to someone who is for instance a qualified Doktor/Psychotherapeut who also tests your blood on some things like vitD and a lot more important values in there.
Keep the Good side Up guys 🙏🏾❤️
One quote that really hit home - 'we're all chasing something; status, money or happiness.' It's weird to think that pursuing happiness is actually a fast track to not being happy - but it's true. It's so important to ask ourselves WHY we are doing these things. I'd like to share my own experience and hope it helps someone out there.
I never got super into the competitive scene, but I was a lifelong skier and mountain biker, and I always pushed myself hard. I lived through several serious injuries. I was a chronic partier, and was starting to dabble in more reckless activities (base jumping, motocross, and multi-day drug benders just to name a few). I told myself that I was doing it all in the name of a good time, for the sake of building experiences and having fun. This was only partially true. I got addicted to stacking up crazy stories and personal achievements like other people get addicted to money. I was just as bad as the hyper-materialists that I claimed to hate. I would go through these periods of massive depression, hardly getting out of bed for weeks at a time. Then one day I'd hop up, start doing dangerous shit and getting blasted again, and think I was back on the right track.
On the outside, my life looked awesome. I was traveling, going to festivals, riding crazy mountains, essentially doing "bucket list stuff." But the older I got, the more hollow it all felt. I just didn't know where else to turn, because the only moments I really felt alive were when I was pushing myself. And when you've lived a life like mine, pushing yourself gets really dangerous. In 2017, I attempted suicide. I was hospitalized for a couple of weeks, and for the first time in my life I had to slow down and think about what the point of all my madness was. For a while after that, I really thought I would turn over a new leaf. I had never felt more calm and confident in myself. I didn't feel like I had anything to prove. Unfortunately, old habits die hard, and before long I was going harder than ever.
In 2020, when my life was as fun as it had ever been, I was beginning to seriously consider another suicide attempt. Instead, I broke my back hitting a tree while trail riding. I fully severed my spinal cord at T6, punctured both lungs, broke about a dozen ribs. I was alone, so I then proceeded to lay in the bushes for like 3 or 4 hours before someone found me. By all rights I should not still be alive. One of the few things I remember from the next week or so was the doctor explaining how lucky I was not to be dead, and I just remember being filled with gratitude that I was still here. Which was weird, because I had been on the fence about killing myself for weeks. If you'd asked me whether I'd rather be dead or paralyzed before my accident, I would have undoubtedly said dead. But here I was, lying in a drugged stupor, knowing my body would never be the same, and flooded with gratitude and acceptance that I never knew existed.
I've been in a wheelchair since that day. I'm not going to sit here and pretend that the journey has been all hunkey dorey and everyone should go break their backs to get over depression. Some days are hard. I still get frustrated. I still get depressed. But having everything I thought of as my identity ripped away in one fell swoop has done wonders for my perspective on life. It's hard to imagine how suicidal I once was. In a fucked up way, I needed this to happen and it saved me. If someone reading this learns something from my experiences, that's all I can ask.
Really, honestly ask yourself - why? Why do I want to learn that trick? Why do I need that new car? Why do I want to have sex with that person? In my case, the answer was almost always - to impress other people. I didn't realize it, but that's what I was doing; building social capital. I wanted to be the most interesting, unique, fun, badass person I could be. But only to impress others. It stemmed from deep insecurity, which I think a lot of us that live in the extremes suffer from. Why would we do such reckless shit, unless we weren't confident in who we are without those notches on our belts? Maybe this resonates, maybe it doesn't. But I just want to say you ARE good enough, regardless of whether you're a badass wingsuiter or a 9-5 accountant. By all means - travel, party, jump off cliffs. Just make sure you're doing it for YOU, not for anyone else.
If I can give any advice from a seated perspective, slow the eff down. I went to a 10 - day silent meditation called Vipassana that changed my life (look it up, it's free). We live in such a fast-paced, hyper-stimulated world I don't think most of us know what slowing down even is. I sure didn't. Try to just watch the world go by once in a while. You don't always need to be achieving something, there is a ton of value in just observing. Don't read, don't put on music, don't go for a walk, just exist. Watch a bird or some ants, watch the clouds, watch people walk by. Listen to the rain or the wind. Meditate if you want. You'd be amazed how much peace and clarity an hour a day of just doing nothing can bring. Happiness isn't something to be pursued, it's something you already have. You just gotta look for it.
Anyway thanks for indulging me if you made it this far, I didn't plan to write so much but the words kept flowing and I haven't thought about my old life in a while. So cheers, I hope you have an amazing day, year, and life!
Profound - probably the best comment I’ve ever read on the internet. I needed this right now, so thank you for sharing.
Sorry to hear that you experienced such a life changing injury but I am glad you found clarity and perspective in the midst of it all.
@@c1ique Im glad it resonated! I was clearly feeling pretty introspective and philosophical after watching that^, I just reread it and was like ‘damn, I wrote this??’ I guess it was cathartic, sometimes just expressing this stuff can pull ideas and emotions out that I never knew I had.
Don’t be sorry brother! I’m not. The best things in life are never what we expect
What you've said resonates with me a lot. Thank you for sharing, it puts it all in perspective!
That one hit me hard, thanks for that comment.
Thanks!
I think the stigma of an extreme sport person is a big issue in the scene. People outside only see the fun, the thrill and the pure joy doing what we love. They can't imagine that it is really really hard dealing with the constant pressure, fear of failure and anxiety of loosing what we have.
Thanks for making this.
Let’s hope we can change that stigma 🖤
The DZ bonfire after beer light is therapy. You see the happiest people jumping during the day, and we can use that high to vent about our problems in good company
These sports are great to do at your own pace as a diversion.
Doing it as a profession and having to be the best, becomes a tough way to go.
The moment i grasp something too hard it slips away. The moment i let it go it comes back. I had a minor injury just a sprain and tendonitis but being stuck in bed on social media for a couple of months with no way of doing the thing you want to be doing is debilitating. Scratching the days on the wall, if i lose skating or my hands and i cant draw idk if i would want to be here.
Some days i wish i could just watch the sun rise and set with no expectations but society demands our constant attention on top of avoiding addictions .
I was a weekend warrior, not a pro athlete. I still love and follow all kinds of "action sports." During a bike (bicycle) ride I went over the handlebars and did a lawn dart, head first onto the sidewalk. I damaged my C5/6 vertebrae. I've been a quadriplegic for over 12 years. S**t happens. With the support of my wife, two children, and family, life rolls on. Literally. I am healthy enough to be able to get around in a manual wheelchair as opposed to a power chair. The Triumph Foundation, Be Perfect Foundation, and Casa Colina Rehab Hospital taught me that there is life after a spinal cord injury. Because of them, I am involved in adaptive sports. Water and snow skiing, biking, surfing, and off-roading aren't the same as when I was able-bodied but it's the next best thing and I'm still active. Exercise is medicine. Please see my UA-cam channel. 💪♿
Nice one to bring this to light, many base jumpers have committed suicide and there is a pattern
Gratitude has always been my greatest ally when battling with depression. I have struggled with the acknowledgment that my life can be amazing on paper but still be shrouded in darkness. In my journey with depression I have learned being grateful in the moment is paramount. Men must talk about this stuff; thank you for being vulnerable... ...it takes great strength.
Wow! Never seen a coment section like this before. Thanks for hitting us in feels with this film.
It is something special isnt it? love the convesations between random people in the comments! cheers G
Well done! No matter if you suffer a big depression or you simply insecure or just having a bad period, listening to all this legends it's helpful and inspiring!
You are a legend mate. Strong minds keep coming back
Perhaps not too surprisingly, it turnes out there are major differences between various extreme sport practitioners: More than 30 years ago I took part in a study which was the main PhD work of Gunnar Breivik, currently a professor at Norway's Sports Institute. Since that time he's been the recognized authority on what makes extreme sports athletes tick.
For his testing he got help to select approximately 40 sky divers/parachutists (many of whom turned to BASE jumping), and the same number of white water kayak and rock climbers.
He also had reference groups taken from people doing their one-year military service and "regular" athletes at the sports institute.
All the extreme sports groups were outliers, both compared to the general population and to regular elite athletes, but among the three tested groups the rock climbers were a lot more balanced and reflective, particularly when asked to judge their own ranking in the country. (We had no actual competitions in any of these sports at the time). Both the sky divers and the kayakers believed themselves to by in the best half while the among the rock climbers there were exactly 5 of us who thought we were top 5 and another 15 who judged themselves to be in the top 20/better half.
I believe this has a lot to do with the way rock climbing always starts from the bottom, you can mostly control all major risks, and if you can't make a particular move or sequence, then it is immediately obvious, whereas the other groups have much more of a "do or die" mentality: "I haven't died yet, so I must be very good!"
You can of course argue that since then the ascendance of highly published free solo climbing, as well as "high ball" boulders which are effectively free solos, means that rock climbing have also attracted a number of those willing to take major risks in order get the adrenaline rush they seek. (Back in my time free soloing was severely frowned upon, you should only do it in private when nobody can see it happen, and never talk about afterwards.)
I took up kite boarding in my 40's. A lover gave me his board and kite because he was too afraid. I went on craigslist and found a guy to teach me. I spent months walking up and down the beach with the kite before I followed him into the San Francisco Bay. I was terrified going under the Golden Gate Bridge, but that is always part of it. It was my main activity through the pandemic. I always go out with the guy who taught me. And I never see it as extreme, instead it gives me a freedom in the water that I had only dreamed about.
I'm absolutley not a pro!
but I have been there: having crashes, questioning my life, questioning the things I do, not beeing motivated to go to work, withdrawing from family & friends, trying to forget my thoughts & not facing my feelings, ...
what I learned from the past is to face what I feel, face my fears & thoughts. life is a bitch and on the other hand it can be soo amazing. I'm trying to not get stuck in the bad moments , just moving on because time will not stop - after every down comes an up, life is a journey and no easy one!
thanks for the video, feels good hearing people talking freely about this!
Thank you so much for speaking Up. ❤️❤️❤️
I have the feeling many of us extreme sports guys deal with these highs and low. I certainly have. I hope your back in a better place Graham. Respect for taking about it also.
Important message to share! Thanks for opening up ❤
Wow. I have literally never commented on a video before but this is really awesome.
thanks for commenting!
Muchas gracias! Appreciate the effort to tell this story. We all need this realness.
I lost function of my left arm after a skating accident some years ago. Mentally I've gotten worse and abuse substances now. Just wanna get better. This helped knowing its a thing.
Hey tommy, really sorry to hear that, yeah some people get it bad, and there's no easy answer, but educating myself on depression, ADHD and how it effects our dopamine, which makes us more prone to addiction, has really helped me, check out Dr andrew huberman's channel, also the book, 'Mans search for meaning' by Viktor Frankil was a turning point for me. Reach out if you need to talk. Cheers G
❤ I cannot express my gratitude enough.. for breaking the shame spiral. If the most famous extreme sport people can talk about this, it makes it so much “easier” for the rest of us.
Thank you!
lets hope it just gets 'easier'
@@DirtyHabits thank you for this video. Please know you are not alone in feeling the way you do🤙
"Is not the goal, it's the journey" ❤️
big respect to you for opening this conversation Graham
Amazing stuff, thanks for making the effort to film your story. Nice last line!!!
You guys reach some of the highest highs in your lives but with every high there's a comedown. "Every action has an equal and opposite reaction".
I have major love and respect for the content guys like you create, the lifestyle that you keep alive and really do not want to see it end, for you, for them, for me.... Happiness all the time is a fallacy and we need to learn to be okay not being okay and with talking about it. To learn to switch off. Thank you for putting this out there man. It's a reality we all need to hear.
thanks for the kind words and your perspective, I have to agree with you on this one! Cheers G
Such an important message. Love the video it is very well told.
Watching this documentary was inspiring, the fact that you all show it is okay to be open about what is going on in your head even when its the last thing you want to do is very inspiring. Its such hard thing to drop the ego and let someone know whats been going on. I definetly needed to see this.
This video needs to be shared everywhere we 100% Need to talk, thank you for sharing your stories, made me realice I have to keep working on my mental health just as much as I work on my pysical health!! 🙌🤙🙌🤙🙌
Mental health is so important for everyone, thanks for sharing!
We need to get used to seeking help, ask for assistance! It is not about followers on Instagram, it is about sharing how you feel, sometimes this will be good, sometimes you will feel awful!
I had a scooter when I was 9 years old, and I would ride down the hill from the house where I lived. I never went pro though, specially because I was never particularly good. This video was very inspirational. Perhaps I'll start doing yoga while hating it and taking meds until I can walk on top of broken legs.
Thanks man, you’re a good soul
escapism takes many forms,
sports obsession gets denied as such because it seems like we're accomplishing something when we're really running away from something
You're not alone !
Out fing standing work.
Injured athletes have had to deal with all this forever. But fing covid basically put millions of us in that similar position by taking away the daily, weekly habits we feel is our identity. For me it’s just coaching my kids at golf, going to tournaments, all those things. Covid kicked my ass. It got me thinking of how much I value not just my life but everyone’s life, and it became an uncontrollable feeling to know how many were suffering. And of course it was hard to escape those thoughts because there wasn’t much to do.
I do think going through these things helps us grow, but man it’s a shitty way to grow.
Your efforts to bring understanding to these things is just awesome. Thanks.
So we’ll done! Thank you so much for these open and very private thoughts. Mental health and strength is even more important then your body’s health.
One thing definitely seems like it's true - the way we validate ourselves from feedback we do or don't get on social media. Another I've recently found is the concept of happiness and the vast business of self-help and such that's built around promising you just that but the twist is that happiness, if you really think about it, is always a fleeting moment, not a constant and prolonged state. If you stop the chase, what happens?
Yeah i totally get you, living in the present moment is the golden egg, but challenging to do.
Great docu my bro!!! please read Siddhartha... is time to let go and continue to the next step in your spiritual journey!!! Must stop being a caterpillar and become a butterfly!!!
I’ll add it to the reading list
OMFG🎉 so glad to see you guys are back at it again!!! Your Pensacola, FL family misses you and can’t wait to see you guys next month 🤘🙌 You all were such a huge influence on my friends and I in the old days (Sluggos, etc…) Epic fun and shenanigans….and more to come.
Incredible film!
Risk attitude ....extreme sport ...relies often on a forgotten traumatic episode in young age....by teasing death we tend to prove ourself that we can survive and feel alive....risk addiction...
I'm starting to see how I relate to this more and more, please share any link to more info on this, thanks G
@@DirtyHabits when you need to be in hyperaction to feel alive and overcome trauma...or repeat and repeat because you re locked in an old traumatic process...cause the rest of life is anxiety generated initially by this trauma so you return to it again and again just before , at the stage you got adrenaline and superpowers...it can bring you to death as base jump is going to bring you to death in 4years ...at the end what is the meaning of life ? Adrenaline rushes ? Defying death...maybe there is more rushes and joys to accomplish and share LOVE, but yes adrenaline is fucking good for our brain but how long how far ? Some just enjoy other need the rushes...for the peace of their mind....
Great production that covers a super important topic! Thanks 🙏
You know I didn't realize that when my racing career ended that racing was my whole life. After it ended I went down the wrong road. It almost killed me, but somehow I've survived. As Time passed I slowly started to recover, but it took many years to do so. Now I'm doing just fine.
Absolutely loved this. Thanks for making this
Very good, I can fully relate to your feeling. Wish you get well man.
Congrats with this and for coming to a new understanding and thank you for sharing this! 💪🥜🎯
Very nice video that everyone can learn something from! Going through injuries is tough, but it definitely helped me to come back stronger. Focus on the good and accept the bad 🤙
good document. thanks for sharing, cheers.
Thank you guys. I think this video can help not only to athletes. I found it really helpful for many. Especially for those who lost everything and start life from 0.
thank you for the kind words.
Super cool! We needed this! Let's send it now!
Top video my bru. Takes balls to come out & open up about this. For you pro's & other competitors all us weekend warrior types. Too many O's feel they need to hide behind the pseudo macho BS & it's like you guys say...it's killing too many young O's.
Thanks for the kind words bru and for watching 🤙
amazing video
Thank you so much for sharing ❤
that entry from november 3rd 2020... minute 20:30 on, really hit.
What amazing video, I like a lot the content how explain the the psicological fears. It is interesting how you solve them thanks for share
Thank you!
So Amazing Graeme ❤🙌
Respect for this!
Well done !
19:49 he just brings it on the point
Great work! Nice to hear you all speak openly about this.
While I agree that extremsport is very result driven and always limit pushing, I noticed a big change lately.
Thanks to Insta&social media you can now generate content without being the best or a world champion. Followers just want some updates about live & struggle, doesn‘t need to be all hardcore anymore. So I think the current generation and you oldies are in a really good situation compared to the early days. Then again, doublekiteloop, crazy sh**t
Didn’t know I needed this
I think it ultimately comes down to desire getting out of hand. In Buddhism, that uncontrolled desire and striving for identity leads to suffering. In extreme sports you have that combo on adrenaline
Top stuff guys! 🙏👍👌
Awesome work
Wow
PLEASE READ I KNOW IT'S LONG: I don't quite think it's mental health, that's such a broad brush. Male Action Sports Athletes are gravitated toward the danger and death aspect of the sport. It's that constant search for that next euphoric adrenaline rush. You know what also fills that void? Drugs! So if you're hurt and get prescribed or have nothing to fill the void of that sport a lot of people will gravitate towards a dangerous and deadly lifestyle. Throughout the history of man, we as men have gone to war either to protect our lands or advance our lands and wealth. Having TESTOSTERONE is the reason men love to defy death, it's natural. People are lucky to live in today's world because a lot of us don't have to worry am I going to have to wake up and easily get in a deadly conflict. You don't hear about mental health where people are literally struggling to survive everyday. This is primarily a western nuance. Being so complacent in life where you can freely risk you're life purely for pleasure is an extreme luxury. It's just in male DNA to have that fight or flight that's engrained in our DNA. Why did WW2 Veterans never mention mental health? Because after the war you got a blue collar job and provided for a family you would die for. Technology has been the biggest downfall in the "Mental Health" space. I've been to prison, been stabbed, also getting into conflicts to survive. I think a weak mentality leads to most of these tragedies, I'll be the one to say it, I know it's not what people want to hear. I would love to have a civil back and forth debate with anyone. This is not to put anyone down, also the media plays a giant factor in bashing men for being men... "Toxic Masculinity." Being in prison in California where not saying excuse me can get you killed, having to constantly have a blade in your rectum. Mental health doesn't exist. When you're in a constant state of self preservation people's mind doesn't have down time to think about feelings. I think being physically inactive and being shamed for what it is to be a man, but being a man used to mean life was never guaranteed the next morning. I'm currently and underwater welder top 3 deadliest jobs in the US. I'm gravitated towards that danger. I don't have the need for feeling a way when I know I'm doing everything I can to preserve my reputation, family and name and know my death would change the course of my families vulnerabilities.
Thanks, Connor
Thanks Connor for your contribution to the conversation, it really is important to pick it apart and look at it from all angles, you have had some unique life experiences which I’m sure have shaped your view on it, which I respect. I personally agree with a lot of what you are saying, and the scenarios you mention give people purpose, it is in our DNA to hunt, protect, reproduce, nurture etc. these days we have almost too many options on what we can or want to do, a life of abundance rather than scarcity. We can say how things should be or how many different challenges we have now, but we have to 1st acknowledge and bring awarensss that things are different and our society has a new set of challenges… how we navigate that? Well that’s another topic and documentary all together, and one that I am very interested in. For now, I am just stating the problem, not the solution. And conversations like this will get us there, so I thank you. Cheers. Graham
@@DirtyHabits Much respect Graham I fully agree. I think if we can educate how people on more of how we not only thrived for this long but have have achieved amazing feats and also atrocities, neccesary at certain times in history and also criminal atrocities that we recognize and grow from. I think too many people live in the now and don't comprehend the mentality of men. Which we see with all the suicides and drug overdoses, the mass incarcerations in the USA. This has only been a hot topic ever since social media is so engrained in identity and validation. I don't even have a smart phone anymore and couldn't be happier. Good on you for sparking a conversation that's neglected by the media and news outlets.
thanks mt
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It breaks my heart to hear how close many of these guys get to realizing that toxic masculinity is at the core of their suffering, only to turn right back around and rededicate themselves to this culture of extreme pressure and isolation. "Life is tough" is not an adequate answer to all the anguish you put yourself through, it contributes to the problem.
Tremendous
❤❤❤
Why isn't Janek in this?
Janek became injured after the production had concluded.
Fantastic work!!! What you have done here is so super valuable for our community and beyond. Thank you! It can be so damn hard figuring out what the fark is going on when in the middle of a depression. For someone trying to figure out where they are at, a couple more pieces to the mental health puzzle could be:
1. We are likely dopamine junkies, not adrenalin junkies. The dopamine chase with its peaks/crashes have a very real effect on our mental wellbeing.
Fantastic source: Huberman Lab | Understanding & Conquering Depression #34 ua-cam.com/video/Xu1FMCxoEFc/v-deo.html
2. Repeated head slaps can compound and really mess with the brain chemistry and function. Repeated mild TBI (RmTBI) is not too well understood but research is coming through from studies in contact sports like football/rugby/boxing etc. Water sports athletes suffer their fair share too.
Awareness is essential to the journey.
I lost a leg in a motorcycle accident when I was 26. The first thing I was thinking was "I guess I'll have to relearn how to surf again". I'm 42 now and still recovering. I can't do it the same as I used to, but I won't give up. I still ride dirt bikes, jump out of airplanes, skate, ride stand-up jet skis, skating, I recently took up dancing, and am looking into getting into kiteboarding with my son. You really can't look at what you've lost. You always have to look at what you will gain. How do I make it back up to the highest peak that I can reach? Some days that might just be putting on your shoes, other days
conquering the world. I think it's a good thing to talk about what's going on in your head. You burn up the energy being angry about it until it just clicks "wait a minute. I can completely be putting my energy to something useful or fulfilling instead". Have your down time, rage about it, get a good cry in, but don't shut yourself off from the world. The storm will pass, the night will end and tomorrow will be more beautiful than you can imagine if you can find the patience to see it through. Cheers mate!
Very well said and inspiring
@@Juicymoka thanks. I got to take my first kite boarding lesson today and attempted wakeboarding behind a jet ski. I nearly got all the way up on two feet! Ended up snapping my prosthetic in two shortly after that so the rest of the vacation we'reon it going to be interesting. Oh well...fix/repair/repeat
awesome man, thanks for the wise words...the truth is, most men with both legs will never do half the stuff you have...that's pretty cool
Right on man. I’m the same. Lost my leg and lung to the flu. Stoked to be alive and surfing 🙏
I got teared up reading this comment. I’ve been struggling recently and needed the reminder that we will always have victories if we keep trying, it doesn’t matter what the victory is, or whether it’s greater than one from our past, it just needs to be a victory. I got up and tried today, that’s a start, and a small victory
Kiting is overfilled with pretty people in exotic places doing fun stuff on Instagram. You not only need to be a great athlete, with a great smile and a perfect body, but also live the best life that is possible. That’s the image of kiting. I windsurf. Almost no body does that sport. It is probably the hardest sport out there. Pretty much anyone who windsurfs is humbled by the experience and is pretty happy doing the sport for the sheer joy of it, knowing full well how bad they are compared to others. There’s no money in the sport, even for the pros. Kai Lenny, Robbie Naish, and many others windsurf even though they don’t have to. So maybe the answer is to find something to do for the love of it and to forget the ego, the image or the results. Nicely done though. I thoroughly enjoyed watching.
Thanks for the contribution to the conversation, I personally wouldn't say it's the kind of sport that's the problem, maybe its the people the the sport attract, I also read the other day about, not 1, but 2 professional windsurfers committed suicide, so sad. Depression doesn't pick and choose, anyone can be a target. Much love. Graham
@20:30 I‘m surely not a doctor and maybe you don‘t want my help.. incase you want to hear my honest thoughts, cause I was at the exact same point, hear me out:
It sounds like you‘ve reached your goals and now you‘re looking for purpose & reason. There is none. Does a lion has a reason or purpose to live? So you kinda need to create your own. And the best way I know is with projects. I started woodworking and I could loose myself it in for hours, didn‘t feel tired or exhausted at all. Surround yourself with people that need you or you can provide value in sense of working or building something. And I‘m sure you will feel more fullfilled. All the best.
Big love! Well done, I am certain this will inspire many to talk/open up and hopefully walk a better path for it!
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I just wanna say a massive thank you to each one of you for taking the time to watch this, and to those who are taking the time to comment, DM, email, call etc. whether it’s just a thumbs up, or sharing your view, or challenging my view, and joining the conversation, I appreciate you. I have been trying to keep up with the comments, and replies, but I read each and every one, and have been trying to reply, but please understand it’s hard to respond and absorb everything, As I said, I’m not a psychologist or coach, I’m just a guy who wanted to open up a topic while navigating through it myself. So I appolagize if I don’t reply or answer with the compassion, or matched energy that you have taken to contribute, but please please keep commenting. It’s important for others to see also that they aren’t not alone. Much love. Graham 🖤
much love and thank u for this amazing video!!
I used extreme sports as a way of self-medicating for so long. It allowed me to push through my PTSD, and 10 years later, I'm doing really ok. Now that it's no longer the thing keeping me alive, I've actually re-assessed my risk tolerance. I will continue to ride motorcycles, dh longboard, cliff dive, etc. But No more insane shit, no bombing busy roads, no risky base jumps, no risky freeclimbs.
I'm very mindful of risks now, I've become calm and happy, it's just a sport for me now, rather than the thing keeping me going.
I really appreciate your documentary, this is a little-talked-about but core part of extreme sports. I'm really touched by this.
This, I think, is especially pervasive in the BASE scene in particular. Threading the needle between life and death requires a very strong force behind that, and I think that for a lot of us in base, it's almost a spiritual thing.
well I rather have depression by being able to KITE, but I have depression since I am 14 as I saw video on youtube about Kiteboarding but I am not able to do it as often as I would like, as I never cracked the code to be able to afford it. Always financial problem to be able to travel or move to place where I could do it. I am 33 now ;( ;( ;( and I am still locked in my room becouse I can`t afford to go and do it. as soon as I save some extra money something else pops up that needs to be done. have not been to kite camp in nice place evene ONCE for all this time.
I completely agree that mental "toughness" is overrated. My sport is climbing. It is my passion. I also have a potentially debilitating fear of heights... Overcoming that fear with every move, is part of the fun for me. Making the conscious decision to climb up takes total focus, and gets me out of my head. The "toughness" comes in admitting and accepting your weaknesses. But it is a gentle type of toughness. Where you can calmy observe your limits, and decide what to do with them. Hardcore mental "toughness" usually means the ego takes over, and that's when you stop being methodical. In adventure sports this can very quickly lead to catastrophic consequences. I highly recommend the book "Ego is the Enemy", by Ryan Holiday. Thank you for this superb video.
This documentary is so great to see. Having terrible mental health is almost ubiquitous in sport-- like if you don't have depression or anxiety or anorexia or some other form of extreme behavior, you can't succeed. Also, some anti-depressants/anti-anxiety meds can apparently reduce athletic performance. Having gone through depression and anxiety, I can say that that wasn't the case with me. After I got help, I was finally was able to lose the ego issues and fear of failure that used to hold me back, and find a path that I'm incredibly happy with. After watching this, I hope other athletes are inspired to look at their mental health as just as important as training and recovery.
As we approach 100,000 views, I just wanted to hop on and say a massive thank you to everyone who is engaged with us, reached out to those around them and been there when they know they are needed. We made this documentary knowing in our hearts that it’s something we needed to express, and as much as I meant to be the storyteller here, I can’t express how encouraging and heartwarming everyone’s response has been. Not only to us but most importantly to one another.
I believe I speak on behalf of everyone who has worked on this documentary when I say that we feel honoured to have contributed in whatever way we have to making this world a slightly brighter place.
Nicolas Cattelan - Director
Thanks for being vulnerable, being human and sharing it with everyone
You have made a difference! It was obvious to me the minute I saw all the responses in the comments. Your message hit right where it was supposed to. Keep being awesome!
Exceptionally well produced with a message most wont speak out on until they no longer in the industry, i call half a million views by month end - keep up the good work, the world gets brighter a baby step at a time when people make a decision to do so like you have - *hats off* much love & respect
❤
"I f*cking hate Yoga.." Thank you!!
“The Daily Stoic” by Ryan Holiday…works wonders in re-wiring the brain. Also, do NOT check email, texts, insta until at least 30 mins AFTER waking up…take control of your morning and remember, the only thing you control are your thoughts and your actions
I do this for the 1st hour of the day now. Plus no caffeine, exercise and cold exposure, it’s working wonders in my life. Cheers. Graham
@@DirtyHabits I just sit in silence with a blindfold or do yoga blindfolded. The darkness is soothing plus wim hof it's awesome. Caffeine is not for me made me have anxiety
Powerful work Graham! Definitely makes you stop and think. We all go through stuff but rarely talk about it, this opens a conversation. Awesome to see the OG’s sharing their stories.
Goosebumps!! Finally someone talks about this
I think when you loose purpose is when you go into dark places. As it was said, when one door closes, another one opens hence it is of most importance to look for and pursue the opportunities that arise with each calamity that life may throw at us. On a side note, this life is about letting go so when something has come to an end, if you do not let it go, it will inevitably weigh you down. You have to let go and move on.
Yes. On a much much smaller scale at 38 years old I became a "wind junkie" and have been obsessed for 35 years. Now at 73 and some physical problems the wind obsessed life is coming to a close and at times I feel lost & depressed. None of the "elderly" hobbies hold any interest for me, but currently I'm doing a ton of volunteer work to silence the beast. Still loving light wind foil days
This is a great video, well done! As someone who has been participating in various adventure sports for some 40 years now I believe there is another aspect to this, which may need consideration. For me, when I am doing these sports, there are days when you are in the groove, you are doing things you didn’t think possible and you go to a place mentally, a nirvana. It’s a dream like experience, it’s a pure & it’s honest, it makes us truly feel alive, it’s beyond being in the happy place. I believe those of us who have experienced this are susceptible to experiencing depression, because we have, for the majority of our time, to live in the real & at times mundane & mediocre world. There is nothing wrong with that as long as you are aware of it and just be thankful for having experienced and hope it will happen again, but don’t rely on it.
Well done Graham
Thanks for watching legends 🤙
Dear Graham, I watched the whole Video. I found your personal words at 20:23 very moving. I've found lasting hope and motivation in religion. I'm a Christian because I've found the Bible (esp. the new Testament) to be intellectually, and on a personal level trustworthy. I'm always open to the study of other religions too though since I seek (or at least try to seek) truth. I'm not looking to start a discussion here. Just wanted to give my thoughts. Perhaps you'll read this. Wishing you all the best.
Everyone is search for purpose which only God can show us
When you wake up one day and realise your whole personality is based on being the most goodest kiteboarder and everyone no longer gives a shit it's inevitably gonna be depressing.
You have to be a bit delusional to reach such high level in Extreme Sports. But everyone is different. Talk to a psychologist if you can pay for it.
There are many causes, for example; Narcissist, bipolar, ADD, counter-dependent(=me), social phobia, PTST or just being an adrenaline addict.
This is a common problem in the motocross world, young competitive guys get sucked into the pro circuit. They dropout of school to enjoy the fame, girls, money, recognition then if they dont end up as one of the top 5 guys they get dropped and discover a very difficult existence outside the pro circuit. I hear it all the time from guys that get injured and cant do the sports they love anymore.
Yeah true that, that’s why we need good role models in sports, and brands to support their athletes with some sort of mental coaching
Great work guys.. it's incredible to think that is so common to think that if you have a pain anywhere else in the body it's ok to go to the doctor, but if the pain is in the brain is because you're weak!
Hopefully this will make many more people open up and treat the inner self as good or better than the outer self. 🤙🏻
you can! Xanax come on dude lol. just kidding but yes its a good point you mention
I’m 57 and still 25 in my mind. All my life I’ve participated in extreme sports of one type or another, it really was my life all the rest was just fill.
The mental issues were never an issue, either with myself or others I knew doing the same type of thing.
The main difference that I observe is social media, it’s a two edged weapon for many reasons.
The most obvious being the ease of living life secondhand and not just getting out there and doing it, but I doubt that’s the main problem.
Social media expects no mistakes, you must be cool first and every time which is ridiculous as mistakes are the norm, that pressure was not there before.
Social media judges you before the entire world.
The selfies are narcissistic, and that’s an entire subject.
The expectation of monetary reward is relatively new and I love that you can expect to make a great living if you are good, but it increases the pressure.
Adrenaline is a wonderful and addictive drug, love it but I find I need a lot to get the same benefits as before, so maybe that’s the natural course of things, if you have survived you have to slow down a bit.
I guess social media does not allow for that reality.
We did things because we loved it, and no other reason, we tended not to care what we looked like or how we appeared to others.
We made loads of mistakes all the time, and often looked ridiculous.
Most of what we did are just memories now, I love it that way.
I don’t know if this sheds any light on the problem, it’s my 2 cents worth.
Excellent point!
I don't even bother with Social Media. To many that's the fuel for "Depression". Be that person who rises above the masses. Considering everyone everyday is living "Copy and Paste". More often than not.. in fear of "criticism" of "stink eyes" from people they don't even know. You're 57? Now act 57. But remain fit as a 25 year old. Thats the Mindset. ( that's an easy fix Brother.)
@@jt.8144 Act how you feel. Age is a number. Maturity is what you are talking about. Do things because YOU want to do them and YOU enjoy them. Don’t look for fame. If it happens great but don’t seek it.
Thank you for sharing brother, some great points you made, and a good perspective! cheers G
Congratulations guys. I know how much work you put into this project and it was worth the hours and months of work to express this important story. Graham, you have an incredible human energy in person and I really felt you captured it through this film. I know a lot of people will be inspired by your courage ❤
A weightlifter always lifts the maximum weight and next time tries to lift more. I'm a paragliding pilot.. and with every practice the limits of the flyable conditions shift. Statistics say I could have an injury every 1000 flights. Since I fly professionally, I have about 400 flights per year - for my livelihood, I fly in flyable conditions - not just in dream conditions. I often see beforehand that it could be quite exhausting. I'm scared every day. That's why I don't fly for recognition, not in competition with others, not for my ego. I'm trying to fly my dream to live. To be a flying surfer. to relax and to deliver a good performance - for me. Fear is just a feeling like hunger... but when you hurt yourself the music stops playing - not like a cool youtube video. It's also mentally tough when someone dies while flying and you're there and giving first aid. well.. i'm an old dude now but every year i'm still growing.. but my time will come, dam comes the stagnation and then the day when i'll fly for the last time. however, i know for sure that i am more than a guy with a paraglider. You are always better than the first day you started your sport.... I wish you a lot of success and happiness and would like to give great advice, but I'm just keeping my head above water ;) unfortunately I don't have any cool solutions😂😂
"This is the most important flight of your life" best mantra i have in my kit big chops
this is so important! really beautiful project guys!
The juxtaposition of realizing you have many great things in life yet somehow can still feel miserable can cause some of the deepest dissonance imaginable.
Later on you mention how it’s not an extreme athlete problem, it’s a human one. Could not agree more.
Mental challenges are part of every humans’ existence no matter their background. Countless books and a massive part of every human culture is at least tangentially related to coping with this universal experience.
Being a bit more open and supportive of each other is a low hanging fruit that would do all of us good.
" suffering is gonna shape who you are"...much respect for you mate!