Returning From Injury Psychology

Overview → The Leader → Session Notes
Session Notes The Leader
Addressing:

Identity Crisis

The existential disruption when sport has defined who you are, and injury removes that identity. Many athletes experience negative cognitive appraisals about their worth and future during extended rehabilitation phases.

How The Leader Can Overcome Identity Crisis in Returning From Injury

Posted on December 13, 2025 ~ min read
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For: The Leader athletes in Returning From Injury
Focus: Session Notes - Identity Crisis
Read Time: ~10 min
Session Notes December 13, 2025
Profile: The Leader
Sport: Returning From Injury
Challenge: Identity Crisis

In returning from injury, identity crisis is the psychological fracturing that occurs when sport has defined who you are, and injury removes that foundation. For The Leader, this hits with devastating precision. Your sense of self was built on tactical mastery, on guiding teammates through competitive challenges, on being the person others looked to when pressure mounted. Now you watch from the sidelines while your team adapts without you.

The crisis runs deeper than missing games. You're experiencing a fundamental disconnection from the role that gave your athletic life meaning. Other athletes struggle with fitness loss or competitive rust. You're wrestling with something more existential: if you can't lead, who are you?

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Vladimir Novkov

M.A. Social Psychology | ISSA Elite Trainer | Expert in Sport Psychology for Athlete Development

My mission is to bridge the gap between mind and body, helping athletes and performers achieve a state of synergy where peak performance becomes a natural outcome of who they are.

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