Returning From Injury Psychology

Overview → The Record-Breaker → Session Notes
Session Notes The Record-Breaker
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 Record-Breakers Can Overcome Identity Crisis When Returning From Injury

Posted on December 13, 2025 ~ min read

This article examines the psychological impact of injury on achievement-oriented athletes, particularly those who derive identity from external metrics and personal records. It identifies the specific symptoms of identity crisis during recovery, including avoidance behaviors, feelings of worthlessness, and loss of motivation, and explains how athletes with extrinsic motivation face heightened vulnerability during sidelining. The piece outlines a protocol for rebuilding athletic identity when tradi

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For: The Record-Breaker athletes in Returning From Injury
Focus: Session Notes - Identity Crisis
Read Time: ~6 min
Session Notes December 13, 2025
Profile: The Record-Breaker
Sport: Returning From Injury
Challenge: Identity Crisis

The stopwatch sits untouched on the nightstand. Three months ago, it measured everything that mattered. Now it measures nothing because there is nothing to measure. Identity crisis in injury recovery hits when the athlete you were disappears and the person left behind feels like a stranger wearing your face.

For athletes driven by external achievements and measurable progress, injury does more than sideline the body. It erases the scoreboard that defined existence. The training log goes blank. The personal records become historical artifacts. The rankings freeze while competitors climb past.

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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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References & Further Reading

  1. Identity and Self-Concept in Sport: How Athletic Identity Influences Psychological Well-Being
  2. Returning to Sport After Injury: Psychological Factors in Recovery and Performance
  3. Athletic Identity and Career Transition: A Qualitative Study of Injured Athletes