Face coronavirus crisis with a pinch of humour, says sports psychologist

Valencia, Mar 20 (efe-epa).- Sports psychologist José Carrascosa suggests high-level athletes and citizens should face the coronavirus crisis with a pinch of humour and one game and day at a time.

“In sports, we are used to going one game at a time, so now we must live in the present to have emotional well-being,” says the specialist in one of 20 key points to withstand the current situation published in the Saber Competir (Knowing How to Compete) magazine dedicated to sports psychology.

Taking things with a pinch of humour is not at odds with responsibility, the expert says.

“Why are memes and jokes about the coronavirus proliferating?” he asks.

“A sense of humour helps, activated by the survival instinct. Taking care of ourselves and our own, as well as being responsible and caring is not at odds with laughing,” Carrascosa continues.

The Valencian psychologist has worked with top-level professional athletes, coaches and teams and has advised athletes who have secured European titles and Olympic medals, for 25 years.

“It is essential to be clear that we are a team. No match is won by a single player or coach,” Carrascosa explains.

The expert is well known for his work on emotions in high-performance activities and has been instrumental in shifting the concept of “echarle güevos (showing some balls)” for “knowing how to compete”.

“No one is as good as everyone together. You can doubt our leaders, but we cannot doubt our ability to unite and work together to beat the virus. Each one of us from our individual responsibility and role must join the collective effort,” he says.

Carrascosa insists on the importance of winning the match and for this “there is no room for reproaches, raising of arms, protesting, getting angry with your colleague, lowering your arms, wanting to be the only to win or score the decisive goal.”

“There will be a time when I finish to analyze the match, draw conclusions and prepare new games to be played in the future. When the virus has been beaten, we will see who is worthy of moral authority or general recognition, which is the true authority,” he explains in another of his 20 tips.

“At the moment, that authority is held by health personnel, the military, the security forces and anonymous people who continue to care for all of us,” he says.

Among the key points is the importance of being emotionally healthy because the immune system works better when people enjoy a good frame of mind.

“We have to accept the reality that it is a virus that many will contract and most will overcome it after a few days of being at home, except for elderly people and associated pathologies that may find it difficult to do so,” Carrascosa adds.

“It is something unforeseen, but the unforeseen occurs in life and we must live with it. The welfare state has spoilt us to live protected and safe,” he continues.

Carrascosa suggests swapping the idea of ??”threat” for “challenge and opening up of opportunities” in order to reorder priorities.

“We should not confuse the possible with the probable because a healthy person is not a person with associated pathologies. The probability of overcoming the virus is very high in the case of healthy people,” he says.

“You have to organize attractive days, without regret and without letting boredom take over, without getting angry and staying active with your partner and children since young children are experiencing a new situation that generates many questions and means they require attention, serenity and calm.

The specialist also asks that guesses over what the future may hold should be avoided because there are currently no answers and says interactions with friends and colleagues should not be face-to-face. EFE-EPA

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