Health
Super Bowl and sports fan depression: How to cope when your team loses, according to mental health experts
![Super Bowl and sports fan depression: How to cope when your team loses, according to mental health experts Super Bowl and sports fan depression: How to cope when your team loses, according to mental health experts](https://static.foxnews.com/foxnews.com/content/uploads/2024/02/super-bowl-split.png)
You win some, you lose some — and the Super Bowl every year is no exception.
As the Kansas City Chiefs and San Francisco 49ers went at it in Super Bowl LVIII on Sunday night, fans were headed either for a victory dance or a major let-down — and we all know the dramatic outcome by now, with the Chiefs taking it in overtime by a score of 25-22.
So what happens when your favorite team loses? Experts say a loss could lead to sports fan depression.
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Although not clinically recognized as a medical condition, sports fan depression is a “very real experience for avid sports fans,” said licensed professional counselor Jill Lamar, who is based in Pennsylvania.
“Sports fan depression occurs when your team or favorite player loses to the competition,” she told Fox News Digital.
A Chiefs fan (left) and a 49ers fan react to plays in previous games. (Scott Winters/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images; Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)
“For those who are overly invested in the outcome of sporting events — especially something as titanic as the Super Bowl — their emotional attachment to their hometown or favorite team can get in the way of their happiness and mental health.”
Lamar, who provides counseling services at Thriveworks in Philadelphia, noted that sports fan depression can leave people with feelings of sadness, frustration, numbness and lack of interest in activities they previously enjoyed.
These emotions can last for two weeks or more after the game ends, she said.
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“You may be distracted at work or withdraw socially, especially now that the season that brought you together with your fellow fans has ended,” she said.
Christopher La Lima, PhD, a licensed psychologist at NYU Langone, also discussed the condition with Fox News Digital, noting how much goes into being a sports fan.
![chiefs fan with face paint](https://a57.foxnews.com/static.foxnews.com/foxnews.com/content/uploads/2024/02/1200/675/GettyImages-1237290161.jpg?ve=1&tl=1)
Chiefs fan “KC Mike” yells out to Chiefs players during warmups before a game against the Chargers at SoFi Stadium on Dec. 16, 2021. (Robert Gauthier/Los Angeles Times via Getty Images)
“Time, effort, money,” he said. “Being a sports fan can involve a shared common cause and building of a community.”
The psychologist echoed that sports fans may experience feelings of loss and grief when their team loses.
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“Loss can be experienced in many ways, such as through the loss of a loved one, a relationship, aspects of health, a job or a role where someone feels a sense of purpose,” he said.
“While sports fan depression is not a formal mental health diagnosis, the emotional distress is real.”
Clocking the warning signs
The friends and partners of sports fans are “most likely well aware of the impending reactions to their team losing,” according to Lamar.
Some warning signs of sports fan depression include becoming frustrated and upset when your team drops a ball, a field goal bounces off the goal post or a play is thwarted by the opposition, Lamar said.
![man yells at the TV](https://a57.foxnews.com/static.foxnews.com/foxnews.com/content/uploads/2024/02/1200/675/iStock-1270235839.jpg?ve=1&tl=1)
Frustration during a game can build until it becomes a “frightening rage,” a psychologist said. (iStock)
This condition most often appears in men, although it is not exclusive to one gender alone.
“Everyone who cares about sports is rooting for someone or a particular team,” she said. “And their disappointment will show — a sigh, the occasional frustrated outburst, a sad face at the end of the game as they leave the bar or turn off the game.”
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“If these reactions continue to grow into sadness and irritability way past the last whistle, it could be a sign of sports fan depression.”
Frustration during a game can build until it becomes a “frightening rage,” according to Lamar.
But after the game, sports fan depression turns that anger “inward” and can “become debilitating,” she said.
![49er fans at 2020 super bowl](https://a57.foxnews.com/static.foxnews.com/foxnews.com/content/uploads/2024/02/1200/675/GettyImages-1198187095.jpg?ve=1&tl=1)
Jessica Rodriguez and her husband Tony Rodriguez of Concord, California, react while watching the San Francisco 49ers play the Kansas City Chiefs during a Super Bowl watch party at SPIN San Francisco on Feb. 2, 2020, in San Francisco, California. (Philip Pacheco/Getty Images)
While the typical response of a sports fan after a big loss is a few days of complaints and sadness, people experiencing sports fan depression can experience symptoms for months.
LaLima stressed the importance of making the distinction between sports fan depression and recognized depressive disorders.
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“Clinical depression, and more specifically major depressive disorder, involves specific diagnostic criteria and persisting symptoms that cause clinically significant distress or impairment in social, occupational or other important areas of functioning,” he said.
Some major depressive disorder symptoms can include depressed mood, loss of interest in activities, significant changes in appetite or weight, fatigue, changes in sleep, and feelings of worthlessness or excessive guilt, according to La Lima.
How to cope
Since not everyone can be a winner, Lamar and La Lima offered some tips on how to cope with the initial wave of sadness after a loss.
Lamar suggested that “putting things into perspective can help shift a sports fan’s view of the outcome, whether it’s good or bad.”
![men depressed after a lost game](https://a57.foxnews.com/static.foxnews.com/foxnews.com/content/uploads/2024/02/1200/675/iStock-948783148.jpg?ve=1&tl=1)
People experiencing sports fan depression can see symptoms continue for months, according to experts. (iStock)
“With many platforms showing games 24/7, it’s easy to let a preoccupation with sports become a mind-numbing habit bordering on addiction,” she said.
“Don’t let your interest in sports overtake the other more important aspects of your life.”
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Lamar encouraged sports fans to “take a deep breath” and list their goals and the “priorities necessary to realize them.”
While people tend to think in “black and white terms” when experiencing negative emotions, La Lima advised sports fans to think more flexibly.
“Problem-solving and impulse control can improve when these negative emotions become less intense,” he said.
![man watches football on TV](https://a57.foxnews.com/static.foxnews.com/foxnews.com/content/uploads/2024/02/1200/675/iStock-1468889402.jpg?ve=1&tl=1)
“Don’t let your interest in sports overtake the other more important aspects of your life,” advised a licensed mental health counselor. (iStock)
“When acting in these moments, I like to think, ‘Cool the iron before you get burned.’”
Other coping skills can include taking a brief separation from sports, seeking out other distractions and using self-soothing techniques like deep breathing and self-care, La Lima said.
“Tackle feelings of emptiness after a big loss by identifying where you feel purpose, [such as] in relationships with family and friends, and in your interests and community,” he said.
Fans should make different use of the time previously dedicated to the sport, said an expert.
“Sports can provide a structure for socializing … It can be helpful to stay socially connected and lean into social support,” noted La Lima.
Lamar also suggested making an effort to connect with friends who love the same sport — as well as with those who don’t.
![san francisco 49ers fans](https://a57.foxnews.com/static.foxnews.com/foxnews.com/content/uploads/2024/02/1200/675/GettyImages-1200623044.jpg?ve=1&tl=1)
San Francisco 49ers fans cheer in the first quarter of their NFC Championship game against the Green Bay Packers at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, California, on Jan. 19, 2020. (Ray Chavez/MediaNews Group/The Mercury News via Getty Images)
And when the season is over, Lamar said, fans should make different use of the time previously dedicated to the sport.
“Learn a new skill, pick up chess, take a cooking class, join a MeetUp group — anything that sounds interesting,” she suggested.
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LaLima added that difficult feelings often need to be spoken about, as “holding onto them can make us feel like a shaken soda bottle.”
“Rather than letting pressure build and opening it all at once, loosen the cap a little at a time,” he advised. “Talk about day-to-day thoughts and feelings in real time.”
![chris lalima nyu psychology](https://a57.foxnews.com/static.foxnews.com/foxnews.com/content/uploads/2024/02/1200/675/La-Lima-Headshot.jpg?ve=1&tl=1)
Christopher Nicholas La Lima, PhD, is a licensed psychologist and clinical assistant professor at NYU Langone. (NYU Langone Health)
The psychologist reiterated that depressive disorders often require evaluation and treatment from mental health professionals.
“Those concerned should seek professional mental health support in this regard,” he said.
Before Sunday night’s game — which saw the Chiefs take the win in dramatic fashion in overtime — Lamar joked ahead of the final outcome on Sunday night that fans should “wave to Taylor Swift,” no matter what.
“She’s made one helluva effort to get there,” she said.
For more Health articles, visit foxnews.com.com/health.
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Health
Saunas have health benefits, but overuse is linked to dangerous health risks
![Saunas have health benefits, but overuse is linked to dangerous health risks Saunas have health benefits, but overuse is linked to dangerous health risks](https://static.foxnews.com/foxnews.com/content/uploads/2024/08/sauna-friends.jpg)
Taking time to sit in a sauna can be a great way to decompress after a grueling workout or even a stressful day.
While in a sauna, you can add to the relaxation by reading your favorite book, listening to a motivational podcast or just by closing your eyes, taking deep breaths and sweating the stress away.
Saunas are commonly found at gyms and spas, but you can buy one for your home.
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A sauna offers health benefits, but it’s also important to be mindful of risks.
- What are the different types of saunas?
- What are the health benefits that come from sauna use?
- How long is it safe to go in the sauna?
- Are there any risks of sauna use I should be aware of?
A sauna is full of health benefits, but it also poses risk if not used properly or if used with certain underlying health conditions. (iStock)
1. What are the different types of saunas?
A sauna is “a specific room heated to about 150 to 195 (F) degrees, and where the temperature and humidity of the room can be controlled with sprinkling water on the rocks in the heater/stove,” according to the North American Sauna Society’s website.
Some of the most commonly found saunas are wood-burning saunas, electrically heated saunas, manufactured sauna rooms, smoke saunas, steam rooms and infrared rooms.
For the most part, many of the health benefits are consistent no matter what type of sauna you use.
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“While many benefits overlap, steam may be better for respiratory issues, far infrared for weight loss and recovery,” Dr. Brooke Jeffy, a board-certified dermatologist from Scottsdale, Arizona, and founder of youth skin care brand BTWN, told Fox News Digital via email.
2. What are the health benefits that come from sauna use?
There are several different health benefits that come along with sauna use.
“Both steam and dry saunas can have beneficial effects on respiratory conditions, cardiovascular disease and dementia,” Jeffy said.
“They also help stiff muscles and joints and increase circulation to the skin. Both steam and infrared saunas have beneficial effects on blood pressure. Infrared saunas may improve weight loss when combined with exercise and improve muscle recovery.”
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The time at which you use a sauna doesn’t matter, according to Jeffy. Either a morning sweat or a relaxing sit in the sauna before bed can boast health benefits.
Many people also choose to hop in a sauna after a workout.
“Post-workout sessions help improve weight control and muscle recovery,” Jeffy said.
![A woman sitting in the sauna](https://a57.foxnews.com/static.foxnews.com/foxnews.com/content/uploads/2024/08/1200/675/woman-sitting-sauna.jpg?ve=1&tl=1)
It’s common to sit in a sauna after completing a workout. (iStock)
3. How long is it safe to go in the sauna?
When in a sauna, make sure you keep track of how long you’ve been inside.
Many gym saunas have a clock, so you don’t have to take your phone inside, potentially causing it to overheat.
If there isn’t a timer or clock available, make sure to bring one with you or set an alarm to sound so you know when it’s time to exit.
For more Lifestyle articles, visit www.foxnews.com/lifestyle
“The maximum time to spend in the dry sauna or steam room is about 15-20 minutes,” Jeffy said. “Infrared sauna can be used longer, anywhere from 20-40 minutes.”
4. Are there any risks of sauna use I should be aware of?
While sauna use does include benefits, there are also risks you should be aware of if you decide to add it to your routine.
The risks include dehydration, heat exhaustion and stroke, according to Jeffy.
![Woman drinking water](https://a57.foxnews.com/static.foxnews.com/foxnews.com/content/uploads/2024/08/1200/675/woman-drinking-water.jpg?ve=1&tl=1)
Make sure to drink water to keep yourself hydrated while in a sauna. (iStock)
To avoid potential dehydration, bring a bottle of water into the sauna with you.
If you aren’t a regular sauna user already, consider a slow progression to allow your body to adjust and slowly begin increasing the time you sit inside.
Lastly, if you are pregnant, sick, intoxicated or prone to dizziness, you should not use a sauna, according to Jeffy.
“Saunas should not be used if you have had a recent heart attack, or history of angina, aortic stenosis or congestive heart failure,” Jeffy added.
Health
‘Is it bad to skip breakfast if I’m not hungry?’: Ask a doctor
![‘Is it bad to skip breakfast if I’m not hungry?’: Ask a doctor ‘Is it bad to skip breakfast if I’m not hungry?’: Ask a doctor](https://static.foxnews.com/foxnews.com/content/uploads/2024/08/woman-not-hungry-breakfast.jpg)
You’ve likely heard the old adage that breakfast is the most important meal of the day, but what if you’re just not hungry in the morning?
Is it OK to consistently skip the morning meal and hold off until lunch?
Fox News Digital asked some nutritionists about the potential ramifications of bypassing breakfast on a regular basis and their recommendations for optimizing metabolism with a healthy morning routine.
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While most experts agree it’s OK to skip breakfast once in a while, it’s generally beneficial to eat something within an hour or two of waking up.
While most experts agree it’s OK to skip breakfast once in a while, it’s generally beneficial to eat something within an hour or two of waking up. (iStock)
“Skipping breakfast regularly could lead to some unwanted side effects,” Shelley Balls, registered dietitian and owner at Fueling Your Lifestyle in Smoot, Wyoming, told Fox News Digital.
“It can lead to an overconsumption of foods in the following meals throughout the day. You may think you’re eating fewer calories, but you might actually be binging at lunch or dinner,” she said.
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Never eating breakfast can also affect energy levels, she warned, as the body isn’t getting the carbohydrates and nutrients it needs to perform optimally.
There could also be a long-term effect of slowing down the metabolism, the expert said.
“Breakfast is meant to break the overnight fast, and can help jump-start your metabolism. So, over time, not eating breakfast could decrease your metabolism, as your body becomes more efficient with fewer calories,” Balls said.
![Bacon eggs toast](https://a57.foxnews.com/static.foxnews.com/foxnews.com/content/uploads/2024/08/1200/675/bacon-eggs-toast.jpg?ve=1&tl=1)
Protein in the morning usually leads to a higher calorie burn and helps to reduce hunger later in the day, experts say. (iStock)
Breakfast has been associated with a bevy of benefits, including better weight management, better cognitive function, increased metabolism, improved energy and reduced hunger, according to Vanessa King, registered dietitian nutritionist and media spokesperson for the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics in Oahu, Hawaii.
“Breakfast gives you an energy boost to power-start your day,” King told Fox News Digital.
“Not eating breakfast could decrease your metabolism, as your body becomes more efficient on fewer calories.”
“Breaking an overnight fast with a balanced breakfast significantly impacts well-being and overall health,” she added. “It’s important for everyone. And for children and teens, eating breakfast has been associated with better behavior and academic performance.”
If you’re not hungry within an hour or two of waking up, King suggests looking at your eating pattern.
“Are you snacking at night and it’s leaving you full in the morning? Try lighter snacks and allow more time between your last meal and sleep,” she advised.
The fasting factor
For people who are following a plan of intermittent fasting or time-restricted feeding, eliminating breakfast is a common way to maintain a shorter eating window and a longer fasting stretch, according to Dr. Jennie Stanford, an obesity medicine physician in Pennsylvania and medical contributor for Drugwatch.
“One main determinant here is how someone feels later in the day,” she told Fox News Digital.
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If skipping breakfast makes you feel ravenous later in the day, ultimately causing you to overconsume at other meals, this is not recommended, the doctor said.
“However, if not eating breakfast doesn’t impact the calories and other macronutrients they consume as the day progresses, it may represent an opportunity to decrease overall calorie intake,” Stanford added.
Lighter options for when you’re not hungry
“If you’re not ready for a full meal, begin with something small within 30 to 60 minutes of waking,” recommends Chloë Ward, a functional diagnostic nutrition practitioner and certified integrative nutrition health coach in Santa Barbara, California.
“Even a light snack can help signal to your body that it’s time to start burning energy.”
![Woman eating breakfast](https://a57.foxnews.com/static.foxnews.com/foxnews.com/content/uploads/2024/08/1200/675/woman-eating-breakfast-on-couch.jpg?ve=1&tl=1)
“Breakfast gives you an energy boost to power-start your day,” an expert told Fox News Digital. (iStock)
Ward offers the following breakfast suggestions for someone who’s not generally hungry in the morning but wants to kick-start metabolism.
- Smoothies: A nutrient-dense smoothie with ingredients like spinach, a small amount of fruit, protein powder and healthy fats (like avocado or nut butter) can be a light yet satisfying option.
- Greek yogurt with berries: Greek yogurt is rich in protein and can be paired with a handful of berries and a sprinkle of nuts or seeds for added fiber and healthy fats.
- Overnight Oats: Preparing oats the night before with milk, chia seeds and a dash of cinnamon can create a light and easy-to-digest breakfast that’s ready when you wake up.
- Protein-rich snack: A hard-boiled egg, a piece of turkey or chicken, or a small serving of cottage cheese can be a quick and light protein boost.
- A piece of fruit with nut butter: Slices of apple or banana with a spoonful of almond or peanut butter offer a balance of carbs, protein and healthy fats without being too heavy.
![Strawberries and blueberries](https://a57.foxnews.com/static.foxnews.com/foxnews.com/content/uploads/2023/11/1200/675/strawberries-blueberries-yogurt.jpg?ve=1&tl=1)
Greek yogurt is rich in protein and can be paired with a handful of berries and a sprinkle of nuts or seeds for added fiber and healthy fats, a nutritionist said. (iStock)
Overall, experts agree that healthy options like fruits, whole grains, dairy, protein and vegetables provide the biggest benefit.
“Protein has a higher thermogenic effect than other macronutrients, meaning it requires more energy (heat) to break it down than either fats or carbohydrates,” Stanford told Fox News Digital.
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“As such, having protein in the morning usually leads to a higher calorie burn, at least temporarily.”
Protein also helps to reduce hunger later in the day, Stanford said.
For more Health articles, visit www.foxnews/health
“Protein doesn’t have to mean meat, if it sounds too heavy in the morning,” she noted.
“Other good protein sources include low-sugar Greek yogurt, eggs, low-carb breakfast wraps, cheese, protein oats, protein shakes or clean protein bars.”
“Even a light snack can help signal to your body that it’s time to start burning energy.”
If you really can’t tolerate food in the morning, Ward suggests starting the day with a glass of warm water, possibly with lemon.
“Warm water helps wake up your digestive system, aids in hydration and can boost your metabolism after a night of fasting,” she said.
Health
Hit a Weight Loss Plateau? A Dietitian Reveals 3 Ways To Break It
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