By Nick Giongco
A few national athletes have started showing signs of discomfort over the lockdown imposed by the government as a measure to battle the coronavirus pandemic.
Dr. Karen Trinidad, who heads the sports psychology department of the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC), told the Bulletin that abut two or three have experienced difficulty sleeping and felt anxious.
Trinidad said what they are feeling right now is not a red flag.
“They are anxious because they don’t know what’s going to happen next,” Trinidad said.
Given that there is no certainty as to when the lockdown and the lack of activity are going to end, Trinidad said athletes tend to feel uneasy as they remain under quarantine.
“We have advised them to continue their training even if it is just for 30 minutes because they have to be active,” said Trinidad.
Aside from the usual training routine, she is also encouraging athletes to spend some time watching movies and even indulge in art and music “to help their mood.”
The government was supposed to either lift or loosen the lockdown on April 12 but given the rise in COVID-19 cases, it has been agreed that it would be beneficial to everyone to extend it until April 30.
“They are not used to this. They’re always on the go and what we will be advising the NSAs in the coming days is for the athletes to reach out to us if they feel they need guidance,” said Trinidad.
