Mental Health in Extreme Sports - We Need To Talk
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- čas přidán 23. 03. 2023
- DIRTY HABITS Presents “We Need To Talk” a heartfelt documentary about Mental Health in Extreme Sports and action sports athletes. It follows Professional Kiteboarder, Graham Howes & Pro Wakeboarder Ryan Peacock as they explore the unique challenges and stigma surrounding mental health in the high-stakes world of action sports from wingsuiting to downhill mountain biking.
*If this video resonated with you, go give our previous video a watch:
- "Is Depression & Anxiety the New Normal?" a watch: • Is Depression & Anxiet...
Through intimate interviews with top athletes and a professional sports psychologist, the film delves into the personal struggles and triumphs of those who live and breathe extreme sport and compete on the highest level.
From Kiteboarding and Downhill MTB to BASE jumping and wakeboarding, these athletes push the limits of what is possible, often at great physical and mental cost. With raw and honest storytelling, the film shines a light on the very real struggles that many action sports athletes face, including anxiety, identity, depression, and addiction.
We Need To Talk is more than just a film about struggles - it is also a celebration of resilience and the power of community. Through the stories of these brave and inspiring athletes, the film showcases the strength and courage it takes to confront and sometimes overcome mental health challenges.
Featuring interviews from 5 times world champion Aaron Hadlow, Kiteboarding pioneer Ruben Lenten, Wingsuit flyer Jason Baker and true legends of the action sports, Theo Erlangsen, Matti Buys & Tommy Swaan. Mental Coach and Author, Paddy Upton joins them along the journey to shed some light on recurring topics that a lot of elite athletes and people are struggling with.
Whether you are an action sports enthusiast or simply looking to better understand the mental health struggles of those around you, Mental Health in Action Sports is a must-see documentary that will leave you inspired and motivated to take action.
Please SUBSCRIBE to our CZcams Channel and Instagram to join our conversations on Mental Health in Extreme Sports
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DIRTY HABITS Production by:
Graham Howes
Ryan Peacock &
Nicolas Cattelan
Graham Howes - / grahamhowes
Ryan Peacock - / ryanxpeacock
Aaron Hadlow - / aaronhadlow
Ruben Lenten - / rubenlen10
Theo Erlangsen - / theo_erlangsen
Jason Baker - / bakingjasonbaker
Matti Buys - / mattibuys
Tommy Swaan - / tommyswaan
Paddy Upton - paddyupton.com/
Nicolas Cattelan - / nic_cattelan
Credits:
Thank you to everyone involved in this project, from the conversations we had along the way, to the videographers who’s footage we used in this project. We are forever grateful.
If you are struggling or someone you know is struggling with mental health, please start a conversation.
If a conversation is hard… it’s probably the one worth having. - Sport
Guys. The problem with depression and anxiety in extreme sports is complicated. It's the other way round. Recent studies show that we the extreme crowd are weak before we even enter the sport. We go to adrenaline sports to compensate for the things our brains lack. In order to enjoy life we need the rash. When it ends for whatever reason we break. And because we are so vulnerable to begin with we can break in any moment. Love you guys. Stay strong.
I think this is the best take
thanks for joining the conversation, I personally am now seeing it the way you do, although I can't say its the case for everyone, it has got me thinking! Cheers G
I think you’re spot on for probably 80% of people at least!
many studies are also showing a trend of superstars whom after a whole career of taking constant slams & impacts are finding themselves to be "shells" of their oldselves & dealing with some or other form of cognitive deficit or issue so just like one can enter the sport weak minded & empty to then become whole, the opposite seems to be more likely that the opposite is just as true but will only show up late 30/40's - its not just concussions one has to watch out for, but they are the main culprit & Dave Mirra (R.I.P) was a tragic example of an entire industry not taking notice & not doing enough for its ppl because even in mainstream professional wrestling, it happened & was kinda hushed over because of the scandal - Chris Benoit is an extreme example of this. i dont condone his actions but like Mirra, benoit also pushed his body to the absolute limits in love of the game, both paid the ultimate price & some
It takes a kind of personality to even start doing more extreme sports than for instance football or another regular sport, the last group has all kinds of coaches, health and other training facilities and more important perhaps qualified coaches too.
In "extreme sports" (read alternative lifestyles), especialy from the early years people just kind of went with the hype of it, people somehow identify a lot with feeling and acting different then "regulars" do is my personal experience.
Am 53, still trying to ride bmx freestyle and getting back into racing too after a +3 years injury adter bteaking my knee, ankle, etc...
Some vertebra's are still not in place, couldnt get surgery cause of Covid-19 so knowing me i stayed "strong"
wich resulted in a huge scoliose, pinched nerves in my spine, sometimes not feeling my leg, knee or foot wich realy s*cks.
But i got to admit i never ever regretted going into this lifestyle of extreme sports and all that comes with it, as it litterly also saved my life as i had some crappy youth traumas wich still follows me till today.
Ride, slide, glide or fly on i would say, but with a longer time in life feeling rhings are not feeling great and totaly fed up doing anything at all for more than +-4 weeks just try to talk about it to someone you trust, or better go to someone who is for instance a qualified Doktor/Psychotherapeut who also tests your blood on some things like vitD and a lot more important values in there.
Keep the Good side Up guys 🙏🏾❤️
One quote that really hit home - 'we're all chasing something; status, money or happiness.' It's weird to think that pursuing happiness is actually a fast track to not being happy - but it's true. It's so important to ask ourselves WHY we are doing these things. I'd like to share my own experience and hope it helps someone out there.
I never got super into the competitive scene, but I was a lifelong skier and mountain biker, and I always pushed myself hard. I lived through several serious injuries. I was a chronic partier, and was starting to dabble in more reckless activities (base jumping, motocross, and multi-day drug benders just to name a few). I told myself that I was doing it all in the name of a good time, for the sake of building experiences and having fun. This was only partially true. I got addicted to stacking up crazy stories and personal achievements like other people get addicted to money. I was just as bad as the hyper-materialists that I claimed to hate. I would go through these periods of massive depression, hardly getting out of bed for weeks at a time. Then one day I'd hop up, start doing dangerous shit and getting blasted again, and think I was back on the right track.
On the outside, my life looked awesome. I was traveling, going to festivals, riding crazy mountains, essentially doing "bucket list stuff." But the older I got, the more hollow it all felt. I just didn't know where else to turn, because the only moments I really felt alive were when I was pushing myself. And when you've lived a life like mine, pushing yourself gets really dangerous. In 2017, I attempted suicide. I was hospitalized for a couple of weeks, and for the first time in my life I had to slow down and think about what the point of all my madness was. For a while after that, I really thought I would turn over a new leaf. I had never felt more calm and confident in myself. I didn't feel like I had anything to prove. Unfortunately, old habits die hard, and before long I was going harder than ever.
In 2020, when my life was as fun as it had ever been, I was beginning to seriously consider another suicide attempt. Instead, I broke my back hitting a tree while trail riding. I fully severed my spinal cord at T6, punctured both lungs, broke about a dozen ribs. I was alone, so I then proceeded to lay in the bushes for like 3 or 4 hours before someone found me. By all rights I should not still be alive. One of the few things I remember from the next week or so was the doctor explaining how lucky I was not to be dead, and I just remember being filled with gratitude that I was still here. Which was weird, because I had been on the fence about killing myself for weeks. If you'd asked me whether I'd rather be dead or paralyzed before my accident, I would have undoubtedly said dead. But here I was, lying in a drugged stupor, knowing my body would never be the same, and flooded with gratitude and acceptance that I never knew existed.
I've been in a wheelchair since that day. I'm not going to sit here and pretend that the journey has been all hunkey dorey and everyone should go break their backs to get over depression. Some days are hard. I still get frustrated. I still get depressed. But having everything I thought of as my identity ripped away in one fell swoop has done wonders for my perspective on life. It's hard to imagine how suicidal I once was. In a fucked up way, I needed this to happen and it saved me. If someone reading this learns something from my experiences, that's all I can ask.
Really, honestly ask yourself - why? Why do I want to learn that trick? Why do I need that new car? Why do I want to have sex with that person? In my case, the answer was almost always - to impress other people. I didn't realize it, but that's what I was doing; building social capital. I wanted to be the most interesting, unique, fun, badass person I could be. But only to impress others. It stemmed from deep insecurity, which I think a lot of us that live in the extremes suffer from. Why would we do such reckless shit, unless we weren't confident in who we are without those notches on our belts? Maybe this resonates, maybe it doesn't. But I just want to say you ARE good enough, regardless of whether you're a badass wingsuiter or a 9-5 accountant. By all means - travel, party, jump off cliffs. Just make sure you're doing it for YOU, not for anyone else.
If I can give any advice from a seated perspective, slow the eff down. I went to a 10 - day silent meditation called Vipassana that changed my life (look it up, it's free). We live in such a fast-paced, hyper-stimulated world I don't think most of us know what slowing down even is. I sure didn't. Try to just watch the world go by once in a while. You don't always need to be achieving something, there is a ton of value in just observing. Don't read, don't put on music, don't go for a walk, just exist. Watch a bird or some ants, watch the clouds, watch people walk by. Listen to the rain or the wind. Meditate if you want. You'd be amazed how much peace and clarity an hour a day of just doing nothing can bring. Happiness isn't something to be pursued, it's something you already have. You just gotta look for it.
Anyway thanks for indulging me if you made it this far, I didn't plan to write so much but the words kept flowing and I haven't thought about my old life in a while. So cheers, I hope you have an amazing day, year, and life!
Profound - probably the best comment I’ve ever read on the internet. I needed this right now, so thank you for sharing.
Sorry to hear that you experienced such a life changing injury but I am glad you found clarity and perspective in the midst of it all.
@@c1ique Im glad it resonated! I was clearly feeling pretty introspective and philosophical after watching that^, I just reread it and was like ‘damn, I wrote this??’ I guess it was cathartic, sometimes just expressing this stuff can pull ideas and emotions out that I never knew I had.
Don’t be sorry brother! I’m not. The best things in life are never what we expect
What you've said resonates with me a lot. Thank you for sharing, it puts it all in perspective!
That one hit me hard, thanks for that comment.
Thanks!
“The Daily Stoic” by Ryan Holiday…works wonders in re-wiring the brain. Also, do NOT check email, texts, insta until at least 30 mins AFTER waking up…take control of your morning and remember, the only thing you control are your thoughts and your actions
I do this for the 1st hour of the day now. Plus no caffeine, exercise and cold exposure, it’s working wonders in my life. Cheers. Graham
@@DirtyHabits I just sit in silence with a blindfold or do yoga blindfolded. The darkness is soothing plus wim hof it's awesome. Caffeine is not for me made me have anxiety
Kiting is overfilled with pretty people in exotic places doing fun stuff on Instagram. You not only need to be a great athlete, with a great smile and a perfect body, but also live the best life that is possible. That’s the image of kiting. I windsurf. Almost no body does that sport. It is probably the hardest sport out there. Pretty much anyone who windsurfs is humbled by the experience and is pretty happy doing the sport for the sheer joy of it, knowing full well how bad they are compared to others. There’s no money in the sport, even for the pros. Kai Lenny, Robbie Naish, and many others windsurf even though they don’t have to. So maybe the answer is to find something to do for the love of it and to forget the ego, the image or the results. Nicely done though. I thoroughly enjoyed watching.
Thanks for the contribution to the conversation, I personally wouldn't say it's the kind of sport that's the problem, maybe its the people the the sport attract, I also read the other day about, not 1, but 2 professional windsurfers committed suicide, so sad. Depression doesn't pick and choose, anyone can be a target. Much love. Graham
Well done Graham
Thanks for watching legends 🤙
The moment i grasp something too hard it slips away. The moment i let it go it comes back. I had a minor injury just a sprain and tendonitis but being stuck in bed on social media for a couple of months with no way of doing the thing you want to be doing is debilitating. Scratching the days on the wall, if i lose skating or my hands and i cant draw idk if i would want to be here.
Some days i wish i could just watch the sun rise and set with no expectations but society demands our constant attention on top of avoiding addictions .
When you wake up one day and realise your whole personality is based on being the most goodest kiteboarder and everyone no longer gives a shit it's inevitably gonna be depressing.
I lost a leg in a motorcycle accident when I was 26. The first thing I was thinking was "I guess I'll have to relearn how to surf again". I'm 42 now and still recovering. I can't do it the same as I used to, but I won't give up. I still ride dirt bikes, jump out of airplanes, skate, ride stand-up jet skis, skating, I recently took up dancing, and am looking into getting into kiteboarding with my son. You really can't look at what you've lost. You always have to look at what you will gain. How do I make it back up to the highest peak that I can reach? Some days that might just be putting on your shoes, other days
conquering the world. I think it's a good thing to talk about what's going on in your head. You burn up the energy being angry about it until it just clicks "wait a minute. I can completely be putting my energy to something useful or fulfilling instead". Have your down time, rage about it, get a good cry in, but don't shut yourself off from the world. The storm will pass, the night will end and tomorrow will be more beautiful than you can imagine if you can find the patience to see it through. Cheers mate!
Very well said and inspiring
@@Juicymoka thanks. I got to take my first kite boarding lesson today and attempted wakeboarding behind a jet ski. I nearly got all the way up on two feet! Ended up snapping my prosthetic in two shortly after that so the rest of the vacation we'reon it going to be interesting. Oh well...fix/repair/repeat
awesome man, thanks for the wise words...the truth is, most men with both legs will never do half the stuff you have...that's pretty cool
Right on man. I’m the same. Lost my leg and lung to the flu. Stoked to be alive and surfing 🙏
I got teared up reading this comment. I’ve been struggling recently and needed the reminder that we will always have victories if we keep trying, it doesn’t matter what the victory is, or whether it’s greater than one from our past, it just needs to be a victory. I got up and tried today, that’s a start, and a small victory
I was a weekend warrior, not a pro athlete. I still love and follow all kinds of "action sports." During a bike (bicycle) ride I went over the handlebars and did a lawn dart, head first onto the sidewalk. I damaged my C5/6 vertebrae. I've been a quadriplegic for over 12 years. S**t happens. With the support of my wife, two children, and family, life rolls on. Literally. I am healthy enough to be able to get around in a manual wheelchair as opposed to a power chair. The Triumph Foundation, Be Perfect Foundation, and Casa Colina Rehab Hospital taught me that there is life after a spinal cord injury. Because of them, I am involved in adaptive sports. Water and snow skiing, biking, surfing, and off-roading aren't the same as when I was able-bodied but it's the next best thing and I'm still active. Exercise is medicine. Please see my CZcams channel. 💪♿
"I f*cking hate Yoga.." Thank you!!
These sports are great to do at your own pace as a diversion.
Doing it as a profession and having to be the best, becomes a tough way to go.
This is a common problem in the motocross world, young competitive guys get sucked into the pro circuit. They dropout of school to enjoy the fame, girls, money, recognition then if they dont end up as one of the top 5 guys they get dropped and discover a very difficult existence outside the pro circuit. I hear it all the time from guys that get injured and cant do the sports they love anymore.
Yeah true that, that’s why we need good role models in sports, and brands to support their athletes with some sort of mental coaching
A Sport Psychologist is the perfect Person to talk about such an topic
I had my first heart attack at 45. Bad meds kept me limited for a year and a half thinking that I was having another one. Last year I had my third one. Is life over? Six months later I am better than I was after the first. I still haven't paddled offshore but hope to get back on the "wagon" this year. Life is not over. It does have new rules, so pushing the limits are a new level. It is now much clearer on how far I can push without dying. It is still an extreme sport, but the worst-case scenario is more likely. Life is not over; it is just redefined if I can adapt. If I can't the game ends early.
I've found that when I am down and out and broke, i rely on my old expedition mindset, remembering all those days in the rain and wind but still in the canyon on a raft making people coffee and treats in the wind. We have been here two weeks, I think I can stay for another week in the rain. The "no big deal" mantra and knowing that its temporary. Everything is temporary. Lean into the suffering, laugh a little at the folly, don't blame yourself too much, and don't let the beast inside run the show.
Its okay to Show weakness. Showing weakness is much stronger than being "cool and strong"
As an ultramarathon runner I have been there. Thanks for talking about it.
Every professional athlete should watch this great footage....TRUE REALITY...!!!!
This was so needed for me. competitive paintball player recently went through shoulder surgery and cant play. feeling lost. But lifes a journey.
Many women in extreme sports go through the same struggles, because you know they are humans as well...so yeah, it's important to talk about mental heath in sports..
Thanks for your message, I totally agree, I'm just sharing my personal experience's and what I know to be true to me, I feel i'm not in the position to comment or include woman in the same box, but hopefully we can open that box in the future, or use this as a platform for more topics in the future. Big love. G
I learned to be at peace with moping around. First step, convince yourself to not feel guilty about your emotional state - emotions are physical and temporal; the spirit is eternal.
This film was BAD-ASS... Damn... LOVED THIS!!! Thank you!!
This should be "required reading" for any serious extreme sports athlete.
Nice one to bring this to light, many base jumpers have committed suicide and there is a pattern
Not sure if any guys on this video mentioned that they might have adhd, but in my opinion most of these guys have it.
I’m not professional athlete but I’ve always lived through all kind of sports during my life. When I have had good kitesurfing/snowkiting session I feel the most alive. It develops so much dopamine that even though I couldn’t sleep almost at all the next two days will be great ‘cause all of the dopamine.
I’ve adhd and I got diagnosed couple of years ago. It’s been truly life changing to know that my brains are working differently than most of the people.
The big empty. Not no motivation, like I never enjoyed it at all and why would I want to do it at all. Can relate.
watch andrew huberman's episode on ADHD, it helped me so much understanding how my brain works. cheers G
Nah, that's called adrenalin...not ADHD.
I took up kite boarding in my 40's. A lover gave me his board and kite because he was too afraid. I went on craigslist and found a guy to teach me. I spent months walking up and down the beach with the kite before I followed him into the San Francisco Bay. I was terrified going under the Golden Gate Bridge, but that is always part of it. It was my main activity through the pandemic. I always go out with the guy who taught me. And I never see it as extreme, instead it gives me a freedom in the water that I had only dreamed about.
Perhaps not too surprisingly, it turnes out there are major differences between various extreme sport practitioners: More than 30 years ago I took part in a study which was the main PhD work of Gunnar Breivik, currently a professor at Norway's Sports Institute. Since that time he's been the recognized authority on what makes extreme sports athletes tick.
For his testing he got help to select approximately 40 sky divers/parachutists (many of whom turned to BASE jumping), and the same number of white water kayak and rock climbers.
He also had reference groups taken from people doing their one-year military service and "regular" athletes at the sports institute.
All the extreme sports groups were outliers, both compared to the general population and to regular elite athletes, but among the three tested groups the rock climbers were a lot more balanced and reflective, particularly when asked to judge their own ranking in the country. (We had no actual competitions in any of these sports at the time). Both the sky divers and the kayakers believed themselves to by in the best half while the among the rock climbers there were exactly 5 of us who thought we were top 5 and another 15 who judged themselves to be in the top 20/better half.
I believe this has a lot to do with the way rock climbing always starts from the bottom, you can mostly control all major risks, and if you can't make a particular move or sequence, then it is immediately obvious, whereas the other groups have much more of a "do or die" mentality: "I haven't died yet, so I must be very good!"
You can of course argue that since then the ascendance of highly published free solo climbing, as well as "high ball" boulders which are effectively free solos, means that rock climbing have also attracted a number of those willing to take major risks in order get the adrenaline rush they seek. (Back in my time free soloing was severely frowned upon, you should only do it in private when nobody can see it happen, and never talk about afterwards.)
I realize a lot of people including myself are going through it mentally. I love to climb because of it. When I’m having a particularly rough day, I climb higher. It’s because I need an outlet. I need to feel something other than nothing. This is it. Rather do what I love or enjoy than not.
Gratitude has always been my greatest ally when battling with depression. I have struggled with the acknowledgment that my life can be amazing on paper but still be shrouded in darkness. In my journey with depression I have learned being grateful in the moment is paramount. Men must talk about this stuff; thank you for being vulnerable... ...it takes great strength.
Status, success and fear, there is this paradox living the life you dreamed of and that you really honestly love and at the same time coping with these things. It comes at a price, your health and your life are important. I hope many men will learn this lesson and calm down a bit, become less competitive and make it more about teamwork, creativity and technique - instead of going solo against each other, always higher, faster… Also extreme sports should be environmentally friendly, we all love the snow, the ocean. Its nature that taught us all of this. The (money) industry makes the sport go in a direction that most athletes would not choose. Best wishes from Germany.
Thank you so much for speaking Up. ❤️❤️❤️
in tears...
I completely agree that mental "toughness" is overrated. My sport is climbing. It is my passion. I also have a potentially debilitating fear of heights... Overcoming that fear with every move, is part of the fun for me. Making the conscious decision to climb up takes total focus, and gets me out of my head. The "toughness" comes in admitting and accepting your weaknesses. But it is a gentle type of toughness. Where you can calmy observe your limits, and decide what to do with them. Hardcore mental "toughness" usually means the ego takes over, and that's when you stop being methodical. In adventure sports this can very quickly lead to catastrophic consequences. I highly recommend the book "Ego is the Enemy", by Ryan Holiday. Thank you for this superb video.
THIS IS GOING TO CHANGE LIFE'S 👌✌
Thank you!
Thanks
accepting life is difficult really does make shit easier. work through things and accept that problems arent forever
Full send!
Eventually there is repentance and balance...
Adrenaline is as much a false Idol as any other trap in life, eventually a walk with a higher power restores what we freely gave away chasing that rush chasing that feeling of flying.....
Only that relationship can fill that hole that makes one truly whole.
Blessings and aloha from the great lakes USA
congrats! we are responsabile for our our happiness and serenity! we gotta work on ourself, go inside and do introspection, every single day! cheers!
true that brother!
Important message to share! Thanks for opening up ❤
As we approach 100,000 views, I just wanted to hop on and say a massive thank you to everyone who is engaged with us, reached out to those around them and been there when they know they are needed. We made this documentary knowing in our hearts that it’s something we needed to express, and as much as I meant to be the storyteller here, I can’t express how encouraging and heartwarming everyone’s response has been. Not only to us but most importantly to one another.
I believe I speak on behalf of everyone who has worked on this documentary when I say that we feel honoured to have contributed in whatever way we have to making this world a slightly brighter place.
Nicolas Cattelan - Director
Thanks for being vulnerable, being human and sharing it with everyone
You have made a difference! It was obvious to me the minute I saw all the responses in the comments. Your message hit right where it was supposed to. Keep being awesome!
Exceptionally well produced with a message most wont speak out on until they no longer in the industry, i call half a million views by month end - keep up the good work, the world gets brighter a baby step at a time when people make a decision to do so like you have - *hats off* much love & respect
❤
The juxtaposition of realizing you have many great things in life yet somehow can still feel miserable can cause some of the deepest dissonance imaginable.
Later on you mention how it’s not an extreme athlete problem, it’s a human one. Could not agree more.
Mental challenges are part of every humans’ existence no matter their background. Countless books and a massive part of every human culture is at least tangentially related to coping with this universal experience.
Being a bit more open and supportive of each other is a low hanging fruit that would do all of us good.
Important message, and very important discussion
I think the stigma of an extreme sport person is a big issue in the scene. People outside only see the fun, the thrill and the pure joy doing what we love. They can't imagine that it is really really hard dealing with the constant pressure, fear of failure and anxiety of loosing what we have.
Thanks for making this.
Let’s hope we can change that stigma 🖤
escapism takes many forms,
sports obsession gets denied as such because it seems like we're accomplishing something when we're really running away from something
This film has just been Nominated for Film of the Year, and Graham has been Nominated for Social Contribution of the Year, If you would like to support us, and all those involved in this project, Please head over and drop us a vote.
Social Contribution of the Year: www.gkakiteworldtour.com/social-contribution-of-the-year/
Film of the Year (We Need To Talk): www.gkakiteworldtour.com/video-of-the-year/
Photo of the Year (Airplane Stunt): www.gkakiteworldtour.com/photo-of-the-year/
I just wanna say a massive thank you to each one of you for taking the time to watch this, and to those who are taking the time to comment, DM, email, call etc. whether it’s just a thumbs up, or sharing your view, or challenging my view, and joining the conversation, I appreciate you. I have been trying to keep up with the comments, and replies, but I read each and every one, and have been trying to reply, but please understand it’s hard to respond and absorb everything, As I said, I’m not a psychologist or coach, I’m just a guy who wanted to open up a topic while navigating through it myself. So I appolagize if I don’t reply or answer with the compassion, or matched energy that you have taken to contribute, but please please keep commenting. It’s important for others to see also that they aren’t not alone. Much love. Graham 🖤
much love and thank u for this amazing video!!
I used extreme sports as a way of self-medicating for so long. It allowed me to push through my PTSD, and 10 years later, I'm doing really ok. Now that it's no longer the thing keeping me alive, I've actually re-assessed my risk tolerance. I will continue to ride motorcycles, dh longboard, cliff dive, etc. But No more insane shit, no bombing busy roads, no risky base jumps, no risky freeclimbs.
I'm very mindful of risks now, I've become calm and happy, it's just a sport for me now, rather than the thing keeping me going.
I really appreciate your documentary, this is a little-talked-about but core part of extreme sports. I'm really touched by this.
This, I think, is especially pervasive in the BASE scene in particular. Threading the needle between life and death requires a very strong force behind that, and I think that for a lot of us in base, it's almost a spiritual thing.
Beautiful and needed!❤
@20:30 I‘m surely not a doctor and maybe you don‘t want my help.. incase you want to hear my honest thoughts, cause I was at the exact same point, hear me out:
It sounds like you‘ve reached your goals and now you‘re looking for purpose & reason. There is none. Does a lion has a reason or purpose to live? So you kinda need to create your own. And the best way I know is with projects. I started woodworking and I could loose myself it in for hours, didn‘t feel tired or exhausted at all. Surround yourself with people that need you or you can provide value in sense of working or building something. And I‘m sure you will feel more fullfilled. All the best.
This is an Awesome Doc. Thanks!
The DZ bonfire after beer light is therapy. You see the happiest people jumping during the day, and we can use that high to vent about our problems in good company
I’m 57 and still 25 in my mind. All my life I’ve participated in extreme sports of one type or another, it really was my life all the rest was just fill.
The mental issues were never an issue, either with myself or others I knew doing the same type of thing.
The main difference that I observe is social media, it’s a two edged weapon for many reasons.
The most obvious being the ease of living life secondhand and not just getting out there and doing it, but I doubt that’s the main problem.
Social media expects no mistakes, you must be cool first and every time which is ridiculous as mistakes are the norm, that pressure was not there before.
Social media judges you before the entire world.
The selfies are narcissistic, and that’s an entire subject.
The expectation of monetary reward is relatively new and I love that you can expect to make a great living if you are good, but it increases the pressure.
Adrenaline is a wonderful and addictive drug, love it but I find I need a lot to get the same benefits as before, so maybe that’s the natural course of things, if you have survived you have to slow down a bit.
I guess social media does not allow for that reality.
We did things because we loved it, and no other reason, we tended not to care what we looked like or how we appeared to others.
We made loads of mistakes all the time, and often looked ridiculous.
Most of what we did are just memories now, I love it that way.
I don’t know if this sheds any light on the problem, it’s my 2 cents worth.
Excellent point!
I don't even bother with Social Media. To many that's the fuel for "Depression". Be that person who rises above the masses. Considering everyone everyday is living "Copy and Paste". More often than not.. in fear of "criticism" of "stink eyes" from people they don't even know. You're 57? Now act 57. But remain fit as a 25 year old. Thats the Mindset. ( that's an easy fix Brother.)
@@jt.8144 Act how you feel. Age is a number. Maturity is what you are talking about. Do things because YOU want to do them and YOU enjoy them. Don’t look for fame. If it happens great but don’t seek it.
Thank you for sharing brother, some great points you made, and a good perspective! cheers G
Crazy well made, great work
We need more of this!!! Thank you for sharing and opening
This. Is. So. Important. Thank you so much for making this.
I don’t usually comment on social media… but I just wanted to let you know that I found a lot of value in this. Thank you.
thanks for making the effort!
Well worth it….that piece you did (about 20 min into the documentary) when you were looking at the camera and listed off all the things you have tried.. captured the “feeling of helplessness” so well….it was so authentic. That must have taken so much courage. I have never seen so much display of vulnerability among men. Thank you.
You are a legend mate. Strong minds keep coming back
Well done! Great film.
Media has a lot to do with it. If you protect your image and refuse to be any part of media there’s a centeredness and spirituality that comes into play. It leads to its own existential crisis, but you deal with it alone, and the more you deal with it the more it fulfills you spiritually. If you do not make your sacred sport part of your living, and mix it with business, you must find another purpose to create income. Doing this adds to purpose outside of your love and thus more fulfillment when you are in re-creation enjoying what you love.
I lost function of my left arm after a skating accident some years ago. Mentally I've gotten worse and abuse substances now. Just wanna get better. This helped knowing its a thing.
Hey tommy, really sorry to hear that, yeah some people get it bad, and there's no easy answer, but educating myself on depression, ADHD and how it effects our dopamine, which makes us more prone to addiction, has really helped me, check out Dr andrew huberman's channel, also the book, 'Mans search for meaning' by Viktor Frankil was a turning point for me. Reach out if you need to talk. Cheers G
🙏🏽
I think when you loose purpose is when you go into dark places. As it was said, when one door closes, another one opens hence it is of most importance to look for and pursue the opportunities that arise with each calamity that life may throw at us. On a side note, this life is about letting go so when something has come to an end, if you do not let it go, it will inevitably weigh you down. You have to let go and move on.
Yes. On a much much smaller scale at 38 years old I became a "wind junkie" and have been obsessed for 35 years. Now at 73 and some physical problems the wind obsessed life is coming to a close and at times I feel lost & depressed. None of the "elderly" hobbies hold any interest for me, but currently I'm doing a ton of volunteer work to silence the beast. Still loving light wind foil days
"Is not the goal, it's the journey" ❤️
Thank you.
Thank you for this really inspiring piece!
Awesome ... This is for all men not just extreme sports !!
"its so fkn majestic" what a great doc and cool stories. A+ well done
Trying to figure out why you can't get motivated to do something you love is hard.
Incredible film!
Thank you, a lot of us needed this
This documentary is so great to see. Having terrible mental health is almost ubiquitous in sport-- like if you don't have depression or anxiety or anorexia or some other form of extreme behavior, you can't succeed. Also, some anti-depressants/anti-anxiety meds can apparently reduce athletic performance. Having gone through depression and anxiety, I can say that that wasn't the case with me. After I got help, I was finally was able to lose the ego issues and fear of failure that used to hold me back, and find a path that I'm incredibly happy with. After watching this, I hope other athletes are inspired to look at their mental health as just as important as training and recovery.
Amazing stuff, thanks for making the effort to film your story. Nice last line!!!
this is so important! really beautiful project guys!
You know I didn't realize that when my racing career ended that racing was my whole life. After it ended I went down the wrong road. It almost killed me, but somehow I've survived. As Time passed I slowly started to recover, but it took many years to do so. Now I'm doing just fine.
Thanx guys x
Thank for such a great job ❤
"Life is about the journey, not about the destination." Gonna keep that one in my mind✌️
Oh man, what a nice video! so on point.
Thanks for sharing 🙏💙
INSPIRING. Thank you
You mentioned having a "panic attack" in the water. I've had a similar experience. I had been to multiple cardiologists and specialized doctors the whole thing throughout my life. I was always diagnosed with anxiety and got on my way.
One day, I had an episode so bad in the water, the same symptoms of a panic attack, but I couldn't shake it. I had to call an ambulance for myself and, after 26 years with it, diagnosed with a heart condition.
The point being, sometimes it's the chicken or the egg situation between mental and physical well-being.
Risk attitude ....extreme sport ...relies often on a forgotten traumatic episode in young age....by teasing death we tend to prove ourself that we can survive and feel alive....risk addiction...
I'm starting to see how I relate to this more and more, please share any link to more info on this, thanks G
@@DirtyHabits when you need to be in hyperaction to feel alive and overcome trauma...or repeat and repeat because you re locked in an old traumatic process...cause the rest of life is anxiety generated initially by this trauma so you return to it again and again just before , at the stage you got adrenaline and superpowers...it can bring you to death as base jump is going to bring you to death in 4years ...at the end what is the meaning of life ? Adrenaline rushes ? Defying death...maybe there is more rushes and joys to accomplish and share LOVE, but yes adrenaline is fucking good for our brain but how long how far ? Some just enjoy other need the rushes...for the peace of their mind....
I had a scooter when I was 9 years old, and I would ride down the hill from the house where I lived. I never went pro though, specially because I was never particularly good. This video was very inspirational. Perhaps I'll start doing yoga while hating it and taking meds until I can walk on top of broken legs.
I'm absolutley not a pro!
but I have been there: having crashes, questioning my life, questioning the things I do, not beeing motivated to go to work, withdrawing from family & friends, trying to forget my thoughts & not facing my feelings, ...
what I learned from the past is to face what I feel, face my fears & thoughts. life is a bitch and on the other hand it can be soo amazing. I'm trying to not get stuck in the bad moments , just moving on because time will not stop - after every down comes an up, life is a journey and no easy one!
thanks for the video, feels good hearing people talking freely about this!
Powerful! Thanks for sharing
Well done on this, hard topic because as mentioned we intrinsically don't want to show weakness. Im no athlete but the pressure to be better is all consuming, i know it consumed me, dragged me under. thanks guys.
Muchas gracias! Appreciate the effort to tell this story. We all need this realness.
"You gonna have to climb the highest mountains - to see the best views... And believe me - it's so f-ing majestic" Advice to younger self
Thank you for making this video, mental health rocked my world and adrenaline sports too
That's good stuff. I took several canopy courses with Brian Germain and flew one of his Samurai canopies in competition...
Brian was one of the first Extreme Sports Phsychologist, & his teachings and exercises REALLY helped with dangerous encounters while swooping. I know the muscle memory & mental preparation through his courses definitely saved my life a time or two.
Good stuff.
Keep preaching.
Everyone who wants to be the best or better at their game, will have to face themselves when life happens. This is not a new and profound realization, it’s reality. People prone to pressure will always be affected to some extent, and since life is not fair, and people are not equal, and variables differ, the problems are not the same… they need to talk. Good job on the documentary. I applaud your vulnerability. ✌🏻
" suffering is gonna shape who you are"...much respect for you mate!
DO EVERYTHING IN LIFE BECAUSE YOU ARE HAVING FUN & TAKE CARE
This is super cool, thank you for this video
Great docu my bro!!! please read Siddhartha... is time to let go and continue to the next step in your spiritual journey!!! Must stop being a caterpillar and become a butterfly!!!
I’ll add it to the reading list
This is also very important.
I'm a cyclist and mountain biker and while I wouldn't consider that to be an extreme sport, I could still relate to so many things in this video. All the ups and downs, the depression, anxiety, doubt, not feeling you're good enough to compete etc...
This documentary is truly an amazing piece of work. The film making and story telling is next level!
Dear Graham, I watched the whole Video. I found your personal words at 20:23 very moving. I've found lasting hope and motivation in religion. I'm a Christian because I've found the Bible (esp. the new Testament) to be intellectually, and on a personal level trustworthy. I'm always open to the study of other religions too though since I seek (or at least try to seek) truth. I'm not looking to start a discussion here. Just wanted to give my thoughts. Perhaps you'll read this. Wishing you all the best.
Thanks for putting this awareness. I go wild river swimming and do Wim Hoff in -25 degrees...every week or sometimes a few times a week. it’s a sport and makes me feel alive, the cold water heals me...but it could be dangerous. Once I did not notice the ice building up too high and so scratched myself by the ice to rise out..the slippery high ice made it difficult to come out. After I ended up doing river surfing on a continuous wave. Recently I saw the documentary “ Finding Michael...about a 22 year old climbing up Mount Everest, and he did it but died coming down...his little brother 23 years later wanted to find his body...so sad...so sad but opened up my heart. The crazy thing is after watching this I became be-witched by the mountain and my heart wants to climb Mount Everest now like Michael....Surfing, Wim Hoff, wild river swimming is one thing but.....now I want to climb Everest?? What?? I cannot help watching Michaels videos and other Everest video...I am addicted? know I have been through sufferings in my life and have loads of anger inside me....but fear helps me feel alive even though it is dangerous.....yes....I am not healed yet am I? Then I came upon this video synchronization....I must meditate on this, 🙏🇨🇦❤️🌈✌️🦋🌺🏄♀️🛹🧘♂️✌️
27:30 What a great speech. I'm 29 and suddenly got my life taken away from me.
Going to open heart surgery tomorrow, there's a 20% chance they have to put a pacemaker on me. I just suddenly got sepsis that destroyed my heart valve..
I lost my dog, lost my apartment so I'm currently homeless, my grandpa died, all of this bad luck shit happened within this year's April. One month.
I'm so scared i can't do sports anymore or go to the gym or rollercoasters and all that..
And yeah, I'm 29. All of this just suddenly happened without warning. If i happen to die on the operating table tomorrow, all i wanna say is to just live and enjoy the small things. Don't grab and hold on to all the negative stuff, even though it's super easy.
What a great documentary, that final speech made me cry.
Hey Bru, thanks for the comment and sharing your story, I would love to say something inspiring and thoughtful, but the truth is, that sucks, but the scars create your story, and I have no doubt that you will write a new chapter after this, and I look forward to hearing about it. Best of luck and blessings for your operation! much Love Graham
@@DirtyHabits Thank you ❤️ It's now midnight here and the surgery is at 8am. I just had my last full glass of water in who knows how long and it was bittersweet. I don't know if i can sleep, but I'll try. I would think going into surgery well rested decreases the risk of complications.
Thanks for the reply, i still can't praise enough the speech at the end. Powerful words.
@@Litepaw how did the surgery go ?
This was awesome and so insightful, thank you for sharing this
Isn't it about having fun and not getting hurt?
Who cares, if you are the best in whatever... I certainly don't.
Being at the top of your game, or experiencing “nirvana” comes with a big price tag, getting hurt comes hand in hand, we accept that injuries are a small price to pay, I personally get atleast one mild to severe injury per year, sometime more. But I’m ok with that for some reason… cheers. Graham