Becoming a full-time squash player is everything Georgia Adderley ever wanted but she is also aware that it will not be without its pitfalls. The 22- year-old last week sat the final exam of her sports science degree, a qualification that she is grateful to have but one she hopes not to need to use for a while.
Adderley will now devote all her energies to climbing the rankings after recently competing at her third world championships but knows that the pursuit of excellence can often come at a price, especially in an individual sport where travelling around the world to compete can often be a solitary existence.
Acknowledging her own previous struggles with mental health issues, the Edinburgh-based athlete is happy to lend her support to the Squash the Stigma campaign being run this month by Scottish Squash, in which players are being encouraged to speak out about their own experiences in the hope of helping others.
Adderley describes herself as a loquacious type – it is hard to argue – so has found speaking about her problems, to her mum, boyfriend or training team-mates, to have been a big help during the darker days.
She is grateful also to be playing professionally in an era far removed from the “just get on with it” attitude of the past and believes nurturing and protecting your mental health is as vital as any on-court achievements.
“Studying for my degree has actually been great as it’s given me something else to do outside of squash,” she says. “That’s something I need to be aware of as I move forward. I really enjoy playing squash but it can also be draining and tiring at times.
“I’m now full time but I still need to create time for myself to recover, rest and enjoy myself, walking my dogs and going to the cinema, things like that.
“I want to play my best squash possible but I don’t want to start becoming obsessive about it as that wouldn’t be healthy. You need to give yourself time away from sport, spend time with your friends and family and give yourself space to just be. If all you think about is your job then you’re not going to enjoy life in the way that you should.
“I’m a big talker and speak a lot to my mum and my boyfriend. I’ve spoken to counsellors in the past too which was great as it gave me a chance to learn more about myself. I’m a verbal processor so when things happen I like to talk it through with someone.
“I also have a really good relationship with my coach and can be really honest with him about how I’m feeling about things. I think on the whole people should always speak out rather than keeping any issues inside themselves. And the most important thing is to always surround yourself with people who support you and love you.”
Injuries can often be a trigger for athletes to suffer a dip in their mental wellbeing, something Adderley is also familiar with. A recent three-month lay-off from squash was tough to deal with but Adderley filled the void by picking up new hobbies and generally trying to keep her mind active while she underwent her rehab.
“Being injured is always a tough time,” she adds. “I had an injury when I was 16 and really, really struggled with that. I had a bit of an identity crisis around that time and didn’t know who I was without sport.
“My most recent injury was only three months but it was my first surgery and was a bit scary and unsettling at times. But the key thing for me was setting myself goals and keeping myself busy during the day. I tried to get going with my uni work and started to learn the guitar. It all helps keep you positive and gives you more of a purpose. Mentally I felt good during the rehab as I felt I was using my time wisely.”
Recognising possible triggers ahead of a dip in mental health is something that has come along for Adderley through time and experience.
“In the past I didn’t know what those triggers were and I found myself having feelings that I didn’t understand. I went to counselling and worked through a lot of that. I was 17 at the time and feeling pretty low. I didn’t want to go initially as I was a bit scared but it was so beneficial as it allowed me to become more self-aware and to identify what I need when I find things difficult.
“Now I like to write things down, I use meditation as well and that’s really helped me feel a lot more at peace with myself. I would recommend that to anyone and everyone. I’m really thankful for having gone through that journey.”
Why are you making commenting on The National only available to subscribers?
We know there are thousands of National readers who want to debate, argue and go back and forth in the comments section of our stories. We’ve got the most informed readers in Scotland, asking each other the big questions about the future of our country.
Unfortunately, though, these important debates are being spoiled by a vocal minority of trolls who aren’t really interested in the issues, try to derail the conversations, register under fake names, and post vile abuse.
So that’s why we’ve decided to make the ability to comment only available to our paying subscribers. That way, all the trolls who post abuse on our website will have to pay if they want to join the debate – and risk a permanent ban from the account that they subscribe with.
The conversation will go back to what it should be about – people who care passionately about the issues, but disagree constructively on what we should do about them. Let’s get that debate started!
Callum Baird, Editor of The National
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here