When people think about champions, they picture medals, podiums, and highlight reels. What we don’t see? The quiet nights. The pressure. The burnout. The moments when even the strongest competitors wonder if they can keep going.
Take Alysa Liu.
She was a teenage prodigy in figure skating, record-breaking jumps, national titles, Olympic spotlight before she was old enough to vote. And then… she stepped away. Not because she couldn’t skate. Not because she wasn’t talented enough. But because she was exhausted. Mentally drained. Burned out from years of expectations stacked sky-high.
For a while, she chose something radical in elite sports: rest. She went to school. Lived a normal life. Pressed pause.
And when she returned? She did it on her terms, healthier, happier, grounded. At the 2026 Winter Olympics she won gold in women’s figure skating. Not because she ignored her struggles. Because she addressed them.
That’s the part that matters.
We’re often told toughness means pushing through at all costs. That champions never crack. But real strength sometimes looks like stepping back. Asking for help. Resetting boundaries. Choosing your well-being over outside noise.
Mental health isn’t the opposite of success. It’s the foundation for sustainable success.
Whether you’re an athlete, a parent, a student, or someone grinding through a demanding job, burnout doesn’t mean you’re weak. It means you’re human. And pausing doesn’t mean quitting. It can mean recalibrating.
Looking after your mental health might look like:
-
Talking to someone you trust.
-
Taking a break without guilt.
-
Changing your relationship with the thing that once felt heavy.
-
Letting go of the idea that your value equals your output.
Champions aren’t champions because they never struggle. They’re champions because they learn how to come back — wiser, steadier, and more self-aware.
The comeback story isn’t just about medals. It’s about choosing yourself when things feel overwhelming.
And if a world-class athlete can step back, rebuild, and return stronger… maybe the rest of us can give ourselves permission to do the same.
Sometimes thriving doesn’t start with pushing harder.
It starts with taking care of your mind.
Mental health struggles often show up quietly. It could be irritability, withdrawal, a change in sleep or drinking habits. If you notice something seems off with a friend or co-worker, don’t brush it off. Ask. Listen. And if needed, suggest they check out a resource like Mental Health and Addictions Nova Scotia. It’s free, anonymous, and available 24/7.
Mental health isn’t just a personal issue. It’s a community one. And around here, we’ve always looked out for each other.
At 107.9 Go Rock, we’re encouraging everyone to keep those chats going, and to make space for what really matters.
