CLEVELAND — After a panic attack during an NBA game in 2017, Cleveland Cavaliers forward Kevin Love decided to share his battle with anxiety and depression in an essay he wrote for The Players' Tribune.
Love quickly evolved into a public spokesperson for mental health awareness among athletes.
His full court press of removing the stigma included forming the Kevin Love Fund, dedicated to inspiring people to live their healthiest lives while providing the tools to achieve physical and emotional well-being.
While speaking at the HIMSS and Cleveland Clinic 11th annual Patient Experience: Empathy and Innovation Digital Summit on Wednesday, Love explained simple things we all need to get under control. Burnout and stress can impact both our physical and mental health. His advice to manage?
“If you can prioritize sleep I think that's the number one most natural way to fend off and fight that off and keep it at a safe distance,” Love said.
Another thing is limiting social media.
“I know one thing that helped me throughout this entire time is the psychological warfare of being on your phone, and socially, being on your social platforms and getting away from that blue light,” Love said.
Take stock of how much negative news you're consuming too. And maybe use your phone the old fashioned way.
“Consistently like tough messages to see within your phone and on your phone and that's something that's always connected to you so I would say if you are gonna use it, just dive into those great relationships and family and use it to better your life,” Love said.
Sometimes we're our own worst enemy and often forget that we have power over what we put in our bodies and in our minds.
“Have better judgement of what you consume every single day because I believe you are in control of that,” Love said.
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