Play PodcastPlay Download PodcastDownload

Transcription:

Karina Combes, MBA, MSN, RN (Host): Thank you so much. First of all, Trent, on behalf of myself and all of our listeners, I want to thank you for coming on to our show. We're thrilled to have such a star guest and we're so thankful that you're willing to talk about such an important topic.

Okay. Let's tip off, just like a game, we'll get right into it. I'll ask you some questions and simply feel free to respond with any thoughts that you might have. And then I'll add in some information as well, based on my knowledge and experience as a nurse working in the field of mental health, primarily. The first question that I have for you, Trent, is a general one. Playing primetime college basketball for one of the best teams in the country, isn't easy. The spotlight's always on you. And you and your teammates face grueling competition, every time you hit the court. How do you mentally prepare for playing on such a big game state, big time stage?

Trent Frazier, Student Athlete (Guest): Um, I kind of just take it day by day. Uh, I think prep, preparation is one of the biggest keys. And my, you know, preparation going into game days, I try to stick to the same routine, um, try to do the same things every day. Try to eat the same amount of food, get the same amount of fluids. And you know, just stay to my routine, my same playlist of music so that, you know, I'm staying on course of, you know, what I do, uh, before games.

So, um, but mentally I kinda just go into every game like it's you know, another one, um, I don't see any other game as big as another one. Um, I kinda just tend to go in as every game and just go out there and play freely and have fun for, you know, 40 minutes.

Host: That's great. Actually, I, in my work as a nurse, I've seen that routine is so important to one's mental health. So that's a, that's a great answer. From what I've read about your career so far, you're quite used to this kind of pressure. When you were a sophomore in high school, just a young teenager, you hit the game winning free-throw with four tenths of a second left to win the state championship.

I know a basketball game can never be completely compared to hardships in life, but I think there are some great lessons to learn from sports. While at that free throw line with so much potential stress and your high school's first ever state championship on the line; how did you stay mentally strong and focused?

Trent: Um, I think as I stepped up to the line, um, I kind of do this a lot, I take three deep breaths and you know, and so my body is relaxed and my mind is relaxed and focused on one thing. Like you said, you know, during the game, fans could get really loud. It can get really loud in there. Um, it tends to give me chills throughout the games.

Um, so just stepping up to the line, obviously being a young teenager like that, in that type of moment, I just took three, three deep breaths, relaxed my body, relaxed my mind and just took the shot, like it was, uh, you know, any other shot. Um, I didn't see it as a game winner and I didn't see it as the last shot of the game.

I seen it as, you know, just, just like a random shot, a regular shot in the first quarter. So, I kind of just went into that moment as you know, as any other moment throughout the game.

Host: Wow. I'm sure in a situation like that is definitely key. And I liked that deep breathing. Those deep breathing comments that you made and that you exercise before approaching a stressful situation like that. Definitely key. What lessons do you think overcoming stress in sports can have for overcoming stress and anxiety in life?

Trent: Could you repeat that question?

Host: Sure. What lessons do you think overcoming stress in sports can have for overcoming stress and anxiety in just your regular daily life? Is there some similarity?

Trent: I think there, there are many similarities. I think the one is um, trying to balance it, balance yourself out. Um, I think you know, obviously life is really hard. But, um, you got to find the balance and, you know, throughout your life where, you know, you're just having fun, you know. Never take, you know, every, any moment for granted or I would say, you know, just always going into a moment, you know, with a smile on my face, you know, basketball can get really stressful.

Um, especially, you know, just, you know, the hours an all the work, the work you're putting in throughout the day and just, you know, doing it every day, it's a grind. So, it's just like, you know, if you were, you know, in life, you know, going to work every day in the morning, you know, working a nine to five shifts. So I think the similarity would just be, you know, getting something out of it every day. You know, even if it's just something small and just being creative or just having fun with it. So you're not, you don't get bored or, you know, you don't get tired of, you know, something that you love or what you do every day. So, just having fun and being creative and just trying to figure out ways to switch it up, so you don't, you know, get tired of it.

Host: I really liked the answer. I like the having fun and getting creative. I think that's definitely key to keeping perspective with your mental and emotional health. And I think that, that's definitely a lesson for everyone in everyday life. Okay. Now we all know winning is hard, right? But afterwards, the feeling is wonderful. Losses and hardships are a much different story though. So, how have you dealt with big games that you've been a part of the team and losing, and perhaps even worse with injuries that have taken you away from the game? How do you deal with that?

Trent: Um, I could, I mean, I would just say I could compare that to the last question, you know, as like it's life, um, you know, things happen. Obviously with our season with injuries, you know, us losing games. So it was just something that, you know, um, we've have dealt with, uh, a huge word that, you know, we use a lot is adversity. Um, you know, you go through that in real life situations where, you know, you may get fired. Uh, you may be late to work. You may get fired, you may have to find another job and same on the basketball court. You know, some of our key guys may get hurt and you know, other guys may have to step up. So, um, just dealing with that, um, obviously being a fifth year, you know, a senior, um, I think just having that experience has helped me, um, be comfortable in these situations and just trying to get through it.

Um, because you know, I have that experience and you know how to get through it, but I think the biggest thing is just knowing how to get through adversity and just staying the course and just, I would say, you know, trying to figure it out, uh, you're trying to figure out your way through the situation, you know, when you're in that moment and just, you know, loving, enjoying the moment and just, you know, figuring it out.

Host: That's really good insight. And then, and it actually transitions nicely, regarding the past two years, which has taught us all about some hardships. The pandemic has affected all of our lives in so many ways. For you and your teammates, you've had to deal with canceled games, extra safety measures, players having to sit out and a whole bunch of other uncertainties.

And all the while, being a college student, dealing with multiple shifts between in-person and virtual classes, some campus-wide take precautions and a lot more. With so much change and uncertainty, how do you make sure you were taking care of your mental and emotional wellbeing during that time? What are some of the specific things that you did?

Trent: I will, for sure say that was definitely, definitely the hardest time of my life, obviously, um, being a student athlete with COVID, um, one of the key things that I tried to stay away from, um, to help my mental health throughout the season was, you know, um, being active. Um, obviously we spent a lot of hours in the gym and then outside of the gym, obviously there was no one here, no students here. So couldn't really see your friends. You couldn't really be outside. You couldn't be around people. So I tried to stay active. Um, so I decided, you know, after going, instead of coming home and just going in my room and laying in bed all day in the dark, I decided to buy board games, um, buy video games, um, get into different Netflix shows, you know, and just hang out with my teammates in their apartments, you know, be around each other, be around, you know, you know, people that I'm allowed to be around and just, you know, have company.

Um, I thought that really helped me, not just me, it really helped, you know, our team, you know, bond really close together, but specifically more specifically for me, um, it helped me anyways, therefore, you know, I wasn't alone. Cause it was a hard time. You couldn't really see your family. So, I decided to, you know, figure out different ways that I can, you know, help my mental health by just staying active and just finding new hobbies, I'll say, you know, to, to be, to stay active.

Host: Again, very insightful. I think that's great information and advice for, for anyone who's listening. When it comes to dealing with uncertainties, such as this pandemic, where we find ourselves in positions that we did not expect, and it would be easy to go, go the other way. And do the things that we shouldn't do in times like this. But it sounds like you have a great understanding of the importance of staying active and keeping around those that you can be around during that time.

So, I want our audience to know this following fact, because you're often too humble to say it yourself. You are known at Illinois and across the big 10, as being a leader. Always there for your teammates, both on and off the court. You're a mentor, friend and especially to the younger players, a big brother. How important are mentor relationships and friendships in general for helping someone deal with stress, anxiety, or depression?

Trent: Um, I think it's important that, you know, you have, you know, that type of characteristic, um, you know, being able to understand someone who who's going through, stuff like that, because it's so serious. I think just the biggest thing is just always speaking up, never being afraid of, you know, just asking for help and, you know, that's something I learned, you know, never being afraid of, you know, to, to talk about, you know, something that you're going through or that you're struggling with because you know, the more that you keep it in, you know, it builds up and it can be, it can be a lot worse.

So just, you know, having the confidence, you know, to speak up about something that you're going through, um, or struggling with is so impactful, you know, um, not to yourself, but maybe to someone else that that's also going through the same thing to also give them the confidence to, you know, speak up about something.

Host: Great advice again. Always important to reach out to friends and let friends know that they can reach out to you. So, I appreciate that information. Okay. Switching gears completely. I heard that your team does regular yoga sessions. How does this help with your overall mental health, wellbeing and stress levels?

Trent: Um, I would say just the relaxation of your body, what it does, is it also works on your breathing, um, when you're in different situations, um, also being uncomfortable, you know, you get in different positions that are very uncomfortable, where you can get comfortable. So, I think it helps, it helps with my mental health a lot because of, you know, just the relaxation of my body and, and trying to get comfortable with, with trying to get comfortable with things that I'm not used to, um, and in yoga. So, I would say just having the ability to just relax for that 10 minutes, that five, 10 minutes, and just, you know, um, clear, clear your mind.

Host: And my curiosity is having me ask you, do you guys, as a team do any kind of meditation work?

Trent: Uh, we have not, we have not.

Host: Okay. Meditation also seems to help, kind of along the lines of yoga, where you're exercising, you're breathing. You're kind of getting into the moment, practicing some mindfulness, where it seems to be sort of a counterpart to doing yoga as well. So, uh, how else do you take care of your mental health away from the court? Like what kinds of things do you enjoy doing in your free time?

Trent: Um, I would say, I love swimming, obviously it's cold, but I really do enjoy swimming. Um, I love running and I mean, I just kinda, I love, I mean, with the hours of, you know, that I put into basketball every day, uh, you get tired and your body's always sore. So, it kinda, you know, puts you in the mode of just going to your room in the dark laying there all day.

But I try to find, you know different hobbies like I said, be creative, you know, uh, I go to two, I go to, to, um, Japan, japan garden, which is a park, you know, where you can walk your dogs. I kind of go with my roommate, get out, get out over there, you know, smell the different, you know, trees, flowers, just get out, you know, um, and just be outside and be around people, you know?

And like I said before, figuring out different things, being creative, you know, board games, video games, trying new games, trying new things. So, I try to just tend to stay active and just try to be creative in any way I can be.

Host: Japan Garden is great. So, lots of pluses getting out there to those parks and, and I think you said you took take a dog out there. So, dogs are great companions and, and, uh, I believe, truly assist us in our mental and emotional wellbeing. So. Okay. Two last questions for you, Trent. First, your Illinois bio mentioned that your favorite player is Steph Curry, the Warrior's starter has been great in speaking out about the importance of mental health and wellbeing. What role do you think famous athletes like Steph and yourself, play in educating others about the important topic of mental health?

Trent: Um, I would say, just the impact we could have, like, you know, on younger kids. Um, I mean, obviously everyone might just look at us as just, you know, we just play basketball, but, uh, you, you gotta, you gotta understand, you know, what goes into, you know, your craft, you know, how do you get, how do you get that successful at that level?

You know, it takes a lot, um, on just keeping your body healthy, uh, mental health, um, family. There's a lot of X's and O's that go into, you know, being an athlete. And I think it's important that, you know, your mental health right, only increases how successful you are on the court. So, I would say just the impact we could bring to, you know, the younger generation is, you know, just continue to speak about it and knowing, you know, how successful you can be when you know your mind is right.

Host: Great. And I have one final question for you, Trent. Do you have any parting words of wisdom when it comes to mental health?

Trent: Oh, could you repeat that?

Host: Sure. This is my last question. And I was curious, this has been an amazing interview thus far, and you've already given a lot of, a lot of advice and insight and wisdom, but do you have any other parting words of wisdom when it comes to mental health?

Trent: Um, besides the fact I said, you know, just, um, just being uncomfortable to be, to get, uh, comfortable, you know, just having the confidence to you know, speak up about what, what you're going through. Um, and knowing you're not alone. Um, everyone goes through it, just, you know, having the ability to, you know, speak about, you know, your mental health and you know, what you're struggling with and you know, how, how someone can, you know, help, you know.

Host: That's great information and great wisdom to pass along to others who are listening. Thank you so much Trent, for joining us today and for opening up about such important topics. We cannot thank you enough. We know how important it is for our listeners and for everyone to hear about this issue. Mental health is a vital part of a person's overall health, just as important as physical wellbeing.

And as a society, we all need to work hard to break down the stigma around mental health and get rid of the barriers that prevent people from getting the help that they need, just as you explained. We all should feel encouraged to discuss our mental health issues freely and without judgment. So, we all can help one another. Your messages today, Trent will do so much to raise awareness about mental wellbeing and how it's such an important topic. Thank you so much.

Trent: Thank you guys for having me.