Mental effects of injury in bodybuilding

I’m currently dealing with a knee injury which is preventing me from performing any squatting movements, and I must say it’s having a real detrimental impact on my thought patterns, quads forms 2 dedicated sessions per week, so in effect I’m losing those days. 

My upper already overpowers my lower so I need to concentrate on legs, so you can imagine how shit I’m feeling.

Disordered thoughts and behaviors may surface after injuries.

After sustaining an injury, you may be confronted with reflecting on what exercise and movement means to you. For athletes and non-athletes alike, sports and exercise may be tightly wound up with identity and self-worth. If you’re struggling with an EATING DISORDER or COMPULSIVE EXERCISE, an injury can feel like a total loss of control. Relating to eating disorders and compulsive exercise specifically, when exercise is used as a compensatory mechanism, being unable to exercise may increase eating disorders behaviors. Even if you have been healing your relationship with food and your body, it makes sense that being injured could trigger disordered thoughts about food, your body, and movement. You may find yourself eating less or more prone to jumping back into exercise before your injury has healed, leading to a higher risk of re-injury which is common in compulsive exercise. 

During this time, be cognizant of your inner dialogue and watch out for warning signs similar to the thoughts listed below.

“Walking/low-impact movement doesn’t count as a workout.”
“I’m just being lazy.”
“I have to burn # of calories if I want to eat.”
“Resting is for the weak.”
“My body betrayed me.”
“I must be weak since I got injured.”
“I should just push myself. No pain, no gain.”
“If I can’t work out, I’m going to gain weight (or lose “fitness gains”, strength, etc.).”

I’m trying to tell myself:

Be gentle on yourself and let yourself rest. Your body is trying to tell you something, and we need breaks. While you may be eager to get right back into the swing of things, time off now is better in the long run for healing properly (physically, mentally, emotionally), and being able to engage in movement more effectively down the line.