Photo Credit: Stephen Brashear for USA TODAY Sports
It was in college that Bethany Balcer first realized how her mental state was affecting her athletic performance. Now one of Seattle Reign FC’s longest-tenured players, the forward said she realized it during a moment following a big win over a top-ranked team. Despite her strong performance, Balcer sat on the field after the game and cried.
“Emotionally I was under a lot of pressure but I felt like I couldn’t put it into words,” Balcer told The Equalizer. “I didn’t know what was going on, but there were a lot of other things happening outside of football that were affecting me mentally and I realised the two were linked.”
Since then, Balcer’s understanding of mental health has grown exponentially, and now she’s adding a new dimension to her mental health advocacy with her own brand, BB8 Bring Your Best, which officially launched in March.
The nickname BB8 was coined by fans as a combination of her initials and her jersey number, but the full slogan is Balser’s — a signature statement from her that serves as a reminder of why she chooses to speak openly about mental health issues.
The phrase “try your best” is meant to drive home the idea that “whether you’re giving it your all or not, just showing up is enough,” Balcer explained.
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