It is often said that an elite athlete dies twice, once after retirement, and after in death— because if you are not an athlete, then who are you? A loss of identity is commonly found in athletes who, after retiring, find their once singular ambitions have lead them to be one-faced.

When an athlete spends their entire adolescent life training, working, and moving toward a common goal or purpose, retiring, or ending a career, can leave the person with a sense of emptiness or an immense low. For many, it might seem nice to finally have a break; but for those who have fallen in love with the game or the sport, it is worse to not play at all than to keep on playing.

The sole focus of an Olympic or Professional athlete’s career is the sport they participate in; with hours of devoted training and focus on a single task. Once that task is over, the mixed emotions range anywhere from relief to depression. Multiple Olympic swimming champion Ian Thorpe, Celtic FC Manager Neil Lennon, and double Olympic Champion Dame Kelly Holmes are just a few examples of the athletes who publicized their depression after retiring.

Depression in athletes is more common than it seems and is, more often than not, the reason for various “comebacks” made by older, once-retired athletes seeming to relive the glory days. Athletes retire at an older age and facing struggles once they do.

Boxing legend Sugar Ray Leonard famously quoted, “Nothing could satisfy me outside the ring… there is nothing in life that can compare to becoming a world champion, having your hand raised in that moment of glory, with thousands, millions of people cheering you on.” Leonard battled depression and made several comebacks due to his immense love for the sport and unwillingness to give it up.

Not only is it a mental low, athletes who were receiving daily doses of serotonin are not anymore. It is proven that aerobic exercise improves mood through increasing brain serotonin levels and therefore can be a reason athletes experience this “low” after retiring. Dopamine, also known as “the reward molecule,” is responsible for the pleasure seeking part of the brain that rewards itself after a goal is set, and achieved. If an athlete is no longer working towards a goal and setting ones along the way, dopamine levels decrease in the brain.

When all these factors are compiled it doesn’t seem as out of the ordinary for retired athletes to seem so depressed. However, many find ways to overcome this sense of loss by working for other ambitions. Many find adolescents to mentor or coach, speaking opportunities to encourage others, and other activities to fill their time. Just because one part of your life is over, doesn’t mean it all has to be.