Gaining great support: Texas Tech's Gordon prioritizes mental health
Lubbock Avalanche-JournalNov 23, 2020
Lexi Gordon’s introduction to mental health rocked her world.
No sooner than the
“I wasn’t old enough to understand why, but I was old enough to understand that it happened,” Gordon said. “She was always the happy, crazy, full-of-life type of person and me, just trying to kind of navigate the reason why somebody that looks like they’re fine and happy and everything’s ok but that happens.
"It made me hypersensitive to people who have mental disorders or they need mental health. So now when I see that, I want to help them, and I think that’s the biggest impact it’s had on me is that I don’t want to see anybody else struggle or feel like they don’t have anybody.”
Altman’s passing also changed the way Gordon approached her own mental health.
Growing up in
In short, it was time for her to come home.
Gordon transferred to
But no sooner than one dark cloud was lifted, another came in its place this year.
Lady Raiders coach
On
This time, handling the emotional burden was made a little easier because Gordon was surrounded by family. The pandemic shut down Texas Tech’s campus, so she went back home.
Having a solid support system is essential to Gordon’s mental health. That’s why it was important for her to establish a good relationship with the new Lady Raiders coaching staff right away.
“When our coaching staff left, I was kind of nervous, but when (
Gordon also struggles with anxiety, which runs in her family, and becomes heightened before games.
While there isn’t a cure for the condition, Gordon has a series of actions she takes to cope. She meditates before games, attends therapy on a regular basis, and isn’t afraid to reach out for help when needed.
“I feel like it’s always ok to ask for help,” Gordon said. “I think mental health is being more talked about in a positive light, so I think that’s super important just know that it’s ok to ask for help and it’s not something to be ashamed of.”
This year has been emotionally draining, but Gordon has a close group of family, friends and a new coaching staff on whom she can rely.
The
“I’m in a place where I’m like everything is going to be ok even though all these times are unprecedented and we don’t know what’s going to happen next,” Gordon said. “But, I’m surrounded by a lot of people that I know love me and care about me and want me to succeed. That’s how I feel about them as well, so vice versa.”
This article originally appeared on Lubbock Avalanche-Journal: Gaining great support:
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