Media Volk Emotional on ‘Need to keep busy’ driving him to take fights
- Thread starter SharpasaRazor
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Using competition as a distraction from depression is an incredibly common symptom in men. The exact way that Volk described how he feels, how his head is done in when he isn't in camp or preparing for a fight; if he said that to a psychiatrist, they would immediately be under the assumption that he was was outwardly exhibiting symptoms of a chronic depressive condition. Would they immediately diagnose him? Of course not, but that would 100% be a focal point of their diagnoses, or at the very least, a path to one.
There have been multiple studies on the use of competitive behavior as a way to battle against internalized feelings of inferiority.
This ties in to one of a few leading theories on the reasons for depressions existence, Rank Theory of Depression, which was put forth by Anthony Stevens in Evolutionary Psychiatry: A New Beginning, 2000.
Rank Theory proposes that depression promotes the survival of genes, an adaptive response to losing status (rank) and losing confidence in the ability to regain it. The adaptive function of the depression is to change behaviour to promote survival for someone who has been defeated. According to rank theory, depression was naturally selected to allow us to accept a subordinate role. The function of this depressive adaptation is to prevent the loser from suffering further defeat in a conflict.
To further build on that, at a conference I attended a long time ago, I listened to a theory from a Rank Theorist that the most hyper competitive among us, the people like Volkanovski or Jon Jones or GSPs, or his actual examples like Michael Jordan or Gary Kasparov were in all likelihood among the most depressed people on the planet that simply had a genetic malfunction that caused them to constantly fight or persevere (restoration of rank, winning) instead of accepting defeat. In a way, that hyper competitive perseverance is the exact opposite of a survival instinct, it is in fact a self destructive one, the opposite force of what biologically makes sense, yielding and giving up to live another day (this is called Involuntary Defeat Strategy, IDS).
I don't know whether you're right or wrong about Volk, only he knows that, but this would not be a new development or theory about people that are in GOAT discussions from any walks of life.
Sorry for the blog post, I just feel like depression is still a horrifically misunderstood mental condition, and especially for men, there is a certain stigma around it.
To any Sherbros that read this and feel down, it's a normal part of your brain chemistry that each and every one of us will deal with at one point or another. You're never alone, and temporary problems never require permanent solutions. 100% of bridge jumpers that survive tell psychiatrists and hospital staff that the very moment they left the ledge, they regretted it. That is because it's there as a survival mechanism left over from our Lower Paleolithic days where an argument over berries would lead to your head being bashed in with a rock.
Stay classy, Sherdog.
Thank you for this post. that is fascinating and depression being a form of coping to better handle submission/being in a subordinate role makes a lot of sense.
with that said, i think a lot of depression in men stems from the fact that, some more than others, would be happier living in a time "where an argument over berries could lead to your head being bashed in with a rock". life was more simple: you hunt, you eat, you fight, you fuck, you shit, and you sleep. or you get your head bashed in with a rock or killed by large game or any random thing
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Sounds like being very insecure in your masculinity.
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What's it like to be a bitter conservative primate?
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I guarantee you if they're both war veterans, they've both cried in front of other men.
Ironic, because you sound like an edgy teenager.
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You can’t be too masculine cuz that’s “toxic”
But you can’t cry either
It’s a tightrope
on a side note I’ve seen some workaholic types that when they retire it turns them crazy as shit cuz they always need to be on the go. I felt that a bit too with my goof health limiting me all the time. I miss working every day.
But you can’t cry either
It’s a tightrope
on a side note I’ve seen some workaholic types that when they retire it turns them crazy as shit cuz they always need to be on the go. I felt that a bit too with my goof health limiting me all the time. I miss working every day.
stoicism my friend. keep it under your stetson
and that is what Volk needs to do. find a hobby. work on his house. volunteer in the community. get a part time job. always get something done every day, learn something, etc.
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Fixed that for ya, bruz.
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I don't think he's depressed either
but I do think he'd get depressed if he didn't stay active
...or after he loses to Topuria, and his belt
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It’s the ones you never suspect mate
Volks always trying the hardest to make everyone laugh, make everyone feel comfortable. He’s obviously a very mentally strong guy, but sometimes there are no signs
the solution to fighter depression is to just fight to the death
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It is depression.
I've had the same sort of depression as he has plenty of times. Mine was over a lack of something creative on the go, while Volk's is competitive fighting, but it works all the same. Plenty of people get thrown out by this sort of thing.
It's weird because once I'm back filling that void with what I thought I needed, I always looked back at those times and think, "what the fuck was I so upset about? The break wasn't so bad."
It's strange shit.
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probably not violent enough for him, plus you’d have bjj dorks bragging they beat Volk in a “fight” if they caught him in a submission
for some athletes, being an athlete is their identity. without it, they don't even know who they are
for other athletes, it is just something they do to give them better circumstances in their actual life. this is true not just professionally, but even in high school as being an athlete improves social status which leads to more success with friends and girls
