Identity loss means that you can’t access or show the qualities that make you who you are and give your life meaning. It’s important for people to feel like their identity is connected and consistent, as it affects their happiness. When someone experiences identity loss, they might feel disconnected, empty, or like they’ve lost their purpose. This can lead to feeling anxious, having low self-esteem, being depressed, and struggling with confidence and social situations.
Identity loss can happen slowly over time or suddenly after a major life event or trauma. It could be triggered by things like losing body parts, possessions, or important relationships through divorce or moving to a different culture or even by losing your moral or spiritual beliefs and values (Weigert & Hastings, 1977).
When someone experiences identity loss, it changes how they see themselves and how others treat them. Sometimes, a part of their identity is affected, but it can also lead to a bigger loss of their whole sense of self. However, identity loss can also be an opportunity to adjust to life changes and grow as a person, depending on whether they can build a new sense of self that fits their new circumstances.
In sports, athletes might face athletic identity loss when their careers end or change (Lally, 2007). This is different from an identity crisis, where someone is actively trying to find solutions to personal development problems. Athletic identity loss focuses on the effects of unexpected changes in how athletes relate to their roles and identities.
Lally, P. (2007). Identity and athletic retirement: A prospective study. Psychology of Sport and Exercise, 8, 85 99.
Weigert, A. J., & Hastings, R. (1977). Identity loss, family, and social change. American Journal of Sociology, 82, 1171 1185.
