In the world of pop stars, there is a sect of superfans known as Stans who are famed for taking their devotion to their favourite idols to obsessive levels. Akin to the behaviour seen in Stephen King's Misery or the semifictional world of Swarm, some people can take their passion for their favourite stars a little too far.
The same can be said for sports fans. From the high stakes drama of Fantasy Leagues to actual championships, sports fans are famous for going down emotional spirals that leave them violent or depressed.
This is what psychologists have colloquially termed "sports fan depression" — the feelings that overcome you after your favourite team or sports player loses.
This is something counsellor Greg Miller said can manifest due to the emotional and psychological investments people make in their team.
"There's an emotional investment. There's a psychological investment. But the physical investment outside of your time is fairly minimal, and ultimately you'll be able to walk away from it fairly scot-free," he said.
For those who bet on certain players, Miller believes "the financial piece exponentially makes the problem worse" as fans often feel robbed by the loss.
Sports and counselling psychologist Dr Denise Bouah said sports fan depression is not an official mental health disorder. While it can match the symptoms of clinical depression, "sports fan depression symptoms blow over after a few days as the fan gets back into a work routine or usual lifestyle".
Is that nix on getting off work after too many weekends watching Kaizer Chiefs being beaten harder than a villain in a Vin Diesel movie? Bouah said this will depend on the severity of the sports fan's symptoms.
For some people, the emotional lows are of a short and temporary nature and the person will be back at work on the next working day. For some, however, sports fan depression is very real and they need to cope and work through the symptoms
— Dr Denise Bouah, sports and counselling psychologist
"For some people, the emotional lows are of a short and temporary nature and the person will be back at work on the next working day. For some, however, sports fan depression is very real and they need to cope and work through the symptoms," she said.
Bouah suggested fans take stock of the team's results and their own personal efforts. She said fans should not make a loss their own "personal sadness" but rather enjoy the game for what it is.
"This way, the fan maintains his own identity, which is not the identity of the team. It is good for sports fans to remind themselves about who they are when they are not watching and supporting their team."
Those who experience great turmoil after their team loses should try to look at the positives rather than dwell on the negatives of the performance, Bouah said.
But what do you do when it's not enough to appreciate the efforts and skills and look beyond results when your favourite team or player is in a losing rut?
"If a sports fan's emotions are of such a nature that it is influencing his sleep, relationship with others, work and general everyday functions, it might be a good idea for the sports fan to seek the help of a mental health professional such as a psychologist."
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