Do you have to feel anxious under pressure?
Apr 21, 2023 7:17 pm
Happy Friday,
Do you have to feel anxious under pressure?
While this is a very normal reaction, the answer is "no." I share below two ways to change your experience.
If you want to get better at something, you need to practice it specifically. This is especially true for playing with anxiety under pressure.
You can create pressure in practice by creating a disadvantage (such as only dribbling with your non-dominant hand or foot) or attempting to break your record for free throws or catches in a row. Watch how you feel the pressure in your body and mind as you approach your record. Notice the intentional refocusing that must occur.
Coaches can make "bad calls" to challenge players' emotional control and focus.
Take advantage of bad weather and use it to train attitudes toward the environment to helpful rather than distracting or complaining.
Do one on one skill competitions with others watching or cheering to mimic the pressure of crowds.
Coaches, if you want more suggestions on how to practice pressure (and other mental training workshops that you can run for your players), go to bit.ly/Mental-Camp
Anxiety and excitement are physiologically the same because they both activate the fight or flight response in our body. This response is triggered by the amygdala, which is the part of our brain that is responsible for our emotions. When we experience anxiety or excitement, our amygdala sends a signal to our body to release adrenaline and cortisol, which prepares us for action. This results in an increased heart rate, rapid breathing, and muscle tension.
The difference between anxiety and excitement lies in our interpretation of the situation. If we perceive the situation as a threat, we experience anxiety. If we perceive it as an opportunity or challenge, we experience excitement. However, physiologically, our body's response is the same in both cases.
Therefore, it is possible to reframe our anxiety as excitement by changing our interpretation of the situation. This can be done by focusing on the potential positive outcomes of the situation rather than the negative ones. By doing so, we can use the physiological response of our body to our advantage and perform better in challenging situations.
Let's work together and change your experience of anxiety to excitement at https://dreddieoconnor.com/telehealth-services/
Interested in mental training to overcome your obstacles to excellence?
Join us inside Success Stories Membership at fox.ly/success
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Dr. Eddie O’Connor
