How to Annihilate Your Athletic Performance Anxiety Using Hypnosis
Using Hypnosis to Reduce Your Athletic Performance Anxiety
Do you ever get athletic performance anxiety at the worst possible moment?
Read our guide to conquering performance anxiety with hypnosis, from Molli Lou Hollows, hypnotherapist and NLP practitioner.
Sometimes, it doesn't seem to matter how long you practice, or how well you do when nobody is watching, because when the real moment comes up, you choke.
Thankfully, with hypnosis, you can find an inner state of calm that allows your true ability to come alive when you need it without fear.
It's time to surpass the limitations your performance anxiety puts on you.
With this hypnosis strategy, success is finally within your reach.
Take advantage of this exclusive strategy so that each time you step up, it's just another opportunity to show what you're really made of!
Enjoy yourself as athletes should by focusing totally on the moment and achieving your goals one after another.
Keep reading to learn more about which famous athletes swear by hypnosis, and how to use it for your own personal benefit today!
What is Performance Anxiety?
Performance anxiety may not be a universal experience for all athletes, however, it does affect 30-60% of athletes, which can leave even the most talented athletes stumbling behind their peers.
Some of the most common symptoms of performance anxiety include:
Racing pulse
Excessive sweating
A sense of unease
Racing heart
"Butterflies" in your stomach
Muscle weakness and/or tension
Negative thoughts and self-talk
Sometimes these symptoms can crop up after a long time of success, seemingly out of nowhere, and other times there are clear causes, such as certain comments or increasing pressure.
While performance anxiety is a common experience, it shouldn't be ignored. For athletes, it can mean the difference between a win and a loss, or even a career-ending injury.
Tapping into sports psychology can help!
Why You Should Crush Your Athletic Performance Anxiety
When you're an athlete, it's natural to feel anxious before a big game.
However, when that anxiety starts to negatively impact your performance, it's time to do something about it.
Using hypnosis for performance anxiety is becoming increasingly popular over the last several decades - and for good reason.
In 1983, the Chicago White Sox hired a hypnotherapist to work with their entire team, and they credit their success at making it into the playoffs to the hypnosis.
Tiger Woods has also talked very openly about his use of hypnosis giving him an edge in his golf game.
Hypnosis can help decrease feelings of nervousness and self-doubt, allowing you to perform at your best.
With hypnosis, you can learn to reprogram your mind to handle stress and anxiety in a healthy way and boost your confidence on the field or court.
If you're ready to take control of your athletic performance, hypnosis could be the perfect solution.
Step-By-Step Instructions to Use Hypnosis to Help With Your Performance Anxiety
Through this process, we will work together to help you get past a specific place where you feel the most anxious about freezing up, and then we will use visualisation techniques to overcome that fear.
The process is simple - we begin by going into a relaxed state, then we imagine ourselves in the situation that makes us nervous.
We open ourselves up to experiencing it in a new way, and then we come out feeling empowered and confident.
And the best part?
You can wash, rinse and repeat these steps anytime you need a boost of confidence.
So let's get started on this journey together!
Step 1: Going in
Find a comfortable, quiet place where you can do this exercise undisturbed by anyone or distracted by noises.
You can sit up or lie down, it's up to you.
Close your eyes and take some deep, slow breaths. Count down from 20 to 1, slowly.
If you feel your eyelids fluttering don't worry, it's a common experience as you enter the relaxed state of hypnosis.
Step 2: Imagine
Imagine yourself walking down a hallway filled with doors.
It's a safe, comfortable hallway.
Pay attention to what the doors look like, how the floor feels under your feet, or anything else you notice about the hallway around you.
Step 3: Open
Now, one at a time, go into each of the doors. When you open a door, imagine, visualise, picture or pretend that behind the door you see yourself successfully achieving the moment you're anxious about.
Try and feel the success and pride washing over you.
Leave the room and walk to the next door.
Continue this for as many doors as you can. 10-20 times if possible.
Step 4: Coming out
When you come to the end of your hallway, it's time to come back to the present moment.
Count yourself back out from 1 to 20 this time, coming back into the room to open your eyes and wake up.
Step 5: Wash, Rinse and Repeat
Whether you use this exercise repeatedly at the same moment, such as you hitting a home run or crossing the finish line first, or you use it for multiple different skills - it’s up to you.
You can do this at home on your own, or even in the lead-up to a big match.
Key Tips for Successfully Using Hypnosis for Athletic Performance Anxiety
It's important to find ways to manage your nerves and channel your energy in a positive way.
One helpful tip is to practice deep breathing techniques, which can help calm your nervous system and promote relaxation leading up to your event.
It's also important to note that not everyone is able to visualise things in their mind, which may make it difficult to effectively use hypnosis if you're trying to just see the images in your mind.
If you find yourself struggling with this aspect, don't hesitate to get the help of a trained hypnotherapist with experience in whatever area you're struggling with, to get the most benefit you can from this method.
With practice and the right guidance, you'll be able to overcome your athletic performance anxiety and achieve your goals.
Level Up: How Hypnosis Can Help You Improve Your Game
This alternative therapy is for more than just anxiety, it's also been shown to improve many different areas of life that could impact your performance.
It can help with your sleep, improve your technique and execution of various skills, as well as help with fatigue and energy levels.
By tapping into the power of your subconscious mind, hypnosis can help you overcome mental blocks, increase focus and concentration, and even boost your confidence.
So if you're ready to take your game to the next level, give hypnosis a try - it could be just the boost you need to reach your full potential.
A Closer Look at Performance Anxiety
Performance anxiety is something that many of us have experienced at one point or another.
There are many places it crops up outside of athletic performance anxiety, like sexual performance anxiety, stage fright, social anxiety disorder and public speaking.
You might find if you experience any of these other forms of anxiety, that you're more likely to have it crop up in the future with sports and athletic performance.
It's that feeling of dread and fear that creeps up as we are ready to step on stage or go to a meeting.
But, there's no need to let anxiety hold us back!
With the right tools and mindset, we can overcome our fears and find success.
Whether it's through deep breathing exercises, visualisation techniques or positive self-talk, there are many ways to calm your nerves and focus on what you're doing rather than crippling anxiety.
Follow these tips, and take that first step forward.
With a little practice, you'll soon find that performance anxiety is no match for your determination and enthusiasm.
Final Thoughts on Performance Anxiety
As someone who has experienced performance anxiety, know that it’s a sign that you care about the outcome and want to do your best.
It's particularly common with teens and affects at least about a third of all 13-18-year-olds.
Instead of trying to get rid of your nerves completely, try reframing them as excitement. Anxiety to excitement is one of the easiest emotional reframes out there.
Use that adrenaline to fuel your performance and remind yourself that it's okay to make mistakes.
They're a natural part of the learning process.
Remember to take deep breaths and stay present in the moment.
Believe in yourself and your abilities, and trust that you have prepared to the best of your capabilities. You’ve got this!
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