In my previous article I have explained that one of the triggers of the famous and so unpleasant and frustrating mental blocks happens when we are faced with an obstacle in our thinking that interrupts our brain processes, preventing us from acting or thinking. We are mentally paralysed, thus disabling the ability to act or perform a specific activity. The brain at that moment reacts and "protects" us from situations in which it is overwhelmed or perceives danger and cannot function normally.
This FIGHT or FLIGHT REACTION (also called fight, flight or paralysis reaction, hyperexcitation, or acute stress response) is a physiological response to the perception of damage, attack or threat to survival. The reaction is recognised as the first stage of a general adaptation syndrome that regulates stress responses.
Some of the physical changes that take place during the fight or flight reaction are activated in order to provide the body with increased strength and speed in anticipation of fighting or running. Some of the specific physiological changes and their functions are: Increased blood flow to the muscles, diverting it from other parts of the body. Increased blood pressure, heart rate, blood glucose level and fats, in order to supply the body with additional energy. The body's coagulant function is accelerated in order to avoid excessive blood loss in the event of an injury during the reaction. Increase in muscle tension in order to provide the body with additional speed and strength. The pupils dilate to help see more clearly. Increased sweating to avoid overheating due to increased metabolism.
SYMPTOMS
∞ Vulnerability
You will develop a feeling of inability to face and manage specific situations, which may become generalised in the most extreme cases.
∞ Anxiety
I am going to stop for a second at this point, since the athletes who come to my office mostly mention the word "anxiety," whether in training, pre-competitive or in competition.
Anxiety is, by definition, (Lazarus, 2000), "the situation of facing an uncertain existential threat."
Basically, we analyze the resources we have to face this situation. Being aware that you may suffer a mental block, will provoke an emotional activation in the person in situations in which it has already happened previously, in which they perceive mental manifestations (cognitive anxiety) caused such as fear, negative social analysis, loss of self-esteem, failure, etc. This activation may have physiological responses (somatic anxiety) such as palpitations, sweating, nausea, dizziness, increased respiratory rate and muscle tension. Athletes who rely on their ability to execute motor and achieve good sports performance have anxiety levels oriented to the task they will perform. They are concerned with improving their performance through effort and persistence. Conversely, athletes who fail to trust their ability to execute and conquer good expectations do not explore their anxiety as something that hurts them. INSTEAD OF FOCUSING ON THE TASK, THEY FOCUS ON THEMSELVES.
∞ Avoidance
People with mental blocks will try to escape situations in which they feel they are not qualified enough or cannot cope. As I have previously explained, the flight reaction is a physiological response to the perception of damage, attack or threat to survival. (For more info,
∞ Procrastination
If the possibility exists, they will postpone the task that they have to face, to avoid blocking themselves, it would again be to activate the "Escape" mode, although on many occasions it contributes to the opposite, because they will finally be forced to carry them out in less time by activating the "Fight" mode.
∞ Negative thoughts
Negative self-talk will be very frequent. Judging and devaluing yourself against the performance and abilities of others, which in these cases you will use to try to avoid mental block.
CONSEQUENCES OF SUFFERING MENTAL LOCK
∞ Feeling of inferiority
Their low self-esteem, negative judgments about themselves, the inability to control mental block and the external evaluations they may receive will contribute to comparing themselves negatively with others.
∞ Abandonment
The athlete in eagerness to be able to avoid suffering mental blocks, will reduce those activities that he/she believes may influence what happens to him/her, be it first training sessions, then competitions, and may even end up abandoning the sport.
∞ Mood disorders
Staying at levels that are not tolerable emotionally and mentally for a prolonged period of time can induce the development of various disorders in people such as anxiety and depression.
TREATMENT
Mental blockage has a multicausal origin and it is something very important to consider before starting any treatment, being able to delve into the person's history in order to know more about their condition and their resources to cope with it, is a fundamental part of treatment of this pathology, along with works in different areas such as:
∞ Self-esteem: You will work with the person to help them really know themselves, being able to assess their strengths, working with them and in turn also with their weaknesses.
∞ Traumatic situations: They will work with the most appropriate techniques to be able to manage at this moment a situation that is no longer happening and that the person can continue with her sports life normally.
∞ Stress: Know what situations are stressful for the person, being able to plan a stress management program.
∞ Irrational beliefs: Valuing, stopping and eliminating maladaptive and ruminant thoughts that help maintain blockages. Eliminate negative self-talk. Anxious and / or depressive symptoms The symptoms that the person refers will be evaluated in order to adapt them to healthy and tolerable levels.
CONCLUSION
"HE WHO CAN CHANGE HIS THOUGHTS
CAN CHANGE HIS DESTINY."
- Stephen Crane -
Some techniques that work at different levels (physiological, thinking and emotion) can raise awareness about the possibilities we have at our fingertips to be able to improve ourselves and achieve our goals. Many times we are not aware of the power we have to control the mind and body. We lock ourselves in the "I can't" and the "that's very difficult" and I ask you: what value are you giving to the time you lose complaining? If you really want to compete in the same way that you train, enjoy your sport as in the beginning, what is the point of going to train it if you yourself do not believe in yourself? In short, it is about regaining control that we think we have lost and realising that a weakness or an error is nothing more than the perfect possibility to correct and try again. These techniques to improve your MENTAL EMPIRE and achieve your stated objectives require time and dedication as well as the physical, technical or tactical part. The essential thing in this section is to realise that we are not going anywhere if we are the ones who decide not to move and that with these techniques we will make it easier for what we long for to become ours. Although living a mental block is not a pleasant experience for anyone, the truth is that behind it hides a unique learning opportunity. Firstly, because it helps you to get to know yourself more deeply and to know where you are with respect to your progress in this sport. Secondly, because emotions are made to inform us and protect us from what happens or can happen around us, and listening carefully can help us find an adjusted and effective solution, making them our greatest allies.
THINK - FEEL - ACT
Related article:
"THE FAMOUS MENTAL BLOCKS" https://www.sabrinathecoach.com/post/the-famous-mental-blocks)
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