Demystifying Mental Toughness 222 How To Help Athletes Who Freeze Under Pressure #BITESIZE
Hypoarousal – what is it in a performance context? It is our freeze response, when our mind and body shuts down when we are faced with significant pressure, at least in our own minds.
In today's episode I discuss with Ruth Chiles, author of The Focal Dystonia Cure how athletes and performers who experience this freeze response can help themselves. Ruth goes on to share some practical tips that can hugely benefit many people.
Key Learnings
- Brainspotting an approach developed by a New York psychologist called David Grand helps to rewire parts of the brain so that people can respond differently in specific situations.
- In a performance context, we spend a lot of time in survival mode which can impede fluidity, enlarge muscles and inhibit your fine motor skills.
- Practicing interoceptive awareness exercises can be very helpful for self-regulation.
- Centering practices can calm our nervous system.
Connect with David Charlton
Join David @ The Sports Psychology Hub
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Connect with Ruth Chiles
Book: The Focal Dystonia Cure: Powerful and Definitive Practices to Completely Heal Yourself
Relevant Podcast Episodes
Ep014: Alessia Bruno – The Yips, Crashes, Trauma in Sport there is hope for Athletes
Ep092: Dr James Hegarty – ACT in Sport, Improving Performance through Mindfulness
Ep131 David Charlton – How to Deal with Self-Criticism using Self Compassion – FINAL PART
Ep142: Alessia Bruno - Is Striving for Perfection a Good Thing in Gymnastics?
Ep156: Ruth Chiles – There is Hope: How to Overcome Focal Dystonia
Relevant Blogs
Blog: Helping a Critical Child When You're a Parent
Blog: How to Support an Angry Young Athlete
Using ACT and Mindfulness to Improve Your Sporting Performances