#performance-anxiety

#performance-anxiety

You know that small, quiet panic that shivers through you when it feels like someone is watching you? Butterflies in your stomach, goosebumps, perhaps a sheen of sweat? Like you're onstage, even if that "stage" is just a public sidewalk? I used to get that feeling in yoga class. For nearly a decade, I approached each practice as a place of success and failure, all while believing that everyone present was bearing witness to, and judging, my every pose.

"Trying to get back up to speed too quick," began Choban, "and on top of that the lack of body awareness, and the lack of having any idea where the ball was going, played into the frustrations and heartache of going through the whole process (solving the yips). "I got through that initial stage of the confusion of not really having a clue what was going on," Choban shared. "It turned into-okay-talk to the sports psychologist (the author of this piece). We figured out why it could be happening and ways to work through it."

"Learning to backtrack and refocus on having fun, while checking in with your partner, can alleviate performance pressure during intimate moments, enhancing connection."

"Each time," Sanjay said mournfully, "I failed." This repeated experience led to significant distress, culminating in a disconnection from his personal interests and social life.

Beta blockers can alleviate the physical symptoms of anxiety, making them a viable short-term option for those experiencing performance-related fears, but they should only be used under medical supervision.