Whether on the golf course, in the classroom, on stage or in the office, you may have experienced what experts call performance blocks. With some cases being more severe than others, there are specific treatments available for those who seek it.
"People develop problems related to performance for a number of reasons," said Dr. Jack Watson, associate professor of sport and exercise psychology at WVU. "Many times it's related to a critical event in life, a previous poor performance -- like missing a critical shot."
Dr. Ed Etzel, professor of sport and exercise psychology and psychologist with Intercollegiate Athletics at WVU said, "If someone experiences an injury, or considerable anxiety, fear or shame, it is possible that they have been traumatized in some way. The brain and the body are going to remember that. Those types of [mental] difficulties are acquired."
No matter what originally triggers the problem, Watson and Etzel said treatment needs to be specifically catered to each individual.
"We have to make sure people are using their strengths to overcome these tensions," Watson said.
According to Etzel, two important ways to treat these common challenges are through body-to-mind or mind-to-body interventions.
"An example of a body-to-mind would be doing something physical to cope with a mental issue," he said. "Examples are stretching, jogging or practicing a skill such as progressive muscle relaxation before doing a presentation to relieve anxiety and become more attentive to the moment. "Two mind-to-body examples are using positive self-talk or imagery to help a person cope with a challenging situation." Dr. George Moses, executive director of Morgantown Pastoral Counseling Center for 22 years explained an ideal use of imagery. "It's using a mental image of yourself doing a performance flawlessly," he said. "Going through the particular skill you're trying to achieve [mentally], over and over until you get it down perfectly." Moses was team counselor for the WVU rifle team from 1986-1990. "I would have the team picture things that helped them perform to their maximum," he said. "They already knew how to shoot, I just helped them block out things that would inhibit their performance." The use of imagery is widely associated with a more broad form of therapy called hypnosis. Hypnosis is a common form of treatment used by Moses, but not the stereotypical kind with dangling watches and snapping fingers.
"Hypnosis is very similar to relaxation; similar techniques are used in both," he said. "Hypnosis helps deal with anxiety in many different facets of life; it helps people gain control of emotions." According to Moses, another potential benefit of using hypnosis is memory recall. "Hypnosis helps access the subconscious part of the brain where memory is stored," he said. "If people learn in a calm and relaxed state, they are much more likely to recall the material when they are in that same state." Etzel referred to the physical and mental practice of things in an environment similar to the actual performance as "statedependent learning." "Most athletes shouldn't necessarily practice in a relaxed environment, because most sports are not played in a relaxed setting," he said. Etzel and Watson both agree modifying thought processes can often be an effective way to treat performance-related anxieties. "If someone has negative selftalk, we could help them modify their internal dialogue. For example, instead of being critical or catastrophizing, people can tell themselves things like: I'm well prepared, and I may make some mistakes, but that's OK," Etzel said. Etzel added, "Poor performances and anxieties are not all mental, because we really can't separate the mind and the body, since it's an overall performance."
If someone approached Moses because they felt a flaw in their golf swing was a "mental lapse," he would first recommend they go see a golf teaching professional to ensure the mistakes aren't physical. According to Watson, a successful treatment is based on the individual's perspective. "I never guarantee success," he said. "Sometimes an athlete's definition of success changes during the time I'm working with them." Not everyone has access to a sports psychologist, but if they do it's a good step to take."
