Hey Everyone,
A few years ago, I was the highest level gymnast on my team. My confidence was skyrocketing everyday, and I was fearless. I'm not that girl anymore.
I'm afraid of almost any dangerous skill, even before I've tried it. I immediately think of the way I could possibly hurt myself, and even if I can't think of anything drastic, I panic.
For the longest time I haven't been able to figure out how all these fears accumulated. I've watched many teammates pass me in levels and by skill difficulty, bringing my confidence and ability to progress very low.
Last night I was searching the web on ways to get over gymnastics fears, especially one so severe as mine, and I came across an article by a sports psychologist who explained how gymnasts fears can be more complex than a fear related to anything else.
Basically, any motivational speeches, threats, punishments or rewards used to try to get a gymnast out of this trance is almost completely unlikely to work. When I read this part, I knew I had to continue reading. Because it's completely true, and none of my coaches and teammates understand that.
The psychologist explained that what I have is PTSD, post traumatic stress disorder. It is caused by one, or multiple, traumatic experiences that could relate to what you're afraid of.
At first, I was skeptical. Ive never had a real traumatic experience in the gym, atleast not one that would cause me to be afraid of...well, just about everything.
Even skills Ive had before, like vaulting on the table without a spot and round-off back handsprings on the floor, I'm not afraid of.
But then I continued on in the article, and discovered that this disorder can be caused by traumatic experiences that occured OUTSIDE of the gym as well. Even if the gymnast doesn't know it relates to what happens inside the gym. That's when I knew it was true.
Even small "scary" incidents can pile up to make the disorder, your fears, stronger.
A few years ago, I wanted to show my family my round-off back handspring in the yard. After my round off, I fell back onto my back and it made it difficult to breathe. I was able to stand up and shake it off, but now, 2 years later, it's still "haunting" me.
Last summer, on my friends trampoline, she forgot to close the door to the net. After my front tuck, I flew out the door head first, and had I not put my hands down, I could have landed on the concrete and died.
Smaller things have happened, but I wont go into detail. Like I said before, the small things pile up.
Now, I'm not just informing you of this to share. I want to know if any of you have, or still have, PTSD? If so, how do you cope and how can you heal yourself of it?
At the end of the article, the psychologist says that if you close your eyes and move all the main muscles in your body, becoming aware of your control, and make noise in both ears, your fear should lessen or in some cases be completely eliminated.
I haven't been able to test this yet, but when I do I'll let you all know how it goes.
I cant wait to hear from all of you, I hope someone can help me work through this. Or atleast tell me something else about it I don't know.
Thank you so much!
A few years ago, I was the highest level gymnast on my team. My confidence was skyrocketing everyday, and I was fearless. I'm not that girl anymore.
I'm afraid of almost any dangerous skill, even before I've tried it. I immediately think of the way I could possibly hurt myself, and even if I can't think of anything drastic, I panic.
For the longest time I haven't been able to figure out how all these fears accumulated. I've watched many teammates pass me in levels and by skill difficulty, bringing my confidence and ability to progress very low.
Last night I was searching the web on ways to get over gymnastics fears, especially one so severe as mine, and I came across an article by a sports psychologist who explained how gymnasts fears can be more complex than a fear related to anything else.
Basically, any motivational speeches, threats, punishments or rewards used to try to get a gymnast out of this trance is almost completely unlikely to work. When I read this part, I knew I had to continue reading. Because it's completely true, and none of my coaches and teammates understand that.
The psychologist explained that what I have is PTSD, post traumatic stress disorder. It is caused by one, or multiple, traumatic experiences that could relate to what you're afraid of.
At first, I was skeptical. Ive never had a real traumatic experience in the gym, atleast not one that would cause me to be afraid of...well, just about everything.
Even skills Ive had before, like vaulting on the table without a spot and round-off back handsprings on the floor, I'm not afraid of.
But then I continued on in the article, and discovered that this disorder can be caused by traumatic experiences that occured OUTSIDE of the gym as well. Even if the gymnast doesn't know it relates to what happens inside the gym. That's when I knew it was true.
Even small "scary" incidents can pile up to make the disorder, your fears, stronger.
A few years ago, I wanted to show my family my round-off back handspring in the yard. After my round off, I fell back onto my back and it made it difficult to breathe. I was able to stand up and shake it off, but now, 2 years later, it's still "haunting" me.
Last summer, on my friends trampoline, she forgot to close the door to the net. After my front tuck, I flew out the door head first, and had I not put my hands down, I could have landed on the concrete and died.
Smaller things have happened, but I wont go into detail. Like I said before, the small things pile up.
Now, I'm not just informing you of this to share. I want to know if any of you have, or still have, PTSD? If so, how do you cope and how can you heal yourself of it?
At the end of the article, the psychologist says that if you close your eyes and move all the main muscles in your body, becoming aware of your control, and make noise in both ears, your fear should lessen or in some cases be completely eliminated.
I haven't been able to test this yet, but when I do I'll let you all know how it goes.
I cant wait to hear from all of you, I hope someone can help me work through this. Or atleast tell me something else about it I don't know.
Thank you so much!
