This week Johnathon Trott who plays cricket for England and who is a highly talented sportsman had to stop playing for his country at the Ashes in Australia due to a stress related condition. Following this announcement a number of other sportsmen have spoken out about the personal difficulties they have experienced when playing a sport at such a high level.

The theme that has emerged from these announcements is one of unrelenting self-criticism. A number of theses players have acknowledged that once they start to criticise themselves  a seed  of doubt creeps in. This then takes hold and quite quickly anxiety starts to build. Once anxiety takes hold theses highly talented sportsmen are experiencing difficulty in the simplest of tasks; eating with their fellow team mates, unable to leave their room on their day off and even deciding what to watch on television.

Their thinking has become so dominated by their self criticisim and fear that they soon believe the distorted thoughts filling their minds.

Theses thoughts are so unsettling that they create a feeling in the body that something awful is going to happen and their worst fears will come true. ” They feel it so it must be true.”

Sharing your worries is the first step to improving this distressing state.

For significant long term change use  Cognitive Behavioural Therapy which can help you change your thinking and ultimately your behaviour.

Want to improve your mood? Improve your thinking. Use CBT.