Distraction
Sometimes when we have mental stress and feel like we have no escape, we feel lost. We do not know what do with the feelings we have. Whether it is anxiety or depression. It does not matter. You can be feeling physical symptoms or mental symptoms. Again, it does not matter. The only thing that matters is the fact that you are going through something.
Distraction is a terrible thing to pick up when you are in the middle of a desperate situation. When we are in the middle of stress, it is hard to peel ourselves away from that. We are immersed in it, and it is difficult to find a way out. Trust me I understand it all too well.
However getting into something, taking a walk, taking the time to remove yourself from the stressful situation is going to always help to some level. When you are going through a hard time, it is a great relief to get distracted by something other than your problems. Using movement is a great way to get that distraction.
Mental Stress Relief
Stress can be a fantastic motivator. It is where we grow and adapt to some of the hardest situations. Fear can be an excellent tool for better yourself. However, stress can be a killer as well. Too much stress will break you down if you do not know how to mitigate it. Stress is small dose is a grower. However long-term stress. Piling on of stress is going to create symptoms you were not ever prepared for.
Anxiety disorders, depression, and physical symptoms that can only be described as confusing. You feel these feelings. They may be created by the mind, but you think it. The pain, the anguish, the fear, and the sadness are all a real thing for you.
Mitigate Stress
Finding ways to mitigate stress is going to be the greatest savior in your career. Learning to obtain some real-world coping strategies will get you further along as an athlete. As athletes, you may be getting it from all sides. Stress at home, stress on the field, stress from a relationship, and stress from school. That is a lot of stress to have to try and handle at one time, and it can be a killer of not only performance but also of health.
Taking the time to find what makes you stress-free, reading, writing, training, moving, taking a bath, getting a hot tub session in. It doesn’t matter. Finding whatever it is, that gets your mind away from the issues you are going through. Giving you a fresh look at what you are going through.
Taking stress on and keeping it there is not the way an athlete continues to grow. It is letting it roll off them like water on a duck. You are going to need to find ways to allow that to happen. This process is extremely personal.
Picking The Right Movement
If you are a serious athlete, you are going to probably use training as a way to keep your mind off of some of the things that stress you out. It is ok. I did the same. There is an issue with all of that. Physical training is a form of stress. Our bodies do not know the difference between mental and physical stress.
Deciding how you are going to use movement to help with your mental stress is essential. You do not want to be using one rep max squats regularly for psychological stress relief. You want to be using low impact, highly detail oriented movements. Some examples may be what they call animal flow, yoga, martial arts, nunchaku training, and merely walking can help. Using action to get out of your head is a great way to get yourself on the right. This journey is not about me.
This movement you decide to use as a relief from stress is going to be a personal choice. You should enjoy it. You should be excited to get into it. Once you find whatever it is you are going to use them, by all means, do it. Do it as often as you need to. Use it as a distraction and a stress reliever!
Movement As Meditation
Meditation is a great way to relieve stress and mental anguish. Mindfulness is a proven mitigator of stress. However, combining that with movement like a one-two punch. Our bodies love to move. If you’re using your mind to relieve your mental anguish that is great. If you can get out of your mind and be mindful of the movements you are doing. That is going to help you extensively. I have used movement meditation for a very long time, and it has helped me in some of my hardest times of my life. As athletes, you can utilize these tools to your extreme advantage. Get out of your mind when you’re feeling stressed. Get into your body and then return to your mind with a different outlook.
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KHO Health was acquired by was acquire by 9INE POINT in the summer of 2019 and is now referred to as 9INE POINT Health.
