Realize Your Stress Response

Stress is the response our bodies and mind experience as we adjust to our continually changing environment; it has physical, emotional and mental effects on us that can result in positive or negative effects on performance. As a positive influence stress can significantly enhance our performance while as a negative influence, it can result in negative feelings, loss of concentration, poor decision-making - resulting in some cases as severe choking under pressure. In other words, stress will help us or hinder us depending how we react to it.

Can We Eliminate Stress?

As we have seen, positive stress adds adrenaline and focused concentration, which can enhance performance. On the other hand, pressure, high expectations, evaluative judging situations, etc., can negatively affect our performance response. What we need to do is find our individual zone of optimal stress, which will personally motivate us towards optimal performance but not overwhelm us in pressure situations.

What is Pressure?

Pressure is a feeling that is linked with an intense desire to be or do something at a high level of performance, accompanied by the uncertainty of fear that we may not succeed. It is also about wanting to make something happen, without certainty of outcome. It may also involve meeting expectations of others. It is about struggling to avoid fear, pain and disappointment linked with performance failure. It occurs when we get close to our goals and what drains our confidence and distracts us at the same time.

How Can I Manage Stress Better?

• Become aware of your sources of stress and your emotional/physical reactions
• Recognize what you can control and what are uncontrollable factors
• Manage your intensity of your emotional responses to stress by learning mental techniques to maintain your focus in the present
• Learn to moderate your physical reactions to stress by learning relaxation techniques to maintain your Ideal Performance State.
• Build your physical and emotional coping toolbox to maintain perspective and empower you to effectively deal with critical situations.

What Relaxation Techniques You Will Learn?

• Mental Imagery and Visualization
• Meditation
• 5-minute Breathing and Centering
• Utilizing Music and Relaxation tapes
• Utilizing Yoga Techniques
• Progressive Muscular Relaxation
• Autogenic Training
• Biofeedback Training
• EEG Feedback and Brainwave Monitoring to attain Flow States
• Attentional Control Training
• Automatic Processing
• Cognitive and Somatic Activation & Arousal Training
• Simulation Training
• Competition Plans
• Performance Routines
• Utilizing Process Goals for Task Focus
• Trust Pyramid Training
• Associative vs. Dissociative Attentional Strategies for Pain and Focus Control
• Problem and Emotion Focused Coping Strategies