Really Bad Performance Anxiety

[mvillarreal]

So I know I've posted on this before, but this is really starting to annoy me, and I'm not sure how to get out of it. I'm still in a place where, every time I run a race, I either throw up beforehand and then feel really tense in my body when the race starts, or I throw up in the middle of the race. Sometimes both. I believe I can run a lot faster than I have been at these races, but my anxiety keeps me from doing so. I've tried telling myself that, even if I don't perform well, it's not the end of the world, but it still happens. I've tried taking an anti-emetic, but it still happens. I've tried closing my eyes and taking deep breaths as part of my warm-up, but it still happens. How do I get over this crippling anxiety so that (1) I can actually enjoy myself during my races, rather than feeling panicky and (2) can start running the good times I know I'm capable of running?

[Hidden]

How long have you had this issue, with preforming in front of others?

[mvillarreal in reply to Hidden]

Hidden Actually, with the race thing, I'm not so worried about what others are thinking as I am about whether I will run a good time or not. I've had some anxiety about this since I ran cross country in college, but now it's at the point where I throw up every single time I run a race.

[Rick1on1]

After browsing your posts, are you not setting your own expectations to high?

It's great to have goals but you are obsessing about them which is not healthy! You are being too hard on yourself!

I believe you also need to redefine your attitude towards feeling empathy and compassion for others. Realize that you cannot be everything to everyone and most importantly to yourself.

PM me if you want to chat some more.

[mvillarreal in reply to Rick1on1]

Rick1on1 You're right. I put a lot of identity in my goals, and I don't know how to get over that. Also, when you say that I should redefine my attitude towards feeling empathy and compassion for others, what do you mean by that?

[Rick1on1 in reply to mvillarreal]

Hi, sorry about the delayed response!

The difference is very well described in this article:

betterup.com/blog/compassio.... The gist being able to reach a point where you are comfortable to help those you can and not fret about those you cant.

As a minister, you have a deep seated desire to help people navigate life and faith, In your posts there is genuine concern for others, even as you face your own "demons".

Your posts of the existence of a deity and hell, the sense of evil within and concern for your family, gives a fair amount of detail.

You have many triggers and one technique is too create boundaries so that when faced with them- you feel that you have dealt with the issue and it does not cause you to spiral.

Feel to free to pm me if you want to chat more.

[AdamFCastillo31]

Hi, I can understand your problem and what is happening with you, well I can share my experience with you. I had suffered from anxiety a few years back and I did try everything from cope-up strategies to medicine. But counseling/CBT( COGNITIVE BEHAVIORAL THERAPY)worked well for me. I took my counselling session from medvidi. And now i am perfectly fine and i am able to control & manage my triggers. I hope this will might help you.