Why do we get nervous?
Whether we're about to write an exam,or attending a competition,we all experience nervousness. But,why do we get nervous?
In stressful situations,our brain sends a signal from the pituitary gland,all the way to our kidneys where the adrenal gland resides,and this is where adrenaline is released. We've felt it before - the rapid heart rate,dilating pupils,and increased circulation in our muscles. It's all part of the 'fight or flight' response which developed in our evolutionary history to help us survive. But this response isn't all or nothing,there are degrees of reaction,according to the perceived threat or importance we attach to the outcome. So something like an interview,which presents a challenge,stimulates the same biological reaction that a threat to life does,just to a smaller degree.
Feel those nervous butterflies in the stomach? This is because adrenaline helps redirect blood and energy to the most important parts of our body during stress,like the heart and muscles,and away from our digestive system,causing the blood vessels to close around the stomach,leading to that tingling sensation.
So how do professional athletes handle the stress? The concept of 'mental imagery' is a widely used method in sports. With 'cognitive specific imagery',an athlete simply imagines practicing a technique or skill before competing or training. While it may sound crazy,this actually stimulates the relevant neurons in the brain,and has been shown to enhance the specific skill. 'Motivational specific imagery',on the other hand,encourages athletes to recall the feeling of winning an event or beating a competitor as a motivational tool. Finally, 'motivational general mastery' is commonly used by athletes to feel more confident. Again,by simply imagining themselves as focused,tough and having positive thoughts prior to the competition,athletes will be able to improve performance and overcome nervousness.
Confidence,in particular,is a consistent factor that distinguishes successful athletes from others,and a major focus for professional coaches.
In stressful situations,our brain sends a signal from the pituitary gland,all the way to our kidneys where the adrenal gland resides,and this is where adrenaline is released. We've felt it before - the rapid heart rate,dilating pupils,and increased circulation in our muscles. It's all part of the 'fight or flight' response which developed in our evolutionary history to help us survive. But this response isn't all or nothing,there are degrees of reaction,according to the perceived threat or importance we attach to the outcome. So something like an interview,which presents a challenge,stimulates the same biological reaction that a threat to life does,just to a smaller degree.
Feel those nervous butterflies in the stomach? This is because adrenaline helps redirect blood and energy to the most important parts of our body during stress,like the heart and muscles,and away from our digestive system,causing the blood vessels to close around the stomach,leading to that tingling sensation.
So how do professional athletes handle the stress? The concept of 'mental imagery' is a widely used method in sports. With 'cognitive specific imagery',an athlete simply imagines practicing a technique or skill before competing or training. While it may sound crazy,this actually stimulates the relevant neurons in the brain,and has been shown to enhance the specific skill. 'Motivational specific imagery',on the other hand,encourages athletes to recall the feeling of winning an event or beating a competitor as a motivational tool. Finally, 'motivational general mastery' is commonly used by athletes to feel more confident. Again,by simply imagining themselves as focused,tough and having positive thoughts prior to the competition,athletes will be able to improve performance and overcome nervousness.
Confidence,in particular,is a consistent factor that distinguishes successful athletes from others,and a major focus for professional coaches.
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