How does stress affect sport

Stress is a part of our life! Our body responds to stressors by producing some hormones like adrenaline and cortisol. The result is an increased heart and breathing rate and other physical changes that prepares the body for a challenge. Up to a certain point, stress is not a harmful issue. Specialists call this a beneficial stress that helps us in fulfilling our tasks and gives some excitement in our lives. Athletes need this kind of stress for optimal performances.

When the level of stress is too low, the athlete does not feel challenged anymore and bored. A good athlete knows his/her best stress level that is helping optimize his/her activity. Unfortunately, as in every aspect of life, stress can be damaging. How Does Stress Affect Sports? When stress and anxiety have a high level, the athlete starts to see a competition as a threat; he/she is beginning to think in a negative way damaging his/her self-confidence. The energy consumed in worrying could be of great help in improving his/her techniques. Therefore, mental control is important in sport as in any other aspect of life. In addition, the increased heart rate can decrease an athlete’s exercise efficiency, and make any game seem tougher.

Here are some of the things that can be considered stress-factors, and can affect our physical performances: family conflicts, relationship-stress, loosing someone dear, problems at school/work, or a busy schedule. The signs of a high-level stress are panic attacks, irritability, physical symptoms such as headaches, stomach problems or chest-pain, also sleeping disturbances, depression. Sport psychologists are proposing some coping techniques to manage your stress:

- We should be aware that our perceptions are to be blamed for our body’s response
- Get enough sleep and eat well
- Using techniques of relaxation can be helpful
- Believing in a good motivation and a positive thinking
- Controlling negative thoughts

Goal setting is another important aspect. We should all have realistic expectations to avoid feeling overwhelmed. Long-term stress can wear out our body’s reserves and even our immune system, making us vulnerable to infections. Chronic stress can actually lead to very serious physical and psychological problems like heart diseases, diabetes, ulcers, or memory loss. In a situation like this, an athlete’s career is at great risk, and so is his/her life!

The impact of stress on athlete’s performances is a real concern for coaches as well. That is why managing stress techniques have been implemented in every aria of sport. Sport psychology consultants are helping athletes understand how does stress affects sport, and they have strategies to overcome the stress. Fear and anxiety are unpleasant emotions for an athlete in front of a competition or daily routine. Stress is affecting negatively not only the performance and the results in someone’s career, but it affects the mind and feelings. Thus, it is an advantage for athletes to develop coping skills in managing stress, and become tougher when faced to any athletic challenge!