How Can CBT Help Me As An Athlete

It’s easy for anyone to see the physical strength of an athlete. But, what many people fail to recognize is that it takes just as much mental fitness to be successful. Things like endurance, motivation, and the willingness to overcome challenges all stem from mental well-being. 

Unfortunately, athletes also tend to face a lot of pressure, especially when they’re on a public stage. One wrong move, and you could experience a career-ending injury. If you don’t perform your best, you could lose the race, game, match, etc. You might even deal with anxious thoughts causing you to wonder if you’re really good enough, if you’re getting too old, or if your opponent is better than you. 

It’s not uncommon for athletes to deal with anxiety stemming from doubt and fear. It’s something that traditional training in the gym might not help. But, if you’re an athlete dealing with those negative thoughts, CBT might be the solution. 

Restructuring

As an athlete, you might struggle with thinking about the worst-case scenario when you’re practicing or in the middle of a competition. Again, you could get injured, lose the big game, or worry about your abilities. 

Those thoughts can lead to anxiety, and if any of them plague you enough to impact your performance, you might also start to experience depression. 

CBT can help to restructure your thoughts and change the distortions in your thinking. You’ll work with a therapist to identify your distortions and focus on what you can do to challenge them. Things like asking yourself what could happen, what are the chances of it happening, and how it might impact your life are all valid questions you can work through during therapy. 

When you challenge those thoughts, they become less powerful. It doesn’t mean you won’t still experience negative self-talk sometimes. But, with CBT, you’ll be better equipped to fight back against them. 

Creating Goals

You’re likely no stranger to setting physical goals for yourself. But, if you’re struggling with your mental health, CBT can also help you set SMART goals that are: 

• Specific

• Measurable

• Achievable

• Realistic

• Time-limited

Setting SMART goals can help you manage your expectations. You might be putting too much pressure on yourself, leading to anxiety, disappointment, and added stress. Working with a therapist to set realistic goals will not only take away some of that stress, but it will help you focus on exactly what you need to work on. 

Mindfulness

Finally, CBT can teach you how to relax and be more mindful. Mindfulness is getting a lot of traction these days, but it’s more than just a buzzword. When you’re an athlete, it’s easy to want to always look ahead. It’s even easier to focus on your past mistakes. 

But, both of those things can keep you from reaching your full potential. 

Mindfulness will help you stay focused on the present. From a performance standpoint, it’s a great way to stay “in the zone” and shift your mindset where it needs to be without falling into the trap of anxiety. 

Breathing exercises, mindfulness meditation, and even guided imagery techniques can help you be more mindful when competing and in your free time. More mindfulness leads to more relaxation and less stress. You’ll be less anxious overall, which you can carry with you in your everyday life, not only when you’re wearing the “athlete” title. 

No matter what level you’re at as an athlete, you can benefit from CBT practices. If you’re interested in learning more or want to set up an appointment, feel free to contact us any time to learn more about CBT and sports counseling.