I train to compete. I am fine in training most of the time but lately, the last year or so, my times in meets have gotten quite a bit slower and now I get so anxious before a race that I feel sick. Today I had a SCM meet here I only went to swim the 400 IM. I dry heaved in the corner until they were about to call my heat. How can I get past this? I;m working on getting faster in practice (I'm injured and coming off surgery) but slower in the meets is something that has been lingering and causing the anxiety. Help!
Nickel, thanks. I always swim against the clock. Places don't matter as much since in a lot of my events I'm the only one. :)
Allen, thanks for the tips. I love the idea of thinking anxiety is energy instead. And you are so right about the cycle. I keep thinking "don't get anxious" and it makes it worse. I panic swim. Occasionally I do this during practice too but have learned to control it better. I need to learn that control in a meet. I have thought about doing "off" events but I have done them all now. As a distance person, I tried all sprints and still came out disappointed with my times which just lead to my anxiety as the meet went on. I have Zones in a month and so a month to get over this to start on the upward trend.
I have an excellent coach and I think we're going to sit down for a talk and see if that helps. Maybe I can even get him to come to Zones (he's an age group coach). Last time he did, I dropped 2 sec in the 100 IM.
Think calm, think calm...
Nickel, thanks. I always swim against the clock. Places don't matter as much since in a lot of my events I'm the only one. :)
Allen, thanks for the tips. I love the idea of thinking anxiety is energy instead. And you are so right about the cycle. I keep thinking "don't get anxious" and it makes it worse. I panic swim. Occasionally I do this during practice too but have learned to control it better. I need to learn that control in a meet. I have thought about doing "off" events but I have done them all now. As a distance person, I tried all sprints and still came out disappointed with my times which just lead to my anxiety as the meet went on. I have Zones in a month and so a month to get over this to start on the upward trend.
I have an excellent coach and I think we're going to sit down for a talk and see if that helps. Maybe I can even get him to come to Zones (he's an age group coach). Last time he did, I dropped 2 sec in the 100 IM.
Think calm, think calm...
