Beating the Mental Block: The Uphill Battle After a Downhill Accident

Many athletes, skiers and snowboarders alike, find themselves facing mental blocks that impact performance or even bring it to a total halt. Sometimes these blocks pop up out of nowhere and an athlete can struggle to complete a trick or skill they have completed successfully many times before. Other times, these blocks arise as the result of an accident or injury, leaving the athlete with a lack of confidence, fear, or avoidance of the activity altogether.

When our body experiences a trauma, like an accident or physical injury, we often look to professionals for healing. Surgeons stabilize damaged tissue and broken bones, to facilitate proper healing. Physical Therapists encourage targeted movements, so we may regain strength and mobility, with the hope of returning to the same level of functioning prior to the accident. Yet, we often feel as if we are on our own, when it comes to healing the mental trauma resulting from the accident.

Well-meaning friends and family may suggest that you white-knuckle your way through healing. They may say you should just, “get back on the horse”, or “face your fears”. While this strategy may work for some, many people find a little help is needed. One area of treatment for sport-related trauma is quickly gaining momentum due to its high level of effectiveness. Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing therapy, often referred to as EMDR, was originally used to treat Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. However, studies have found EMDR to be effective in treating many other issues including anxiety, depression, chronic pain, phobias, and more.

Just as a physician cleans debris from a wound so your body may heal itself, an EMDR trained therapist helps clear the problem causing, emotional debris. Once the emotional debris is cleared, your body can leverage its own natural healing response. Unlike traditional talk therapy which can go on for an indeterminate amount of time, EMDR is a targeted approach which may show results in just a few sessions.

If you would like to learn more about EMDR Therapy or are interested in exploring the benefits of EMDR Therapy as a path toward healing and growth, please reach out to buhspok.com for a free 30-minute consultation.