Seal launch before the Boater-X . Photo : James Ibbotson
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WHAT IS ANXIETY , AND WHEN DOES IT BECOME A PROBLEM ?
Heart racing , stomach-turning , hands shaking , lightheaded , and sick , looking for an escape route . Those are some common anxiety symptoms ; most of us will be familiar with these feelings . You may have experienced them before sitting an exam , delivering a speech or before the start of a race . It is normal to feel this way as it is your body ’ s way of preparing for a ‘ fight or flight ’ when put in a dangerous situation .
Oxygenated blood is diverted away from the things deemed unimportant and instead prioritised to the places where it is needed most . Sitting above a rapid and feeling this way is standard . It is how your body is helping you to ‘ survive ’ the impending danger .
When these feelings become a permanant part of paddling and maybe even lead you to change your decision-making – this is when it has potentially become a problem . If you feel this way long before you get on the river or it stops you from going kayaking altogether , then it may be worth taking a step back and working out what makes you feel this way .
Double drop on the Mellte – I was very nervous ! Photo : Tom Clare
Coaching – Tom Clare and Matt Brook . Photo : Del Read
Seal launch before the Boater-X . Photo : James Ibbotson
Surfing at HPP . Photo : Tom Clare
ANXIETY – MY PERSONAL EXPERIENCE
This is what I have done . Over the last few years , my kayaking skills have continued to improve . I am a significantly more skilful and more experienced kayaker than I was five years ago . Yet in that time , the last two years primarily , I have struggled more and more with my head game . I have much higher levels of anxiety around kayaking than I ever used to , and this is the single biggest thing holding me back in my kayaking right now .
If I had to break down where this anxiety comes from , three reoccurring reasons would come to mind .
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