DrRoberta Dear Dr. Roberta,
I am an ice skater and whenever I go to a competition I get so nervous that I practically faint before I go out on the ice. Is there anything I can do to relax?
Champion, Pennsylvania
Dear Champion,
The goal is for you to perform well without anxiety, but relaxation is not necessary. If you are too relaxed you might not compete well. Instead, tell yourself that you will skate with excellence and precision and you’ll feel as if you were practicing and not competing. Tell this to yourself many times a day and before you go to bed. If you have a hypnotist in town one session with him/her will help you immeasurably. When you are at practice tell yourself that this is exactly how you will perform during competitions. Good luck.
– Dr. Roberta
