THE | DIET DETECTIVE^®

Though it often takes a talented therapist several months to get to the core of the problem, most players can get some relief very early simply by realizing there are identifiable reasons for such behavior. It's difficult to imagine that severe anxiety attacks actually serve a purpose, but they do. The therapist's job is to discover the purpose and to carefully walk the patient through a few tough times to reach the healthy cure.

There are other emotional states that affect performance, e.g., extreme nervousness. It's important to realize that some pre-match nervousness can be a healthy sign to keep the athlete alert to potential dangers and opportunities during competition. For most athletes, the nervousness disappears once the competition begins.

If you find you are suffering from an overabundance of nervousness, it would be in your best interest to try to focus on the process of hitting the ball rather than the outcome of certain scenarios. Outcome oriented players are those who are already beginning to sabotage their own performance. The greatest players I've seen in my 54 years of teaching are those who forget the past and don't think about the future. Their only concern is the shot currently being hit.

Jimmy Connors was once engaged in a battle royal with a player to whom he had never lost. As a matter of fact, Connors was down match point, but he came back to win. In the media room, a writer asked Connors what he was thinking about when he was down match point. Connors said, "Nothing." Connors is right because the ball doesn't understand that Connors was in serious trouble.

The next time you find yourself beginning to get those uncomfortable feelings in your stomach when the score gets close, simply attempt to have some fun hitting each ball as well as possible. Don't worry about the last or next shot--only the one you're on at the moment. You will find yourself heading for some big wins