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TOPIC:
The fear 17 years 7 months ago #18003
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Thought this might spark up some interesting discussion...(i have a long commute)
So how do you all deal with the fear/anxiety of running something out of your comfort zone? |
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Re:The fear 17 years 7 months ago #18010
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Personally what I do is take a deep breath and exhale slowly. tell myself that i can do this. remind myself of other tough runs that I have done and just dig into it...tell myself its all about being fluid, if im all tensed up i wont move with my boat and the water
Then I get a good song loaded in my brain and commit to my line ................ Now, I know im not the only one to get the jitters from time to time whatcha all do?  |
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Re:The fear 17 years 7 months ago #18012
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I start humming a song. And remember to paddle and make sure i am not sloppy when paddling. Thats all i do.
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Re:The fear 17 years 7 months ago #18014
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If I'm going to be running something so big that it would make me scared, I'm normally too psyched about running it to pay attention to any fear that may come up
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Re:The fear 17 years 7 months ago #18021
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I have a procedure for running scary stuff.
If I'm so scared that my mouth totally dries out and I can't spit, I know I'm to scared to run the thing up ahead. So the first thing I do is to sip the water in the eddy, so I have some thing to spit. Then it's usually just a matter of paddling out of an eddy, and that is easy. After that it's too late to panic. When I get close to the scary stuff I usually thing about how stupid I am for doing this and wonder why I didn't go into playing chess or some thing more comfortable. About that time the sh!t hits the fan and I just start paddling and stop thinking too much. And after that it's just smiling and happy times, either for me when I finish the rapid or my friends when I come swimming down  |
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Re:The fear 17 years 7 months ago #18180
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Fear is one thing, and it is healthy, especially in a sport like this.
Fear is part of the challenge for some, the booster in our adrenaline... Anxiety is another problem. I've gone through some bouts of 'fear' or anxiety on the river... to the point of not feeling like paddling sections I've run without issue in the past... negative visualization - ever look at a run and see only holes and rocks and no lines? Only picture the beating? That kind of thing... I was recommended and will pass along that recommendation - the book 'from panic to power' by Lucinda Bassett. Although it talks alot about every day enxiety issues, not 'extreme sport' specific challenges, there were a great many lessons in the book. Things I am still working on. It's when fear meets peer pressure that folks need to really be worried... IMHO |
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Re:The fear 17 years 7 months ago #18186
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I haven't done any massive hard core kayaking yet, but when I get to cetain river freatures all I think is - I hope I don't drown - then I go for it.
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Re:The fear 17 years 7 months ago #18188
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chris71 wrote:
Good post mate  Peer pressure can be a killer.. |
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Re:The fear 17 years 7 months ago #18190
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I don't cope very well with fear. If I feel fear I usually just refuse to paddle and portage instead. However, I'm trying to extend my comfort zone by preparation and training. In general I don't believe in all this psyching up and breaking up mental barriers. You either are comfortable doing something or you are not. I've found I have much more rewarding time on the water when I'm comfortable so thats where I draw the line personally.
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Re:The fear 17 years 7 months ago #18192
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I think it just depends on how I'm feeling on a particular day. Sometimes I feel good and confident and I paddle well. Then other days I’ll go to the same spot and feel almost sick thinking about running the same rapid/drop. Or I’ll look back at photos of me running a drop and start to think about all the bad things that can happen and that’s not good. Doubt creeps into the mind…
Whatever the case I am far more conservative than what most people are. I don’t run something if I’m not sure I will make the line and be where I want to be. Perhaps it has held me back quite a bit but I guess for me it’s just about having fun in amazing places with good people. I ran a rapid this year that I had run before, but had a close call on. I had caught my right edge on the first drop and had almost flipped. Looking at it I didn’t feel good but decided to do it anyway. I should have listened and this time I caught my right edge again, went over, and ran the 3m drop about 3m away from the first 1m drop upside down, smacking my head and snapping my paddle. Always listen to that little voice in your head. When I’m really scared I often feel like urinating, even if I’ve just been and sometimes I feel like puking. It seems its temporary and when I climb into the boat I’m very nervous but once the deck is on and I’m in the water I’m much better. I’ll splash my face with water, take a couple of deep breaths and then I only think positively and only on the line and not the dangers. In this way I usually run the rapid just fine… usually… I'm often to excited and happy I smile and even laugh to myself (I must be nuts!  )If I can’t deal with the consequences in my mind, at that point in time, of what can happen, then I portage. I am often quite scared looking at a rapid, 99% of the time more scared than when I’m running it. I guess I’m not either that good at mastering the fear and anxiety but I just keep on paddling and over time you find yourself running harder and harder stuff. If you’ve been paddling for say two years, think back to what you were running more than a year ago. I’m sure you’ve improved quite a bit and if not then at least if you’re having fun then you’re doing it right!  Enough rambling on from me…  cheers  |
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Re:The fear 17 years 7 months ago #18251
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from \"dune\" by frank herbert
i think this to myself, or some music that ive been listening to. |
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Re:The fear 17 years 7 months ago #18255
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one of my friend is afraid to be afraid
 i'm not very good dealing with fear, if i got beat on a rapid, the next time i run the rapid i will be afraid of running it, but if a friend found a new easy line in the rapid i with built my confidence rapidly |
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Re:The fear 17 years 6 months ago #18263
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I think I rely a lot on the peeps I'm paddling with if I'm scared. I tend to run bigger rivers with people I trust, who possibly know my abilities better than I do myself...
But I guess I concentrate on what I'm doing and what I'm being told about the line and often end up running a better line than the others because they're not scared and focusing quite as much. And also, I'm a girl, and don't think I get put under peer pressure, just get a lot of encouragement, which is nice. I will walk if I really don't think I can do it. |
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Re:The fear 17 years 6 months ago #18286
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frostie89 wrote:
TOO FUNNY - I listen to this IN MUSIC - EON - Fear the mind killer (B-side to EON's SPICE must flow)  |
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Re:The fear 17 years 6 months ago #18298
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we could put a couple of songs online if people like that. this is my playlist today. still trying to find that EON song. let me know what else is missing
If you're happy, you're successful.
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Re:The fear 17 years 6 months ago #18390
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I use cognitive Imagery techniques to help reduce anxiety levels to keep calm and collected techniques like 'self talk/ happy place' can help you focus your mind or build up skills enough to be able to use a trigger word. give me till Dec and you can have a copy of my dissertation
You need an ammount of anxiety to help keep your mind focused but too much you will notice performance drops very completly, it is very interesting to watch people in and out of their comfort zones! interesting link Goes into this in much more depth if you have the time. When I get home I can give you some better links if you like:D |
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Re:The fear 17 years 6 months ago #18422
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The fear that I have most difficulty with is that which keeps you awake the night before - meaning when you eventually get going you are not on best of form. Having said that, some of my most memorable descents followed semi-sleepless nights.
When you cut-into the current and the machine kicks-in, the nightmares seem to evaporate and you just get on with the business. I agree that peer pressure (also from yourself) can be very unpleasant - thats why its important to paddle with real friends and not wind-up merchants. |
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Re:The fear 17 years 6 months ago #18581
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I kinda psych myself up imagining I'm a pro and everyone is watching me (Silly I know). Or I just study the course and once I am sure that I understand the hydraulic most of the fear goes away!
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