Anxiety and Mental Toughness

**pcll99** · 09-11-2011, 10:56 AM

this past Saturday, I tried something I never tried before.

After 45 minutes of playing games, I tried calming my nerves... I did something to ease my anxiety... I simply told myself to calm down... deep breath.... (don't ask me how, i just did it.)

and suddenly, my endurance improved... my focus sharpened... cardiovascular all up... i don't know why...

Lin Dan might be mentally tough, and he is and will be tougher than LCW for the forseeable future.... there is nothing LCW can do to be mentally tougher than LD...

but LCW can still win against LD in OG 2012.... LCW must learn how to calm down when it's 19:19.... he must learn to minimize his anxiety during the last 5 minutes of Game 3.... that's what LCW needs to learn to do in the next 12 months... it is doable.... and it's only way LCW can win against LD...

Mentally Tough vs Mentally Calm!!!!

**chris-ccc** · 09-11-2011, 11:09 AM

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Wait till you experience the pressure generated from BAM.

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**pcll99** · 09-11-2011, 11:27 AM

the no 1 key is to realise that you are having an anxiety episode.... that is not easy...

no.2, to exhale the air in the lung slowly.

no. 3 to inhale slowly...

repeat no.2 and no.3 until you do not feel anxiety..... the whole process should be less than 60 seconds..

**pcll99** · 09-11-2011, 11:29 AM

the no 1 key is to realise that you are having an anxiety episode.... that is not easy... no.2, to exhale the air in the lung slowly. no. 3 to inhale slowly... repeat no.2 and no.3 until you do not feel anxiety..... the whole process should be less than 60 seconds..

**visor** · 09-11-2011, 12:33 PM

After so many years and thousands of matches at the highest international levels, you can rest assured pro players like LD, LCW and PG do not experience anxiety episodes. But in the final few points of a close match, what separates the winner from the loser is: determination, mental toughness, character, energy reserves, stamina, and sometimes just plain luck.

**raymond** · 09-12-2011, 12:00 AM

Originally Posted by pcll99

but LCW can still win against LD in OG 2012.... LCW must learn how to calm down when it's 19:19.... he must learn to minimize his anxiety during the last 5 minutes of Game 3.... that's what LCW needs to learn to do in the next 12 months... it is doable.... and it's only way LCW can win against LD...
Mentally Tough vs Mentally Calm!!!!

Only if it were that easy. I'm wondering if all the top countries recognize long ago the importance of mental toughness, and have long assigned good sport psychologists to work with their top guns. So LCW probably knows more than you think. But in the last few points, when everything is riding on it, when you're the one carrying the glory for your country, it's very hard to not think ahead and focus on the here and now. Very hard. On the other hand, I do agree with you, if this is his weak area, he needs to work on it before the next big one.

**pcll99** · 09-12-2011, 01:11 AM

ok, my points are these....

1. Mental Toughness cannot be taught. No sport psychologist or coach can teach you how to be mentally tough.

2. Mental toughness cannot be enhanced after the age of 25, even if LCW knows how to be tougher by myself.

3. Mental calmness however can still be taught and enhanced even at LCW's age.

4. To achieve mental calmness at the last few minutes of Game 3 is no easy task. There is nothing LCW can do to be tougher than LD. (I am personally a LCW fan.) However, it is possible for calmness to beat toughness. LCW, if calm at the very few minutes, can still beat LD even though LD is tougher than LCW.

just my two cents... feel free to disagree..

**raymond** · 09-12-2011, 01:19 AM

Hello, maybe you can start by defining your terms. What's Mental Toughness in your mind? On the other hand, I thought mental skills can be learned and practiced. I'd also like to know your specific data, e.g. "mental toughness cannot be enhanced after the age of 25", "it cannot be taught". Where do this come from?

**pcll99** · 09-12-2011, 02:37 AM

Originally Posted by raymond

Hello, maybe you can start by defining your terms. What's Mental Toughness in your mind? On the other hand, I thought mental skills can be learned and practiced. I'd also like to know your specific data, e.g. "mental toughness cannot be enhanced after the age of 25", "it cannot be taught". Where do this come from?

i think mental toughness is part of your character and personality. It's why I say it cannot be taught.. It's very hard to change after the age of 25, IMHO....

I don't know how to define mental toughness. To me, the toughest badminton player is LD.. Xu Chen (in mixed double) is another very very tough player.. I used to think Zheng Bo (2010 World Champ in mixed double) is quite tough, and I agree with visor that "determination, mental toughness, character, energy reserves, stamina, and sometimes just plain luck" are important.. Zheng Bo seems to have all of them, except probably character... Looking back 3 or 4 years, Zheng Bo is in fact (with respect) weak.

The Koreans are also very tough. LYD is both tough and calm. That's why he is a superstar in Korea.

feel free to disagree....

**pcll99** · 09-12-2011, 02:56 AM

Originally Posted by raymond

I thought mental skills can be learned and practiced.

Yes, there are many mental skills which can be learned and practiced. But, IMHO, I don't think toughness can be learned or practiced.

When push comes to shove, your true character will be revealed and will manifest itself.