Anxiety bjj

[bobbytgrizl]

So I have been training Jiu-Jitsu for about one year at the beginning of my jujutsu, my anxiety wasn’t so bad. I have a lot of chronic panic attacks but nowadays, it just seems to get worse. When I train whether it’s the first role or the last role, I got extremely lightheaded, nausea heart racing, and what almost feels like extreme fatigue but also not at the same time. My brain feels emotionally dead I feel as if I have no emotions left in my brain and at that point is the only point where I’m able to roll and feel less heart racing and anxiety. I go into a really bad dissociation. It wasn’t this bad before and it’s really affecting me overall I take tablespoons of honey when I roll as well as tons of electrolytes and sugars to make sure that I’m hydrated and blood sugar is high. Has anyone ever had these feelings before and if so, how did you overcome them?

 

[skribs161 182]

I train to have fun. If you're not having fun after a year, maybe find something else that you actually enjoy.

 

[gspell68]

Normally, it should be a good thing except, in your case, it’s not.
I think the term in karate is “mushin”.
The English equivalent would maybe be something like being in the zone or being in a flow state.
Part of your brain is at the place you really want it to be in martial arts, but it sounds like another part of your mind and your body aren’t getting with the program.

 

[gspell68]

Maybe is a jujitsu thing???
This was on the bottom of the page of your thread as a suggested similar thread.
BJJ ANXIETY.

I never really took BJJ but I did do some modern Army combatives which is BJJ based, I think.
I never had any anxiety and had a blast, but with a strong karate background I generally dominated everyone. But, even those with similar skill sets didn’t rattle me when I rolled with them.

Maybe it’s the mindset in the gym?
Are the other folks tough guys or is it a conducive learning environment?
Maybe you would benefit from a swap to a traditional karate where there’s not quite as much close physical contact with others?

Good luck.
I hope you work something out.

 

[Gyakuto162 171]

This sounds like performance anxiety. You want to do well, you put pressure on yourself and the ‘devil on your shoulder’ whispers “You're going to fail and everyone will laugh at you“ and it sets you into an inappropriate fight or flight state.

I suspect anxiety isn’t new to you and you’ve probably sought help for it, equipping you with various coping strategies: box breathing, Emotional Freedom Techniques, Grounding techniques etc Have you tried applying them well before you get on the mat? Have you learned to dissociate physical sensations from anxiety states (increase heart and respiratory rate is normal and not a sign of impending panic and loss of control)?

Anxiety is a deeply ingrained and generally useful evolutionary phenomenon that sets us up to escape from sabre-toothed tigers and defend our resources. Your response is over sensitive and exaggerated and you have to diligently practise the techniques you’ve hopefully been taught, to overcome it.

 

[HighKick]

So I have been training Jiu-Jitsu for about one year at the beginning of my jujutsu, my anxiety wasn’t so bad. I have a lot of chronic panic attacks but nowadays, it just seems to get worse. When I train whether it’s the first role or the last role, I got extremely lightheaded, nausea heart racing, and what almost feels like extreme fatigue but also not at the same time. My brain feels emotionally dead I feel as if I have no emotions left in my brain and at that point is the only point where I’m able to roll and feel less heart racing and anxiety. I go into a really bad dissociation. It wasn’t this bad before and it’s really affecting me overall I take tablespoons of honey when I roll as well as tons of electrolytes and sugars to make sure that I’m hydrated and blood sugar is high. Has anyone ever had these feelings before and if so, how did you overcome them?

Get checked out. Your symptoms do Not point directly to anxiety. Could be heart, lungs, or who knows? Seek medical attention.
If all checks out and it is emotions, maybe BJJ is not the activity for you. Or the gym you are going to. Step back, relax and remember it should be something you ENJOY doing.

 

[bobbytgrizl]

Get checked out. Your symptoms do Not point directly to anxiety. Could be heart, lungs, or who knows? Seek medical attention.
If all checks out and it is emotions, maybe BJJ is not the activity for you. Or the gym you are going to. Step back, relax and remember it should be something you ENJOY doing.

I have been checkout out multiple times by the E.R and medical doctors they all say extreme anxiety. I forgot to mention I have a lot of these symptoms day to day when I’m not training it’s just 5x worse because of how fast my heart rate gets and physical exertion

 

[Monkey Turned Wolf162 27]

Beyond generic advice, this is not something anyone on here can help with. There are too many unknown factors that we would have no way to know, this should be a conversation with your doctor first to get medically cleared, then your instructor next, to see if he has any specific advice/noticed any specific change on his end, and then a therapist, who can work with you to analyze exactly what exactly your feeling, what the triggers are, whether or not it's healthy for this to continue, and a treatment plan.

Edit: Actually, the therapist first. I just saw your last statement of how you're having these symptoms outside of training when you had not before as well. A therapist and/or psychiatrist is the way to go since you've already been cleared medically.

The fact that that information alone wasn't provided initially is a good example of why this needs to be done with a professional you are working with, who can ask pointed questions to get the whole situation.

 

[Gyakuto162 171]

Yes and I reiterate, don’t ask for advice on this type of thing on a message board! Seek professionals help.