Friend: Whenever I walk up to the tee, I feel extremely uncomfortable, like all eyes are on me…
Tyler: What are all the thoughts you have when you walk up to the tee?
Friend: Oh they are watching me. I don’t know how to do it. Am I going to miss the ball? I really want to do good. I’ve been practicing.
Tyler: And what feelings do you have?
Friend: My heart is racing
Tyler: “When I read all this information back to you, I want you to tell me the first moment that comes to mind from your past. Try to relax and just share anything that comes up in your mind. Oh they are watching me. I don’t know how to do it. Am I going to miss the ball? I really want to do good. I’ve been practicing. Heart racing
Friend: Ok, I just remembered something. It was in high school. I was very self-conscious. If a teacher called on me I turned red and I would be terrified. I remember feeling very nervous when I walked in the room.
Tyler: You shared earlier that the first few shots playing golf are the most scary. Was it also the first few days of a new class that you felt this way. Like when you first walk into a new classroom, new people and new teacher.
Friend: Yes, that is true. But I still feel a bit nervous about golf. I am not sure if this is it…”
Tyler: Ok, I am going to read back your thoughts and feelings and let\’s see if another event comes to mind.
(I read back her thoughts and feelings.)
Friend: Oh something just came up… I remember being super self-conscious at tennis camp. I was a good player but when we had to compete I got super nervous. I was thinking more about the spectators than I was about my performance.
Tyler: and it sounds like that’s what you’re doing with golf
Friend: Yeah, that’s interesting. Huh, I feel a bit better.
Tyler: Ok, let me read back all these thoughts and feelings and I want you to see if they apply to those moments at Tennis camp.
(I read them back)
Friend: Yes that is so weird. I feel much better now. I am curious to see how things go next time I play golf.
After they remembered these events, the performance anxiety lessened and the PopUp got released.