Performance anxiety is that gut-wrenching fear of failing when the stakes are highest. It’s a vicious cycle where your mind and body betray your training, sabotaging the very skills you’ve spent countless hours honing. This is so much more than just pre-game jitters; it's a crippling pressure that makes your talents feel suddenly, frustratingly out of reach.… Read the rest
How do I stop it from happening? Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) techniques are your mental toolkit—practical strategies to manage your thoughts and actions under pressure. For those wondering what is a sports psychologist capable of providing, it often starts with this: structured mental skills training designed to build resilience when everything is on the line.… Read the rest
By Dr. John F. Murray The road to recovery starts with a tough admission: you are running on empty. True recovery isn’t achieved by simply taking a vacation; it demands a fundamental shift in how you manage your energy. You must learn to set firm boundaries, prioritize deep, restorative rest, and reconnect with the purpose that originally fueled your ambition.… Read the rest
By Dr. John F. Murray To truly overcome a mental block, you must face it head-on. A mental block is not a sign of weakness or a personal failure; it is your brain’s protective “freeze” response to perceived pressure. Whether you are an athlete facing a slump or an executive paralyzed before a presentation, you have the power to dismantle this invisible wall through consistent mental training.… Read the rest
By Dr. John F. Murray Performance anxiety is more than just “pre-game butterflies.” It is a debilitating fear of failure that can hijack your hard-earned skills right when you need them most. In my practice, I often compare an elite athlete to a high-performance engine.… Read the rest
By Dr. John F. Murray Hi, this is Dr. John F. Murray. See if any of the issues below pertain to you, your kids, or your students. My name is Dr. John F. Murray, a clinical and sports psychologist in Palm Beach, Florida.… Read the rest
This article was originally published by the Detroit News and features insights from Dr. John F. Murray. It is archived here for educational purposes. Detroit Free Press – June 4, 2006 – Mark Francescutti – Are sports really mind over matter?… Read the rest
I conducted my doctoral dissertation at the University of Florida on The psychology of sport injury. It is all about what happens in an athlete’s head after their body takes a hit. It’s the recognition that the unseen wound—the shock, the grief, the sudden loss of identity—can be just as painful and debilitating as any torn ligament or broken bone.… Read the rest