{"id":163,"date":"2004-01-05T11:48:05","date_gmt":"2004-01-05T17:48:05","guid":{"rendered":""},"modified":"2015-03-20T08:58:01","modified_gmt":"2015-03-20T13:58:01","slug":"traumatic-swimming-events-reprocessed-with-emdr","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/thesportjournal.org\/article\/traumatic-swimming-events-reprocessed-with-emdr\/","title":{"rendered":"Traumatic Swimming Events Reprocessed with EMDR"},"content":{"rendered":"
Submitted by: Louise B. Graham, Ph.D.<\/div>\n

Abstract<\/h2>\n

Athletes who have experienced an upsetting competitive experience not
\nonly may perceive competition negatively but relive the upsetting performance
\nevent when they approach competition or contemplate competition which
\nresults in an increase in anxiety. EMDR was performed with competitive
\nswimmers to aid them in reprocessing an upsetting swimming event. Their
\ncoping beliefs were measured and level of anxiety prior and after the
\nEMDR. Vignettes are presented as examples of the changes in the athletes’
\nlevel of anxiety coping beliefs after three sessions.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

\n

When individuals have perceived a situation negatively and have created
\nnegative cognitions about that experience, it is often a reflection of
\ntheir perceptual style (Bandura, 1997). He also suggested that positive
\nvisualization enhances self-efficacy by reciprocally inhibiting negative
\nvisualizations. This negative interpretation of the event predisposes
\nthe individual to react in a manner indicative of poor self-efficacy.
\nHardy (1990) has investigated a catastrophe model of performance in sport.
\nIt appears that an individual’s cognitive interpretation of the anxiety
\nis important by the impact it plays on performance (Jones & Swain,
\n1992; Jones, Swain, & Hardy, 1993). The athlete’s perception and interpretation
\nof anxiety as positive or negative in regards to his or her performance
\nmaybe detrimental to performance if perceived as threatening (Jones &
\nSwain, 1992; Jones, Swain et al., 1993; Nordell & Sime, 1993; Rotella
\n& Learner, 1993).<\/p>\n

Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) has been used extensively
\nwith Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (Van der Kolk, 1997), but there is
\nlittle knowledge in the area of EMDR and performance anxiety (Oglesby,
\n1999). Most of the work in this area to date has been anecdotal. EMDR
\nuses bouts of 20-40 rapid, saccadic eye movements by requesting the athlete
\nto visually track a light which moves laterally in sequence from left
\nto right. This technique was discovered by Francine Shapiro (1989), and
\nshe found it resulted in the brain processing information in much the
\nsame manner it does during rapid eye movements. Shapiro believes this
\nresults in traumatic memories being reprocessed in a more positive or
\ncoping light. This process requires the individual to visualize an upsetting
\nsports event and reprocess that event employing all senses and simultaneously
\nreframing cognitively. Foster and Lendl (1995, 1996) used EMDR to enhance
\nperformance in athletes and as a tool for executive coaching. Crabbe (1996)
\nused the technique to improve riders’ performance in dressage competition.<\/p>\n

Athletes who have experienced an upsetting competitive experience are
\nan important subgroup of competitive athletes who have difficulty with
\ncompetitive anxiety. This group not only perceives competition negatively
\nbut additionally relives the upsetting performance event when they approach
\ncompetition or contemplate competition which results in an increase in
\nanxiety. The purpose of this paper is to provide a number of examples
\nas a means of illustration of the technique of EMDR and reprocessing an
\nupsetting swimming event.<\/p>\n

Method<\/h2>\n

Participants<\/em><\/h3>\n

Volunteers (N<\/em> = 21) were recruited from four competitive swim
\nteams without compensation: a state college, two Y.M.C.A.s, and a public
\nhigh school. Participants ranged in age from 16-21 years of age with twice
\nas many women as men.<\/p>\n

Measures<\/em><\/h3>\n

Anxiety.<\/em> Each athlete rated an upsetting sports event according
\nto the Subjective Units of Distress Scale (SUDS). Wolpe’s (1991) scale
\nis a continuum from 0 (no disturbance) <\/em>to 10 (highest disturbance).
\n<\/em>Heart rate was also recorded by having the participants take their
\npulse and count out loud each beat while focusing on the upsetting event
\nas the researcher timed and recorded.<\/p>\n

Self Perception. <\/em>Validity of Cognition Scale (VoC) is part of
\nthe EMDR protocol. It is a self-perception measure that Shapiro (1992)
\ndeveloped to measure a person’s positive coping self-beliefconcerning
\nthe upsetting event. This belief is rated on a 7-point scale from 1 (completely
\nfalse) <\/em>to 7 (completely true).<\/em><\/p>\n

Procedures<\/em><\/h3>\n

EMDR. <\/em>The purpose of EMDR is to facilitate cognitive reprocessing,
\nso that an individual is able to secure all the learning possible from
\na given upsetting experience and interpret that information in the most
\npositive light for personal growth. The athlete focused on an anxiety
\nprovoking or unpleasant swimming competitive experience to investigate
\nthe possibility of reprocessing this in a positive format to impact favorably
\non future competitive performance. The actual desensitization of the anxiety-provoking
\nevent began with the athletes holding that event in their awareness. The
\nperson is asked to compose a possible coping statement (VoC) concerning
\nthe upsetting event that he or she presently does not believe. The person
\nthen rates the upsetting event on the SUDS scale, and the heart rate is
\nsimultaneously taken.<\/p>\n

The researcher induced bouts of (20-40) rapid, saccadic eye movements
\nby requesting the athlete to visually track a light which moves laterally
\nin sequence from left to right. All measures are taken again at the conclusion
\nof the session. The athletes had three sessions of EMDR with the last
\nsession focusing on an ideal swimming experience. The standard EMDR protocol
\nwas followed (Shapiro, 1998).<\/p>\n

Vignettes<\/h2>\n

Backstroke.<\/strong> This young lady recounted an experience of doing the
\nbackstroke in competition when she missed her count for the turn and hit
\nher head on the wall. She sunk to the bottom and inhaled water. The feelings
\nreported were the following: confusion, panic, and thinking “I could drown.”
\n“How could I be so stupid as to miss the turn?” When asked to rate the
\nSUDS, she rated it as a 7, and her heart rate was 110. She described a
\ntense, upset feeling in her stomach as she envisioned the event. Her coping
\nstatement was “I got that turn down pat,” which she rated on the VoC at
\na 5-6. By the third EMDR session she had a SUDS rating of 2 and a heart
\nrate of 70 with her VOC up to a 6.5.<\/p>\n

Goggles.<\/strong> Miss Goggle was also performing the backstroke when her
\ngoggles came off, and she hit her head on the wall and lost her breath.
\nShe described having a sick feeling in her stomach and difficulty breathing.
\nShe placed last in the event and was terribly embarrassed and felt horrible.
\nThe location in her body that she felt the anxiety as she recalled the
\nevent was in her eyes and shoulders. Her SUDS rating initially was a 5,
\nand her heart rate 100 with a VoC rating of 5 for the statement “I learned
\nfrom my mistakes.” At the conclusion of the three sessions her SUDS was
\na 3 with an 80 heart rate and a VoC score of 6.<\/p>\n

Disappointment.<\/strong>Mr. Disappointment described a competition
\nwhere he swam the 50 fly and the 200 relay. When he came out of the pool
\nand toweled off, the coach said to him, “I thought you were better than
\nwhat you showed.” Mr. Disappointment described this statement from the
\ncoach as devastating. He experienced a tight, tense jaw as he summoned
\nup the image and gave this a SUDS of 10 with a heart rate of 110. His
\nVoC for “I know I am a good enough swimmer” was 5. After our third session
\nhis SUDS fell to a 1 with a 90 heart rate and a 7 VoC.<\/p>\n

Seated Back:Mr. Seated Back recalls a 200 backstroke competition
\nwhere he was seated back 6 to 7 seconds slower than he expected. His feelings
\nwere embarrassment, nervousness, anxiety, and physically felt his back
\ntense up. His thoughts were “I did the worst.” He gave a SUDS rating of
\n8 with a heart rate of 85. His VoC rating was 5 for “I tried my best.”
\nAt the conclusion of our sessions, he reported a SUDS of 1 with a heart
\nrate of 80 and a VoC of 7.<\/p>\n

Mr. Disqualified.<\/strong> Mr. Disqualified’s upsetting event was that
\nhe was swimming in a sectional meet on the relay team. He was the first
\none to swim and he “did great.” When the last leg of the relay finished,
\nhe was so excited because they won that he jumped into the water which
\nresulted in the team being disqualified. He remembered looking up in disbelief
\nat them being disqualified. His thoughts were “I screwed up.” He felt
\ntightness in his chest as he recounted the story and reported a SUDS of
\n8 with a heart rate of 90. His VoC was “It is ok because we made it up
\nthe next week” was a 2. He actually became teary eyed during the procedure.
\nAt the conclusion of our sessions, he rated the SUDS at a 0 with a heart
\nrate of 75. His VoC rating was 6.5.<\/p>\n

Mr. 50 Breaststroke. <\/strong> This last young man in the New England
\nChampionships broke the 50 breast record on the first day. He volunteered
\nthat he began obsessing over the 100 breast, and self-doubt crept into
\nhis thoughts, “I doubt I can do it.” He ended up swimming his worse time
\non the 100 with a 1:01. This experience was felt as a tingling in his
\nstomach with a SUDS of 8 and a heart rate of 80. His VoC for “It’s over
\nI won’t obsess” was rated as a 5. When we finished our work together,
\nhe rated the SUDS at a 0, his heart rate a 55, and his VoC was a 7.<\/p>\n

Conclusion<\/h2>\n

These vignettes serve to demonstrate that upsetting sport events are
\noften held in athletes’ consciousness long after the event has taken place
\nand may have the ability to arouse unpleasant feelings, and the physiological
\neffects correlate when they think of them. Concurrently, these cognitions
\nhave the ability to color the lens through which the athletes envision
\ntheir self-efficacy in competition. Many of these athletes reported as
\nthey approached a competitive event the negative self-statements and recollections
\nfrom the prior upsetting sport event would creep into their thoughts and
\nresult in self-doubt and anxiety. This would even occur as they stood
\non the blocks at a competition.<\/p>\n

The upsetting event was replayed in their mind’s eye in a freeze frame
\nimage. It is as if an upsetting event is a kin to a log jam, and there
\nis no movement with the same scene and emotions playing over and over.
\nThe EMDR is not merely a recounting of the event but more a kin to a re-experiencing
\nof the event. Physical, physiological, and emotional feelings are re-experienced
\nas they relive the event in their mind’s eye. This allows the athlete
\nto reprocess the event and resolve some of the conflict in a more adaptive
\nstyle. EMDR is not for the average athlete, but it is for the one who
\ncannot let the demons of an upsetting sport event lie to rest. Some teams
\nhave a sport psychologist to help them. If this person is trained in EMDR,
\nthis may be a viable approach to such an athlete. If this is not an option,
\na serious athlete may pursue EMDR on her\/his own to deal with such a limiting
\nevent.<\/p>\n

References<\/h2>\n
    \n
  1. Crabbe, B. (1996, Nov.). Can eye-movement therapy improve your riding.
    \n<\/em>Dressage Today<\/em>, 28-33.<\/li>\n
  2. Foster, S., & Lendl, J. (1996). Eye movement desensitization
    \nand reprocessing: Initial applications for enhancing performance in
    \nathletes. <\/em>Journal of Applied Sport <\/em><\/li>\n
  3. Psychology,<\/em> 7<\/em> (Supplement), 63.<\/li>\n
  4. Hardy, L. (1990). A catastrophe model of performance in Sport. In
    \nJ. Jones & L. Hardy, (Eds.), Stress and<\/em> performance in
    \nsport,<\/em> (pp.81-106). Chichester, England: Wiley.<\/li>\n
  5. Jones, G. & Swain, A. (1992). Intensity and direction as dimensions
    \nof competitive state anxiety and relationships with competitiveness.
    \nPerception and Motor Skills, 74<\/em>, 467-472.<\/li>\n
  6. Jones, G., Swain, A., & Hardy, L. (1993). Intensity and direction
    \ndimensions of competitive state anxiety and relationships with performance.
    \nJournal of Sport Sciences, 11, 525-532.<\/em><\/li>\n
  7. Nordell, K. A. & Sime, W. (1993). Competitive trait anxiety, state
    \nanxiety, and perceptions of anxiety: Interrelationships in practice
    \nand in competition. The Journal of Swimming Research, 9<\/em>, 19-24.<\/li>\n
  8. Oglesby, C. A. (1999). An investigation of the effect of eye movement
    \ndesensitization reprocessing on states of consciousness, anxiety, self-perception,
    \nand coach- perceived performance ratings of selected varsity collegiate
    \nathletes. (<\/em>Doctoral Dissertation, Temple University, 1990). Abstracts
    \nInternational: Section B The Sciences & Engineering. 60 (3-B), Sep
    \n(1999). P1292. US: Univ. Microfilms International.<\/li>\n
  9. Rotella, R. J. & Learner, J. D. (1993). Responding to competitive
    \npressure. In R. N. Singer, M. Murphey, & L. Tennant (Eds.), Handbook
    \non research in sport psychology <\/em>(pp.528-541). New York: MacMillan.<\/li>\n
  10. Shapiro, F. (1989). Efficacy of the eye movement desensitization procedure
    \nin the treatment of traumatic memories.Journal of Traumatic
    \nStress<\/em>, 2<\/em>, 199-223.<\/li>\n
  11. Shapiro, F. (1992). Eye movement desensitization and reprocessing:
    \nThe Behavior Therapist,<\/em> 14<\/em>, 133-136.Level I basic workshop
    \nmanual. Palo Alto, Ca: Mental Research.<\/li>\n
  12. Shapiro, F. (1995). Eye movement desensitization and reprocessing
    \nbasic principles, protocols, and procedures. <\/em>New York, NY: Guilford.<\/li>\n
  13. Van der Kolk, B., McFarlane, A., & Weisaeth, L. (1996). Traumatic
    \nstress: The effects of overwhelming experience on mind, body, and society.
    \n<\/em>New York, NY: Guilford.<\/li>\n
  14. Wolpe, J., & Abrams, J. (1991). Post-traumatic stress disorder
    \novercome by eye movement desensitization: A case report.Journal
    \nof Behavior<\/em> Therapy and Experimental psychiatry,<\/em> 1<\/em>(22),
    \n39-43.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    Contact: Louise Graham
    \nBridgewater State College
    \nKelly 102
    \nBridgewater, MA 02325
    \nlgraham@bridgew.edu
    \n<\/a>Fax 5-8-531-4011<\/p>\n

    Acknowledgements: I wish to thank the coaches for them allowing the disruption
    \nto their practices and willingness to participate in the study; Associate
    \nProfessor Joseph Yeskewicz, Klye Browing, Ann Murray and Chuck Hickey.
    \nThis work was partially supported by a CART grant.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

    Submitted by: Louise B. Graham, Ph.D.<\/div>\n

    Abstract<\/h2>\n

    Athletes who have experienced an upsetting competitive experience not
    \n only may perceive competition negatively but relive the upsetting performance
    \n event when they approach competition or contemplate competition which
    \n results in an increase in anxiety. EMDR was performed with competitive
    \n swimmers to aid them in reprocessing an upsetting swimming event. Their
    \n coping beliefs were measured and level of anxiety prior and after the
    \n EMDR. Vignettes are presented as examples of the changes in the athletes’
    \n level of anxiety coping beliefs after three sessions.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_is_tweetstorm":false,"jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_options":[]},"categories":[292,291,296],"tags":[59,27,60,8],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p4btio-2D","jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":2051,"url":"https:\/\/thesportjournal.org\/article\/examining-the-relationships-between-task-cohesion-self-efficacy-and-competitive-trait-anxiety-in-college-team-sports\/","url_meta":{"origin":163,"position":0},"title":"Examining the Relationships between Task Cohesion, Self-Efficacy, and Competitive Trait Anxiety in College Team Sports","date":"September 5, 2014","format":false,"excerpt":"Submitted by\u00a0Ali Aycan Ph.D. Ali Aycan, PhD, is an assistant professor in the Department of Sport Management at the Abant Izzet Baysal University, Turkey.\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 ABSTRACT The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationships between task cohesion, self-efficacy, and competitive\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Contemporary Sports Issues"","img":{"alt_text":"table1","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/thesportjournal.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/09\/table1.jpg?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":404,"url":"https:\/\/thesportjournal.org\/article\/coping-skills-and-self-efficacy-as-predictors-of-gymnastic-performance\/","url_meta":{"origin":163,"position":1},"title":"Coping Skills and Self-efficacy as Predictors of Gymnastic Performance","date":"January 19, 2011","format":false,"excerpt":"Garifallia Daroglou ### Abstract The purpose of this study was to examine the way that gymnastic performance can be discriminated based on psychological skills and self-efficacy. The sample of the study was 101 gymnasts (Mage = 11.8 \u00b1\u00ad.74 years, 22 male and 79 female), who competed at the Hellenic Championship\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Sports Exercise Science"","img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":348,"url":"https:\/\/thesportjournal.org\/article\/competitive-state-anxiety-among-junior-handball-players\/","url_meta":{"origin":163,"position":2},"title":"Competitive State Anxiety among Junior Handball Players","date":"July 10, 2009","format":false,"excerpt":"Submitted by: S. Rokka, G. Mavridis, E. Bebetsos, K. Mavridis - Department of Physical Education & Sport Science - Democritus University of Thrace, 69100 Komotini Abstract The aim of the present study was to evaluate the levels of intensity and direction of the competitive state anxiety in junior handball players\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Contemporary Sports Issues"","img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":2931,"url":"https:\/\/thesportjournal.org\/article\/pre-competition-anxiety-and-self-confidence-in-collegiate-track-and-field-athletes-a-comparison-between-african-american-and-non-hispanic-caucasian-men-and-women\/","url_meta":{"origin":163,"position":3},"title":"Pre-Competition Anxiety and Self-Confidence in Collegiate Track and Field Athletes: A Comparison between African American and non-Hispanic Caucasian Men and Women","date":"July 30, 2015","format":false,"excerpt":"Submitted by Ms. Vasiliki Anagnostopoulos 1*, Michele M. Carter Ph.D 2*, and Carol Weissbrod Ph.D 3* 1*MA, Department of Psychology, American University, Washington, DC. 2* Professor, Department of Psychology, American University, Washington DC 3*Associate Professor, Department of Psychology, American University, Washington DC Vasiliki received her BA from Princeton university where\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Contemporary Sports Issues"","img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":7405,"url":"https:\/\/thesportjournal.org\/article\/the-impact-of-covid-19-pandemic-on-high-performance-secondary-school-student-athletes\/","url_meta":{"origin":163,"position":4},"title":"The Impact of COVID-19 Pandemic on High Performance Secondary School Student-Athletes","date":"July 22, 2020","format":false,"excerpt":"Author: Isabella Q. Liu1 1John McCrae Secondary School, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada Corresponding Author:Isabella Q. LiuP.O. Box 34102, 3781 Strandherd DriveOttawa, ON, Canada, K2J 5B1isabellaqqliu@hotmail.com613-825-6788 Isabella Liu is a rising senior student in the High Performance Athlete Program at John McCrae Secondary School in Ottawa, Canada. She has been doing artistic\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Research"","img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":2683,"url":"https:\/\/thesportjournal.org\/article\/the-impact-of-eating-disorder-risk-on-sports-anxiety-and-sports-confidence-in-division-iii-female-athletes\/","url_meta":{"origin":163,"position":5},"title":"The Impact of Eating Disorder Risk on Sports Anxiety and Sports Confidence in Division III Female Athletes","date":"April 1, 2015","format":false,"excerpt":"Submission by JoAnne Barbieri Bullard1, Psy.D.* 1* Instructor, Health and Exercise Science Department, Rowan University, JoAnne Barbieri Bullard is an instructor in the Health and Exercise Science Department at Rowan University. Bullard is also a Doctor of Sport Psychology and Performance and a Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist. ABSTRACT Eating\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Sports Exercise Science"","img":{"alt_text":"Table One","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/thesportjournal.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/04\/Table1.jpg?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]}],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/thesportjournal.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/163"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/thesportjournal.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/thesportjournal.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thesportjournal.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thesportjournal.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=163"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/thesportjournal.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/163\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2468,"href":"https:\/\/thesportjournal.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/163\/revisions\/2468"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/thesportjournal.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=163"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thesportjournal.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=163"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thesportjournal.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=163"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}