Parents Why does my daughter have so many mental blocks?

[bestmommyever1234]

Hi parents/coaches, I am a coach and parent so I do understand the nature of mental blocks and why they happen. But my daughter is not per se…. normal with these mental blocks. She has had her RBH for about 2.5 months now and every practice she manages to do one which is good, but it takes her forever every practice (around 30 mins) to get over the fear and to actually connect the 2 skills which I am concerned about because she has this skill but it feels like she’s learning all over again every practice. The same thing happens with vault, she can do a half on and a front handspring, but it takes her forever to actually do the skill without being afraid. I love my daughter and I’m wondering if this has something to do with her mental state and mental health. I’ve been told by her coaches she is very unconfidant on most events and I would like to get that fixed.

 

[Dahlialover]

Some people are more risk-aware than others and they struggle with activities that involve danger. This is not a sign of poor mental health or a general lack or confidence. If she were afraid to cross the street, ride in a car, order at a restaurant, etc, that would be a sign of a mental health or confidence issue. Feeling afraid of running full speed towards a stationary object or flipping upside down backwards onto your hands is COMPLETELY SANE! Your daughter is normal, the gymnasts who are not afraid of these things are the weird ones!

What this means is that she needs parents and coaches who are patient and understanding. It will likely take her more time than average to become fully comfortable with new skills. It’s not a problem that needs fixing, it’s just her temperament. Just let her do things at the pace that is right for her.

Also, she may not enjoy doing gymnastics at a higher level due to her risk-sensitivity. It would be a good idea to encourage her to explore a variety of safer extracurricular activities that might better suit her personality. Good luck!