Sam Booth
ADD, ADHD & Sport Psychology

Hey guys, this week we will swiftly discuss my perspective on how sport psychology is useful to individuals with attention deficit hyperactivity dissorder (ADHD). Some skills and techniques used in sport psychology are not just about enhancing performance, they can serve a deeper purpose in aiding day-to-day lives of individuals diagnosed with either inattentive (formally known as ADD), hyperactive or combined ADHD. As an individual recently diagnosed with combination ADHD (only took 28 years), this post shoots close to home. When undergoing cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) you begin to try and understand how your brain functions negatively and positively and come up with creative ideas to keep it occupied with the addition of learnt coping skills.
IMPORTANT: If you feel you may fall into this category, please see a clinically certified psychiatrist before self diagnosing (although these skills will still help if you don't have ADHD).

So what is CBT? The initial practice of CBT follows on from psychotherapy sessions where the consultant begins to understand the behavioral outcomes behind negative thoughts. CBT is a form of positive psychology, where we begin to change negative thoughts and turn them into positive ones i.e., "I will never complete this task" to "alright, this task is achievable lets break it down into chunks." As individuals with ADHD are prone to increased levels of stress and anxiety (compared to non-ADHD individuals) the techniques used to change behavior take longer to have an effect and can sometimes seem more challenging. Goal setting, imagery, self-talk and relaxation are four very common practices of CBT which help an individual to overcome overwhelming levels of anxiety and stress to become more manageable.
