Martial Arts & Anxiety: Research indicates that 15 million individuals in the US alone suffer from social anxiety disorder; however, some of them use martial arts training as a means of overcoming their social fear.
One in four children and one in six adults are thought to be affected by mental illness. Anxiety, eating disorders, bipolar disorder, depression, and substance abuse are just a few of the mental illnesses that a great number of people battle. Given these numbers, it’s likely that you, a member of your family, or a friend experiences mental illness.
Martial arts practitioners can learn how to deal with social anxiety by participating in activities like kickboxing, mixed martial arts, Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, Muay Thai, or any other discipline. Let’s investigate how martial arts can aid in the treatment of social anxiety in light of this.
Martial Arts & Anxiety:
Martial Arts Reduce Stress And Anxiety:
Your body releases endorphins, which are happy hormones, when you practise martial arts, especially the more intense ones. Natural painkillers and endorphins aid in the release of stress, which is connected to anxiety. You will therefore feel less nervous overall and particularly in social situations that elicit strong feelings of fear if you exercise.
Even elite athletes admit they experience social anxiety when performing even the most basic tasks, such as Alyse “Lil’ Savage” Anderson, a competitor in the ONE Women’s Atomweight World Grand Prix. However, Anderson’s background in martial arts has surely helped her deal with it.
Martial arts practice has two benefits: it lowers stress and anxiety levels. They are not alone, though.
Martial Arts Build Confidence:
When studying martial arts for any length of time, one thing that everyone eventually finds out is that it’s a fantastic way to boost confidence. This is significant because anyone who experiences social anxiety can benefit greatly from having confidence.
From small social interactions like introducing yourself to a stranger to standing on stage and giving a speech in front of thousands of people, confidence can help you handle any situation life throws at you.
These tasks can seem intimidating when you’re trying to overcome social anxiety. But your confidence starts to soar after a few months of martial arts training. But how can you begin training when something as basic as signing up for a gym instils severe anxiety? That is covered in the next section.
Dealing With Social Anxiety:
There are steps you can take to help you get over your fear of walking into a gym for the first time if you choose to learn martial arts as a way to deal with your social anxiety.
You can start by enrolling in private lessons at the gym until you feel at ease with the instructors and surroundings. You can then gradually move into group classes from there.
Secondly, you can enrol in a class without having to take private lessons first. However, you can choose a class that typically has fewer students if the one with too many people is too crowded for you, such as a martial arts class early in the morning or at lunch.
Third, you can go to the gym with a friend who practices martial arts to help reduce your social anxiety because you will know someone there.
Martial Arts And Social Anxiety In Children:
Martial arts instruction can also help your son or daughter if they are experiencing social anxiety. Martial arts, after all, enhance children’s mental and general well-being in addition to their physical fitness. Children can develop confidence through studying a discipline, just like adults can.
Thus, think about allowing your kids to take martial arts classes if they are struggling with social anxiety. They will have the opportunity to acquire social skills that will benefit them for the rest of their lives in addition to possibly becoming lifelong martial artists, which is a benefit in and of itself.
One way that social anxiety differs from general anxiety is that it typically starts earlier in life, typically in the early adolescent years. The early thirties are typically when general anxiety first appears. Martial arts are a great option if you’re a parent looking for a structured, safe environment where your child can practise conquering social anxiety.
Children have lost out on extracurricular activities and in-person education across the nation as a result of the pandemic. Even though things are starting to improve, many children have not learned how to interact with their teachers and peers, which is a crucial social skill. Adults and children can engage socially in a pleasant way by taking martial arts classes. With classes tailored to both children and adults at Premier Martial Arts, the martial arts social component becomes just another beneficial self-improvement activity.
It’s never too late to start learning martial arts. Social anxiety affects a lot of elderly people and can last for decades. However, even if you’re not socially anxious, the pandemic eliminated many adult socialisation opportunities. You can improve your physical health, meet new people, and form new friendships by participating in martial arts.
Martial Arts history:
The ancient combat sport of martial arts is practised for competition, self-defence, and the advancement of one’s physical, mental, and spiritual faculties. The practice of martial arts originated in Sri Lanka more than 3,000 years ago, and it later extended to China, India, Korea, the West, and the United States.
Teaching martial arts such as karate, kung fu, jiu-jitsu, aikido, taekwondo, judo, and others, martial arts instructors have carried on the tradition from generation to generation. The physical aspect of these skills is just one component, even though throwing, kicking, and punching are all part of many of these practices.
Benefits of Martial Arts:
Learning martial arts gives you the chance to improve both your physical and emotional well-being.
Stress relief: Martial arts encourage you to practise mindfulness, meditation, and deep breathing, all of which can help lower stress and anxiety. It facilitates mental training so that you can maintain composure and alertness while maintaining focus. This can be especially useful if you’re attempting to split your attention between several tasks.
Life purpose: Martial arts practitioners frequently experience feelings of serenity, self-assurance, and restored harmony with their identity and life’s mission.
Physical exercise: Martial arts training also provides a positive mood boost from “feel-good” chemicals like endorphins. Additionally, your confidence will probably increase as you become an expert in the field. It’s a fantastic method to focus your energies on something constructive that you can develop over time.
Emotional regulation: You can master your emotions and your mind by engaging in martial arts training. This can lessen your feelings of aggression and help you become more assertive, confident, and emotionally stable.
Increased self-esteem: Challenges strengthen your mind in the same way that exercise strengthens your body. Martial arts can be beneficial because they teach you how to overcome obstacles and the value of not letting life’s hardships bring you down.
Personal Development: Martial arts push you to go inside, find your blind spots, and overcome mental obstacles. It gives you the confidence to make good changes and assists you in identifying areas of your life that you would like to improve.
Healing and forgiveness. Martial arts can assist individuals in setting boundaries by refocusing their sense of helplessness. It can enable you to overcome past trauma and discover inner strength.
Martial Arts and Worst-Case Thinking:
A defining feature of social anxiety is “catastrophic thinking,” or the tendency to assume the worst possible outcome in any given circumstance. Practice in martial arts provides an unexpectedly effective means of overcoming this kind of negative thought pattern.
The majority of people are afraid of physical altercations and the injuries they may cause. But as you get into martial arts training, you start to realise how safe it is. When sparring is done under proper supervision, with the right equipment, training, and guidance, the practice is nearly risk-free. Martial arts offer a practical illustration of how our expectations are frequently far worse than the actual situation, a viewpoint that can liberate individuals to pursue their goals in life with reduced fear and anxiety.
Limits of Martial Arts as a Mood Booster:
The benefits of martial arts practice vary depending on your level of effort, but finding the right one can feel empowering and validating.
It’s crucial to keep in mind that, even though martial arts can be an effective tool for controlling and transforming your emotions, they cannot replace mental health therapy.
Speak with a qualified mental health professional if your inability to function is impacted by upsetting emotional experiences.
So, this was all about the Martial Arts & Anxiety. Also read, Top 6 exceptional players who play both cricket & football
