Childhood Anxiety & Sports

This update has been a long time coming since my previous posts about my son whom struggles with anxiety. Here are the previous post to catch you up:

There has now been a shift in anxiety over the past year. As you read in a previous post we tried medication to see if it would work and it did. Since then his world has opened up and he’s been willing to try new things.

Spring of 2011 he played soccer. I will say his anxiety did surface a few times, but we made it through the season and he had fun. Now while he watches his older brother play soccer this Spring he’s telling me he wants to sign up this fall. I’m so excited!!

In the past 6 months or so he’s shown an interest in other sports such as basketball, baseball, and football. I haven’t asked him if he’s interested in playing any of theses sports because I fear it might be to much for him to handle. However I’m learning I need to give him a little more credit and let him try if he wants.

A close friend of mine suggested he play baseball this season. I was a little hesitant knowing he will be in the spotlight when it’s his turn up to bat, which is something that does trigger his anxiety at times. Due to the suggestion I asked him if he would like to play and his face lite up so we signed him up. Thankfully he knows the coach very well, so that was one thing I didn’t need to worry about. He did have a little anxiety showing up for practice though, but ended up doing fine. Thank goodness!

Prior to opening day we had many talks with him to prepare him for the game day schedule. We reminded him that parents would be watching, if he struck out when it was his turn to bat it was ok, if the ball came to him and he was unable to catch/throw the ball to the right place it was ok, and finally he is there to have fun so it doesn’t matter if they win or loose. We also told him it’s ok to be nervous at first, but those feelings should go away and comfort will take it’s place.

He's in the first row, third one from the left

So “opening day” was upon us and he admitted he was nervous, but for the most part was doing fine. I on the other hand was having the anxiety attack worrying that his anxiety would take over at any moment. I kept looking over at the dugout in hopes he wasn’t in a fetal position crying in the corner, but unfortunately I couldn’t see. In the 2nd inning it was his turn to bat and I was watching from a distance while he was “on deck.” Then he walked out to home plate, got ready for the pitch, and swung at the first two and missed. My anxiety was building even though he had gone further than I expected, and tears were welling up in my eyes. He was the center of everyone’s attention and the third pitch was upon him. The pitcher through the pitch, he swung and made contact, and finally ran to first base and made it. Happy tears ran down my cheeks. He did it!!!!!!! All the hard work to help him get to a point where he could enjoy and participate in normal childhood activities worked. What a relief for this Mom’s heart.

At the end of the game he was smiling from ear to ear. We told him how proud we were and made sure to ask if he had fun. His smile and response that he had fun warmed our hearts.

Another milestone accomplished! What an amazing feeling!