Dealing with panic attacks and anxiety: The case of a Danish Olympic swimmer in troublesome waters

This presentation describes an intervention program for a Danish Olympic swimmer and outlines an Acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) intervention aimed at treating panic attacks and performance anxiety. Athletes that experiences panic attacks could develop both anxiety for these attacks and anxiety that the attacks are signs of a disorder or disease. One or more stressors constitute a critical event (e.g., competitions) that potentially trigger anxiety related to the environment or pattern of thoughts (Moerch & Rosenberg, 2005). The negative automatic thoughts of anxiety often imply dramatic, unrealistic, dangerous characteristics of the neutral situations. One way of treating panic attacks could be ACT, in which athletes learn skills to accept thoughts, feelings and bodily sensations of a panic attacks and anxiety (Hayes, Strosahl, & Wilson, 2012). The Olympic swimmer participated in 3 weekly consulting sessions each month across six months in 2018. The sessions took place at either the national training center, on Facetime or on phone. The program started in January with a focus on functional analysis and clarifying values (Hayes, Strosahl, & Wilson, 2012) and later on defusion techniques and the 3R process for psychological preparation for competitions (Larsen, 2018). Closing in on competitions, the swimmer worked on mindfulness exercises and a plan for the European. The swimmer described the ability to notice thoughts, defusion and ability to refocus despite pressure as results of the program. Reflections on the intervention program and the experiences of the practitioner will be discussed. Hayes, S.C, Strosahl, K.D., & Wilson, K.G. (2012). Acceptance and commitment therapy: The process and practice of mindful change (2nd edition). New York, NY: The Guilford Press Larsen, C. H. (2018). Working in Danish ice hockey: Psychological services derived from the context. Journal of Sport Psychology in Action, 9, 121-131. doi: https://doi.org/10.1080/21520704.2017.1383957 Moerch, M. M., & Rosenberg, N. K. (2005). Kognitiv Terapi. Modeller og metoder [Cognitive Therapy. Models and Methods]. Copenhagen: Hans Reitzels Publishing