Mental Block Advice?

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Apr 26, 2015
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This previous March I overrotated in my layout and landed on me head/back. I blacked out for a minute and ended up with a concussion. I was out of cheer for a month and I have done layouts since, but I'm still noticing lots of trouble with my memory and ability to comprehend things. I have been back to the doctor since they cleared me and they said it's fine and wi get better over time. I was cleared in early May. I currently cannot get myself to do a layout or even a running tuck. Any advice on how to get over my mental block. It's frustrating because I haven't fallen since I was injured and I've done it plenty of times since I've been back from my concussion. I know a lot of cheerleaders have gone through this so any help and advice would be great because this is my first mental block. I'm scared to fall on my head again and risk more damage to my brain.
 
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Confidence is key. I'm guessing you have done lots of layouts before the accident right? So really it's just your mind siking you out. You have done the skill plenty of times before so it's as easy as walking down the street. Don't be afraid when it is second nature. Before you go rep drills like it and repeat that ou can do it. Whatever you do don't bail. Hope this helped :)
 
This previous March I overrotated in my layout and landed on me head/back. I blacked out for a minute and ended up with a concussion. I was out of cheer for a month and I have done layouts since, but I'm still noticing lots of trouble with my memory and ability to comprehend things. I currently cannot get myself to do a layout or even a running tuck. Any advice on how to get over my mental block. It's frustrating because I haven't fallen since I was injured and I've done it plenty of times since I've been back from my concussion. I know a lot of cheerleaders have gone through this so any help and advice would be great because this is my first mental block. I'm scared to fall on my head again and risk more damage to my brain.

Did a Doctor clear you to return?
 
This previous March I overrotated in my layout and landed on me head/back. I blacked out for a minute and ended up with a concussion. I was out of cheer for a month and I have done layouts since, but I'm still noticing lots of trouble with my memory and ability to comprehend things. I currently cannot get myself to do a layout or even a running tuck. Any advice on how to get over my mental block. It's frustrating because I haven't fallen since I was injured and I've done it plenty of times since I've been back from my concussion. I know a lot of cheerleaders have gone through this so any help and advice would be great because this is my first mental block. I'm scared to fall on my head again and risk more damage to my brain.
I'm sorry you got hurt :( have you spoken with your Doctor about having difficulty with memory and comprehending stuff? Maybe you aren't ready to go back yet [emoji30]I'm not a Doctor and I'm sure you are eager to get out there again and start tumbling again but if you are still having issues maybe you should take a bit more time off. Wishing you a speedy recovery and I'm sure you will get your tumbling back soon [emoji5]️


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" I'm still noticing lots of trouble with my memory and ability to comprehend things. I have been back to the doctor since they cleared me and they said it's fine and wi get better over time. I was cleared in early May." Honestly, you might want a second opinion. I wonder if they understand the amount of flipping, tumbling, and impact on the body that occurs as an all star cheerleader. My youngest CP had a concussion. She took 8 weeks off, but was not allowed to return to tumbling, jumping, flying, etc. until she had 2 weeks of no symptoms. If symptoms such as memory loss and confusion returned we were suppose to return to the Doctor.

@Jfear CP had a severe concussion. She might be helpful.
 
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This previous March I overrotated in my layout and landed on me head/back. I blacked out for a minute and ended up with a concussion. I was out of cheer for a month and I have done layouts since, but I'm still noticing lots of trouble with my memory and ability to comprehend things. I have been back to the doctor since they cleared me and they said it's fine and wi get better over time. I was cleared in early May. I currently cannot get myself to do a layout or even a running tuck. Any advice on how to get over my mental block. It's frustrating because I haven't fallen since I was injured and I've done it plenty of times since I've been back from my concussion. I know a lot of cheerleaders have gone through this so any help and advice would be great because this is my first mental block. I'm scared to fall on my head again and risk more damage to my brain.
@Kris thanks for tagging me! Did you have a baseline impact testing done PRIOR to your injury? My CP received a severe concussion in December and still has trouble with balance and short term memory. Our doctor said it can take up to a year and she may have these issues for the rest of her life. How is your balance since the injury? Can you balance on 1 foot? The short term memory and comprehension is very difficult for my daughter too. It doesn't happen all the time but every so often it will happen and the doctor said it may never fully return. How long ago did the block start? It could be something that may be happening because you brain isn't comprehending every step needed to do it successfully. Unfortunately, CP had to give up cheering because of the severity, if the block has only been for a short time, don't stress about it. The more stress you place on yourself only makes it harder. I suggest you watch a few videos on the proper technique to refresh the correct technique in your brain. Concussions affect basically every aspect of thinking. I honestly never realized how much it even affected a persons personality. If it only happened in March, you may still be healing. CP missed over 2 months of school and needed physical therapy twice a week from December until March. I'm just curious if you had the impact testing done, because that provides so much useful information. I can only suggest watching the videos and not being too hard on yourself. I hope I didn't bring you down by telling you my daughters story. But I just wanted to let you know sometimes it's important to look at the entire picture, not only one piece of the puzzle :) good luck and feel free to contact me if you have any other questions.
 
@Kris thanks for tagging me! Did you have a baseline impact testing done PRIOR to your injury? My CP received a severe concussion in December and still has trouble with balance and short term memory. Our doctor said it can take up to a year and she may have these issues for the rest of her life. How is your balance since the injury? Can you balance on 1 foot? The short term memory and comprehension is very difficult for my daughter too. It doesn't happen all the time but every so often it will happen and the doctor said it may never fully return. How long ago did the block start? It could be something that may be happening because you brain isn't comprehending every step needed to do it successfully. Unfortunately, CP had to give up cheering because of the severity, if the block has only been for a short time, don't stress about it. The more stress you place on yourself only makes it harder. I suggest you watch a few videos on the proper technique to refresh the correct technique in your brain. Concussions affect basically every aspect of thinking. I honestly never realized how much it even affected a persons personality. If it only happened in March, you may still be healing. CP missed over 2 months of school and needed physical therapy twice a week from December until March. I'm just curious if you had the impact testing done, because that provides so much useful information. I can only suggest watching the videos and not being too hard on yourself. I hope I didn't bring you down by telling you my daughters story. But I just wanted to let you know sometimes it's important to look at the entire picture, not only one piece of the puzzle :) good luck and feel free to contact me if you have any other questions.
Thanks for the advice. I did have a baseline concussion test prior because at the time I was doing school gymnastics in addition to my all star team and my school requires all athletes to take it before participating. I did take it after as well but we never recieved the results and comparison. My doctor said the same thing about the memory never fully coming back either. My balance has been fine and the block has only been for a week, so I was looking for the advice to prevent it from being a huge thing. Thanks for the advice!
 
Thanks for the advice. I did have a baseline concussion test prior because at the time I was doing school gymnastics in addition to my all star team and my school requires all athletes to take it before participating. I did take it after as well but we never recieved the results and comparison. My doctor said the same thing about the memory never fully coming back either. My balance has been fine and the block has only been for a week, so I was looking for the advice to prevent it from being a huge thing. Thanks for the advice!
Did the doctor have you take the impact test on your first visit to compare to the baseline? If you had the baseline done at school, it is a commercial test that can be accessed by anyone in the medical community. How has it been going at practice since you posted?
 
Thanks for the advice. I did have a baseline concussion test prior because at the time I was doing school gymnastics in addition to my all star team and my school requires all athletes to take it before participating. I did take it after as well but we never recieved the results and comparison. My doctor said the same thing about the memory never fully coming back either. My balance has been fine and the block has only been for a week, so I was looking for the advice to prevent it from being a huge thing. Thanks for the advice!
I'm sorry you've been dealing with this. It sounds like you're healthy, but as others have suggested, it may be good to check back in with the doc to make sure this challenge is mental, as opposed to neurological. With that being said, can you work with your coach to do drills and progressions to build confidence/muscle memory to get back to the layout? Also think about creating what we call mental choreography, which are words you say through each part of the skill to help you focus/block out worries. These could be corrections, energizing/calming words, or reminders. As others have said, try not to stress, as that will make it harder for you.
 
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