From Simone Biles’ brush with the twisties to Rick Ankiel’s experience of the yips, the constellation of phenomena known as the yips–and the stories of the athletes who experience it–are some of the strangest in the world of sports. Far more common, but perhaps equally opaque, are mood disorders like depression and anxiety, and on this episode of Losing Control, host Justin Su’a talks with Karen Swartz, a clinical psychiatrist who specializes in mood disorders and community education. Mood disorders destabilize confidence, shift the relationship with the things we care about the most, and impact how we see ourselves–just like the yips–and in the second half of the episode, retired Major Leaguer Rick Ankiel reflects on the yips, mental health, and how his experiences in baseball have shaped his relationship to sports, and to life.
Rick Ankiel, a retired professional pitcher, outfielder, and author of “The Phenomenon: Pressure, the Yips, and the Pitch that Changed My Life”
Karen Swartz, the director of clinical and educational programs at the Johns Hopkins Mood Disorders Center and a professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences at the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine

<p>From Simone Biles&rsquo; brush with the twisties to Rick Ankiel&rsquo;s experience of the yips, the constellation of phenomena known as the yips&ndash;and the stories of the athletes who experience it&ndash;are some of the strangest in the world of sports. Far more common, but perhaps equally opaque, are mood disorders like depression and anxiety, and on this episode of Losing Control, host Justin Su&rsquo;a talks with Karen Swartz, a clinical psychiatrist who specializes in mood disorders and community education. Mood disorders destabilize confidence, shift the relationship with the things we care about the most, and impact how we see ourselves&ndash;just like the yips&ndash;and in the second half of the episode, retired Major Leaguer Rick Ankiel reflects on the yips, mental health, and how his experiences in baseball have shaped his relationship to sports, and to life.</p>
<ul>
<li aria-level="1">Rick Ankiel, a retired professional pitcher, outfielder, and author of &ldquo;The Phenomenon: Pressure, the Yips, and the Pitch that Changed My Life&rdquo;</li>
<li aria-level="1">Karen Swartz, the director of clinical and educational programs at the Johns Hopkins Mood Disorders Center and a professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences at the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine</li>
</ul>

Losing Control is a documentary podcast about the Yips, or what happens when elite athletes and performers lose control of their ability to do the things that they do best. Told through conversations with athletes, coaches, scientists, reporters, and more, join host and mental performance coach Justin Su'a as he goes down the rabbit hole with some of the biggest stars and sharpest minds in sports and performance today to uncover the truth about one of the strangest phenomena in the game. You'll walk away with stories that empower you to prioritize your mental health and strategies that will help you to constructively embrace the challenges you face on and off the field. It's Losing Control, with Justin Su'a.

<p>Losing Control is a documentary podcast about the Yips, or what happens when elite athletes and performers lose control of their ability to do the things that they do best. Told through conversations with athletes, coaches, scientists, reporters, and more, join host and mental performance coach Justin Su'a as he goes down the rabbit hole with some of the biggest stars and sharpest minds in sports and performance today to uncover the truth about one of the strangest phenomena in the game. You'll walk away with stories that empower you to prioritize your mental health and strategies that will help you to constructively embrace the challenges you face on and off the field. It's Losing Control, with Justin Su'a.</p>

Losing Control

Episode 10: Mental Health and the Yips

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/21614b3f-237c-45ba-8448-aeb40161e2a6/transcript

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