The Brain on Pressure
This hormone spikes when you feel stress or pressure
Cortisol
Performing worse than usual under pressure
What is choking?
A breathing technique that helps calm the body
What is deep breathing?
This system triggers “fight-or-flight” in the body
What is the nervous system
Performing at your best when it matters most!
What is being clutch?
Imagining success before it happens
What is visualization?
Two physical changes that happen during pressure moments
What are increased heart rate and muscle tension?
A main cause of choking is involving too much thinking
What is overthinking?
Talking to yourself in a supportive way
What is positive self-talk?
This chemical helps prepare the body for quick action in stressful moments.
What is adrenaline?
This usually improves clutch performance (starts with P)
What is preparation?
This mental strategy makes high-pressure situations feel familiar
What is visualization or mental rehearsal?
The type of focus that can narrow under high stress, sometimes causing mistakes
What is tunnel vision
The difference between choking and clutching often depends on this mental skill.
What is emotional regulation or focus control?
Lowering this stress hormone helps improve focus
What is cortisol?