EPISODE #75: The Yips and the Twisties: Sports Lingo for Mental Health

It happens. Full twists off the vault that freeze in mid-air. Baseballs that skew wild. Being “in the zone” suddenly means standing outside the zone. But thanks to the courage of world- and nationally renowned athletes, like Olympic gold-medalist Simone Biles and former Cardinals pitcher Rick Ankiel, the “twisties” and the “yips” are now part of our everyday conversation. They are sports lingo for mental-health issues. And they happen. Even to the best of the best.

In this episode of “Mental Health Matters,” Executive Director Tom Duff, LCSW and Jordan Collins with SLU Sport Psychological Sciences and Consultation Lab talk sports and how getting into a “flow state” of peak athletic performance ultimately means trusting in yourself and being honest with yourself. Reaching top-athletic status can be a worthy aspiration. But being a better human being by addressing all aspects of a person’s life, including acknowledging one’s mental health, is the real winner.