I was wondering if any of the seasoned fighters or boxing enthusiasts have any advice for over-coming mental anxiety in the gym.
I by nature, am a pretty shy person. I also suffer from social anxiety, even despite my physical stature which is 6'3" 205lbs. I am 23 years-old and have been boxing for about 2 years now.
In the gym I tend to feel awkward when shadowboxing. I know I need to prep my mind for what I should be focused on, technique, footwork, combos, but I feel like every one is watching me even though I know they are not. Self-conscious, too damn self-conscious
Where I go is a relatively small gym. I also have a hard time with getting in the ring and sparring. As a boxing student, I get timid and feel like I don't want to hurt the other person. I tend to wait for punches to come and get hit a few times before I start firing back and going on the offensive.
How do I go about getting over these issues. It's a boxing gym. It's a sport. You hit people. You get hit. How do I take the personal feelings out of the equation?
Unfortunately this un-easiness is something I suffer from in any social event, or in groups of big people.
Thank you in advance!
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