Bahan Bacaan Target Panic

Target panic is a psychological—and perhaps neurological—condition experienced by many archers, both

competitive and recreational. The condition has various effects on archers. Target panic was originally blamed on high
levels of anxiety and a "fear of failure", but is now understood to be caused by the way in which the brain learns at a
neurological level[citation needed]. Treatments based on this new paradigm have been very effective at treating target panic
in archers up to the Olympic level.

 1Description
 2Mechanism
 3See also
 4References

Description[edit]
Target panic affects both competitive and recreational archers. It is a psychological—and perhaps neurological—
[1]condition. It was originally called "gold panic" because an archer would experience symptoms (panic) when the

arrow was brought onto the bullseye (gold circle). The name later evolved into target panic because it was discovered
that the symptoms could be experienced when aiming at any target.
There are three primary symptoms of target panic.[2] An archer suffering from target panic may experience a
premature anchor, where the bow appears to become very heavy and it is difficult for the shooter to come to a full
anchor position. A second symptom is referred to as a premature hold, where an archer "locks up" or "hits a wall" that
they are unable to move past as they try to align their arrow with the target. The third symptom is referred to as a
premature release and is characterized by an inability to come to full anchor without releasing the arrow.

Mechanism[edit]
While target panic was originally blamed on high levels of anxiety and a "fear of failure", it is now understood to be
caused by the way in which the brain learns at a neurologicallevel. Treatments based on this new paradigm have
been very effective at treating target panic in archers up to the Olympic Games level.

See also[edit]

 Yips

References[edit]

1. Jump up^ Thomas, Katie (August 1, 2008). "The Secret Curse of Expert Archers". New York Times.
Retrieved 2008-08-01.
2. Jump up^ Kidwell, Jay (2004). Instinctive Archery Insights. p. 127. ISBN 0-9639718-2-4.

This archery article is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it.
I felt gutted by a one armed, blind, angry, drunk chimp. Stupefied. I gazed glassy-yed and horrified at the huge, trophy
whitetail buck walking off into the swampgrass sunset, both of my white arrows sticking harmlessly in the mud below. I
hung my head and nearly wept. After a lifetime of pursuing his majesty the whitetail deer with bow and arrow, and
having cleanly killed hundreds upon hundreds, how in God's good name could I have missed a two foot tall chest at
14 yards, broadside? And then again at twenty? I could hear Chris Farley screaming, "FOR THE LOVE OF GOD!!" I
was wounded. And painfully, this was not the first big buck I had blown a gimme shot on in the past few weeks. This
season had brought about the most nerve rattling, mentally frustrating, dumbfounding archery hunting experiences of
my life. Worse than 1977.

Luckily, the great Fred Bear had helped me back then, as I hopelessly flung worthless arrow after worthless arrow
from my Bear recurve bow, flinching, freezing, missing everything I shot at. Fred told me I had target panic. Until this
malady struck, I was a bad MoFo Robin Hood with the bow and arrow. I had shot naturally since I was a small child,
and was rather cocky about my accuracy, even under extreme conditions. Squirrels running along powerlines or
hugging stratospheric oaktop limbs, I almost never missed with my Osage longbow and cedar arrows. It was
wonderful. Then the mind kicked in at the tender age of 28, and blew the whole shootin match. Once asked what he
thought about when he stood in the batter's box before the pitch, the great Babe Ruth said, "Hell, if I tried to think, I
couldn't hit the damn ball!" Aha! Don't confuse simple function with superfluous mindgames. Zen. Mind over matter.
Second nature. Subconsciousness. The physics of spirituality. Nike got it right. Just do it!

Seeking help and guidance from the masters, all the above was Related Bowsite Resources
recommended as I desperately fought to overcome my horrible problem.
One morning on a major radioshow here in central Michigan, home of more
bowhunters than anywhere in the world, in the course of an interview, I told Discuss This Article
of missing a nice deer the evening before because of my target panic.
Immediately, phone and fax lines at our TNUSA Tedquarters lit up with Interview with Ted Nugent
people who were experiencing the same affliction, but didn't know what it
was. Many expressed relief that the ol WhackMaster Nuge had the same TNUSA
jinx, and vowed to pick up their bows again and get crackin with renewed
hope. Amen and pass the arrows.

If that was the response to an isolated, off the cuff comment on one radioshow, coupled with the conversations I have
had with the hundreds of bowhunters I guide each year, I am convinced that we may be looking at the number one
cause of attrition in the archery and bowhunting sport and industry. I am here to tell you, that it is so painfully
exasperating, that it turns many, many people off from ever flinging an arrow again. It is that bad.

Consulting with top bowhunters Myles Keller, Bob Foulkrod, Dick Mauch, Claude Pollington
and others, plus the expert guidance of the National Field Archery Association's specialist,
Bernie Pellerite, I again began the tortuous mental journey to remedy my target panic.
Basically, target panic is a psychological dilemma, if not outright disease, that causes an
archer to freeze off target or flinch violently upon release of the arrow, causing terrible off
target misses, and worse, much worse, wounded game. And it has a tendency to feed off
itself.

I was shocked to hear, those many years ago, that the greatest bowhunter of alltimes, our
hero, Fred Bear, had gone through a horrible case of target panic. Knowing this master had dealt with it, I was
encouraged. He had told me how he had at one time decided to give up his beloved sport because he had it so bad.
That's scary.

Back then, Fred, and just recently, Bernie Pellerite, outlined a simple, yet specific, regimen of shot preparation and
procedure to practice. There is no real cure for this condition, really, but there is hope and a proven treatment that has
brought back optimum backstrapdom to the Nugent dinner table. DO NOT GIVE UP! Here's what you do;
 STEPS TO SUCCESS
1. Be certain your bow is properly set up for your exact draw length and VERY
importantly, light enuf draw weight for you to draw and hold effortlessly,
gracefully, smoothly, in a straight line. The more tension, the more aggravation.
Not only will a lightweight bow help you overpower target panic symptoms,
ultimately, it will make you a better overall archer. Especially in the field. I shoot
55# and get complete pass thru arrow penetration on nearly every animal
including huge beasts like buffalo, eland and zebra. DO NOT SHOOT TOO OFTEN.
Only shoot a few, well disciplined arrows per session. Be sure to stretch and warm
up first before each shooting session. I use the BowMaster training device to keep
those specialized archery muscles toned.

2. Set up a large, ample arrow backstop, and place a paper plate on it. I shoot each
night in the basement. Shoot only perfect arrows at about 5 feet away. By a perfect
arrow, I mean well thought out, disciplined arrows. Each and every shot. The goal
here is to imprint on our minds a perfectly effective shot procedure through
conscientious repetition. Concentrate on total procedure and NOT accuracy. Tell
yourself that the middle of the plate is unimportant in itself, merely another
sequential element in the shot procedure. Fully concentrate on the nocking of the
arrow, slow and easy, 100% eye focus on the center of the plate, smooth, straight
draw and anchor, and the most important part of all, a subconscious release using
back tension.

3. Here's the goofy part. With step #2 as a guide, shut your eyes and take a deep
breath just before the arrow is released. That's right. Shoot with your eyes closed,
hence the large, ample arrowstop. As you prepare to draw, begin the draw, anchor,
and prepare to release, continue to look square into the center of the plate, but
close your eyes before the actual release, and transfer all mental concentration on
a "total being" release, tightening the back muscles. Whether you use fingers or a
mechanical release, touch off the arrow with the same level of concentration and
"squeeze" so essential to firearm marxmanship. Any jerking or punching will
translate into bad accuracy downrange. At this point, I, for the most part, was able
to release some consistently good arrows, and even take the learned shot
procedure to the field. But the target panic beast would rear its evil head and still
cause me to flinch or stumble on occasion. So I went the next logical step in my
sacred ritual of projectile management and self-control, combining it with the love
I have of allthings wild and the hunt itself. Like my "Prayer for the Wildthings"
attitude toward the critters and my powerful relationship with the wild, I decided
my shooting could use a little prayer as well. So it was in final agonizing, terminal
frustrating desperation that I stumbled onto this unique, wonderful treatment for
my painful target panic affliction.

4. As a mind clearing, calming, verbal mantra, throughout the shot preparation and
sequence, I slowly say the sign of the cross, my little projectile management
prayer. Eventually I staggered the prayer to coincide with stages of the shot
procedure. As I concentrate on the "spot" I want to hit, I lift my bow into actual
sight picture shooting position and say, "In the name of the Father", then as I begin
to draw, "And of the Son", then when I come to solid anchor and my eyes are
riveted to the exact point of desired arrow impact, I say, "And of the Holy Spirit,"
finally I begin to tighten my back muscles, and at "Amen" I touch her off.

Do not abandon that ever mystical flight of our awe inspiring arrow, my friends. Snatch that bow outta the closet, back
down the draw weight, and begin over again with a new, upgraded projectile management discipline. We must tattoo
our psyche with the correct shot procedure to the point where it all comes second nature, even in the wild outback
when the beast is in our face, dancing on our raw nerve endings. Control will happen only when we train ourselves to
follow a distinct sequence of intelligent, effective steps, in every instance of our arrow flinging lives.

Bernie Pellerite has produced a series of great videos that deal specifically with this target panic hell. Combined with
his laser sighted training device, it has changed archers lives across the land. Our TNUSA Lifer, Joe Church, was
nearly target panicked to death. With Bernie's program, he went on to win the 1999 IBO competition and is the best
shot he has ever been. You can get Bernie's tapes and whole package by calling 614-933-0011. I highly recommend
it.

I leave you with these words of confidence; "In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit,
Amen." Backstraps R us. Go git em!
 What is a panic attack?

A panic attack is a severe attack of anxiety and fear which occurs suddenly, often without warning, and for no
apparent reason. In addition to the anxiety, various other symptoms may also occur during a panic attack.

Panic attack symptoms

 A 'thumping heart' (palpitations).

 Sweating and trembling.

 Dry mouth.

 Hot flushes or chills.

 Feeling short of breath, sometimes with choking sensations.

 Chest pains.

 Feeling sick (nauseated), dizzy, or faint.

 Fear of dying or going crazy.

 Numbness or pins and needles.

 Feelings of unreality, or being detached from yourself.

The physical symptoms that occur with panic attacks do not mean there is a physical problem with the heart, chest,
etc. The symptoms mainly occur because of an overdrive of nervous impulses from the brain to various parts of the
body during a panic attack. This overdrive of nervous impulses can lead to the body producing hormones which
include adrenaline (epinephrine). This is sometimes referred to as a 'fight or flight' response. This kind of reaction is
normal in people when they feel they are in danger. During a panic attack the body can react in the same way.

During a panic attack you tend to over-breathe (hyperventilate). If you over-breathe you blow out too much carbon
dioxide, which changes the acidity in the blood. This can then cause more symptoms (such as confusion and cramps)
and make a 'thumping heart', dizziness and pins and needles worse. This can make the attack seem even more
frightening and make you over-breathe even more, and so on. Over-breathing may make you feel very light-headed
and even lose consciousness for a brief period. However, losing consciousness when over-breathing is very
uncommon.

A panic attack usually lasts 5-10 minutes; however, sometimes panic attacks come in waves for up to two hours.

What is panic disorder?

At least 1 in 10 people have occasional panic attacks. If you have panic disorder it means that you have repeated
panic attacks. The frequency of attacks can vary. About 1 in 50 people have panic disorder.
In panic disorder, there may be an initial event which causes panic but then the attacks after that are not always
predictable. If you have panic disorder, you also have ongoing worry about having further attacks and/or worry about
the symptoms that you have during attacks. For example, you may worry that the 'thumping heart' (palpitations) or
chest pains that you have with panic attacks are due to a serious heart problem. Some people worry that they may die
during a panic attack.

What causes panic attacks?

Panic attacks usually occur for no apparent reason. The cause is not clear. Slight abnormalities in the balance of
some brain chemicals (neurotransmitters) may play a role. This is probably why medicines used for treatment work
well. Anyone can have a panic attack but they also tend to run in some families. Stressful life events such as
bereavement may sometimes trigger a panic attack.

Panic disorder, agoraphobia and other fears

Some people with panic disorder worry about having a panic attack in a public place where it is difficult to get out of, or
where help may not be available, or where it can be embarrassing. This may cause them to develop agoraphobia.
About 1 in 3 people with panic disorder also develop agoraphobia. See separate leaflet called Agoraphobia for more
details.
If you have agoraphobia you have a number of fears of various places and situations. So, for example, you may be
afraid to:
 Be in an open place.

 Enter shops, crowds and public places.

 Travel in trains, buses, or planes.

 Be on a bridge or in a lift.

 Be in a cinema, restaurant, etc, where there is no easy exit.

 Be anywhere far from your home - many people with agoraphobia stay inside their home for most or all of the time.
You may also develop other irrational fears. For example, you may think that exercise or certain foods cause the panic
attacks. Because of this you may fear (develop a phobia for) certain foods, or avoid exercise, etc.

Dealing with a panic attack

To ease a panic attack, or to prevent one from becoming worse, breathe as slowly and as deeply as you can. Really
focus on your breathing. Learning and using relaxation techniques may help. Many people find that deep-breathing
exercises are useful. This means taking a long, slow breath in, and very slowly breathing out. If you do this a few
times, and concentrate fully on breathing, you may find it quite relaxing.

Some people find that moving from chest breathing to tummy (abdominal) breathing can be helpful. Sitting quietly, try
putting one hand on your chest and the other on your tummy. You should aim to breathe quietly by moving your
tummy with your chest moving very little. This encourages the lower chest muscle (diaphragm) to work efficiently and
may help you avoid over-breathing.

What is the treatment for panic attacks and panic disorder?

No treatment is needed if you just have an occasional panic attack. It may help if you understand about panic attacks.
This may reassure you that any physical symptoms you have during a panic attack are not due to a physical disease.
It may help to know how to deal with a panic attack.

Treatment can help if you have repeated attacks (panic disorder). The main aim of treatment is to reduce the number
and severity of panic attacks.

Cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) for panic disorder

CBT is a type of specialist talking treatment. It is probably the most effective treatment. Studies show that it works well
for over half of people with panic disorder (and agoraphobia). CBT is a type of therapy that deals with your current
thought processes and/or behaviours and aims to change them through creating strategies to deal with negative
patterns, which may help you to deal with panic attacks and manage panic disorder more effectively.

Medicines for panic disorder

Antidepressants work well to prevent panic attacks in more than half of cases, even if you are not depressed.
Symptoms of panic are thought to be associated with the production of brain chemicals (neurotransmitters) such as
serotonin, and antidepressants are believed to interfere with the way these chemicals work. Escitalopram and
sertraline are commonly used for panic disorder. They belong to the group of antidepressants known as selective
serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs). If SSRIs do not work, other types of antidepressants such
as imipramine or clomipramine are sometimes used.
If it works, it is usual to take an antidepressant for panic disorder for at least a year. At the end of a course of
treatment, you should not stop an antidepressant suddenly; rather, you should reduce the dose gradually under the
supervision of a doctor. In about half of people who are successfully treated, there is a return of panic attacks when
treatment is stopped. An option then is to take an antidepressant long-term. The attacks are less likely to return once
you stop antidepressants if you have had a CBT course.

A combination of CBT and antidepressants may work better than either treatment alone.
 CAN YOU BEAT TARGET PANIC? YES, YOU CAN!
October 2, 2014

Target Panic or "aiming problems" as I like to refer to them is a very personal thing. It manefests itself in different
ways in different shooters. But... There are common threads that run through everyone's experience.

Here is a article I wrote for "The Glade Magazine" I hope you guys can get something out of it

Blank bale shooting up close will help you master the release aid before you begin shooting a target. Matthew here

spent months practicing the release without the target to master his technique. His hard work paid off. He won indoor

national and outdoor nationals in the same year.

Target panic or Gold Fever is a big issue among shooters. I feel that shot execution problems are one of the largest
contributing factors that hold an archer back from meeting their fullest potential. Many shooters blame it on
equipment or other things, but in the end you cant just change equipment alone and fix the problem.

Changing release styles to a hinge style (triggerless), pinky, or middle finger activated release is only the first step. By
changing the release you have a chance to train yourself with a new and hopefully correct habit. But, you have to treat
the root of the issue to be totally free.

What is the root of the problem? I think it is very important to really understand where it came from before you can
begin learning proper shot execution from the ground up.

Here’s how it happens to most people…

Many shooters start their release shooting career with a simple set of instructions. “Put the pin in the middle and
squeeeeeeze the trigger.” It sounds simple enough, but there is one problem. As a new shooter, you can’t hold the pin
in the middle of the target and monkey around with a new release aid at the same time. Eventually they unknowingly
slip into a pattern of touching off the trigger as the sight wobbles over the center of the target. In the beginning they
see fairly good accuracy and continue to imbed a reflexive trigger response.

Basically over time the shooter develops a hardwired connection between their trigger finger and their eye. The eye
sees the pin cross the middle and it triggers the fire reflex. In target shooters this problem manifests itself as a rapid
increase in scores and then a jagged average after that. The good days and the bad days are very far apart and the bad
days are made worse by pressure and over-trying. The snowballing effect of pressure can be very frustrating at this
stage.

The shooter first becomes aware of the problem when trying to increase their scores to the next level. As they become
more stable and can hold the pin still on the target, subconsciously they hold off of the center because they are “not
ready to shoot”. This slowly becomes freezing. Shooters then try to ease the pin or dot carefully into the center of the
target. This works for a short time until their trigger reflex begins shooting too early. It is usually at this point a
shooter realizes that there is a problem and they finally can feel the loss of control in their shot execution. Just after
the freezing stage is the uncontrollable flinching, jerking, and the frustration from the total loss of control.

The good news is that you can break this habit just about as simply as you learned it.

First, changing releases will help because it will be easier to learn a new release style. I have seen very few people who
could learn to shoot their old release effectively, but once proper technique is learned many have great success going
back to their old releases.
Second, you need to properly learn how to activate the release and what it feels like when it is happening correctly. The
easiest way I know of to do this is to make a loop of string that when looped over your bow hand and hooked to the
release, it can be drawn back like a bow and it fits your draw length. The loop will simulate a bow and help you learn to
pull through the release. The key here is to shoot your new release over and over and develop the feel of a surprise shot
without the distraction of the bow and sight. Because of the connection between the sight, your eye, and the target is
what triggers the response; you have to eliminate the sight and target for now.

When you are shooting the loop, learn to relax your release hand through the releasing process. Here’s how it works.
While you have the shooting loop at full draw, develop tension in the loop. Wrap your finger around the trigger or set
your fingers on the triggerless release deeply and pull against the loop. You should feel the pressure building against
the pads of your fingers. As that pressure builds allow your index and middle fingers to yield against the pressure. It
will be almost as if your fingers are relaxing out of the release. This yielding created a transfer of power from the finger
beds to your trigger finger applying pressure to the button causing it to fire on its own time. If you are shooting a Stan,
the pressure will transfer from your index finger to your third or fourth finger causing the release to pivot enough to
fire. NOTE: when this is done correctly, someone watching will barely notice a change or any movement. It is more of a
power transfer than a movement.

Continue to practice this and stay away from your bow until you have it perfected and you have done it enough to be
habit. I am talking a couple weeks (depending on how bad your problem is.) Resist the urge to advance too quickly.
This is what got you to where you are now. You want to build a good strong foundation of habit that will stay with you
from now on. You will want to practice this step until it is an automatic response.

The next step is transferring the feel to your bow. Take the sight off your bow and remove the target from the bale.
Shoot arrows at a very close range with your eyes closed. Concentrate only on making the feel exactly like it was on the
loop. Do this for a week if you have to. Only advance when you have it down perfect and it is an automatic response or
habit.

Now you can put your sight on the bow and get at about 5 yards. This step requires a little visualization skill that you
will have to learn as you go. Draw your bow and line up the sight with the blank bale. Then close your eyes and
visualize the dot slowly floating in the X-ring, and then execute the shot. Continue to practice this and make sure that
you visualize the dot floating in the x. You will hardly ever see it sit still so you will need to make it as realistic as
possible. Continue to practice this for at least a week or more depending on how bad your issue was.

Finally you get to put a target up on the bale… But you can’t shoot it yet. During this step you will develop a new habit.
You will learn to confidently approach the target and get used to the idea that the pin or dot can be in the middle
without immediately triggering the shot. Stand at about five yards and do these steps

1. look at the X you want to shoot

2. Keeping your vision on that X, draw your bow
3. Keep your vision on the X and move into your anchor
4. The move the peep and scope into view of your eye and it should line up with the X you are looking at.
5. Pause on the X, watch it float, and after about 8 seconds or so let down. Take time to get a good look at it, get used to
it.

Make sure you splash the dot or pin right into the middle of the X and let it float. Resist the urge to creep into it.
Repeat this at 5 yards until you feel good about it, then move to 10 and repeat again. Once you have a good feel for
that, move to 15 and then 20. This will give you a good idea of what sight movement really is and let you show yourself
that you can hold on the X. The whole object of this exercise is to desensitize yourself and eliminate the connection
between your eye, target, and release.

Now it’s been about 6 weeks and you should be ready to shoot your first shots. Set up at five yards and try to recreate
actual shooting conditions. You should keep score and write it down, even go as far as use an official league score card.
Shoot a full game on the target of your choosing. I prefer to score FITA style on a Vegas face, but if the NFAA Nationals
are near, I will use a five spot. Concentrate on shooting the shot correctly and just let the sight float. Be on guard and
don’t let old habits sneak in. Make yourself comfortable with holding in the middle while allowing the shot to smoothly
and naturally execute. If you are completing this with no trouble at all and are shooting perfect shots after a couple
days, you can move on, but only advance when you have mastered the release.

Now you have mastered 5 yards you will move to ten and continue scoring and shooting. Spend a week or two here and
continue until you have mastered ten and can go through a full game without a single bad shot. Next move on to 15,
and then 20.

By the time you make it out to 20, you should be in control of your shot and be well on your way to shooting top scores.
There will still be rough days and minor relapses. If you experience trouble, go right back to 10 yards and shoot some
10 yard games to re-affirm the feel and the flow of good shooting. This all may seem like a lot to go through and taking
half a season off to fix yourself is a price you have to pay. I will guarantee you that all the boredom and minutia that
you go through during this process will be well worth it in the end and it will reward you will a long and full career of
enjoyable shooting.

You just have to ask your self, “how bad do I want it?”

Thomas Sillmann 2 years ago

Hello! Thomas here from Germany.

I suggest to change the article into something less wishfull thinking. You can not beat target panic. There are only
some ways to suppress it. Understand the difference? The source of this performance problem is part of our human
nature. This will not disappear no matter how many arrows you shoot from 5 yards. Even if you would use a
backtension release and get over experiencing most or all of the symptoms, the panic is only suppressed. It can appear
again any time you switch back to another release or another style of shooting.

Why I am somehow critical with articles like that? The internet is filled with all these recepies to get over the panic.
People read that and tend to believe that these recepies work for them as well. You don't know what these people are
shooting. A traditional archer for example without a sight and without a release has far less options in switching
technical devices. But they also read this article and get trapped in trying this and that. So then they tend to fail in
"curing" the panic. And so they are left alone with the feel that it is their fault. To them it might look like the recepies
work for everybody but not themselfes. Long story short: target panic is nobodies fault. Failing in curing it is normal. It
is a performance problem that confronts the archer with many paradox dynamics. For example the more you train the
worse it gets.

What you might not have considered is that using a fully equipped compound bow makes a huge difference in what
you experience as target panic. Believe me: It is a joke compared to what a traditional finger style shooter experiences.
And every finger style shooter has it. Or is there any other explanation why you should not hit the middle all the time?
Shooting a bow a comparably easy sport. Its the same thing every time. What else then the panic should be the reason
for missing after you haave practiced for years and decades?

Wake up. If the panic could be cured or beaten there would be no use for a clicker or backtension releases. If there was
a real cure it would be known all over the archery world. I know a lot of "experts" that know the cure. But I don't know
anyone who would have cured himself or herself using these cures.

Stop curing and beating. Start suppressing it. Use any technical device u can and any dirty trick you come up with
against this inner opponent.

Regards
Thomas Sillmann
PS: I am the author of a german book that deals only with target panic. I filled allmost 300 pages with that
phenomenon. And I managed to not put in there only one false promise.

Wjace9907 3 months ago

I think you may want to consider reading the article again. He never once refered to this as a cure all for target panic.
He specifically states that target panic can reoccur afterwards and to be careful of that. He never claimed this was for
traditional archers as well. Why would a traditional shooter be looking to a compound shooter for advice anyway? If
so, that's on them. He never claimed this was for everyone. He never claimed to be the ultimate professional on the
topic, he only shared his experience with it and what works for him. You say you've written a book? Congratulations,
this guy is a national championship winner, not some guy in his basement writing random articles. Again, I suggest
you maybe take another look at this article and what is actually being said and taught before writing posts that are so
critical and ridiculous. Literally everything you said about this article is just plain false.
COPING WITH TARGET PANIC
By: P.J. Reilly

Target panic.
The mere thought of it sends archers cowering into the corner, where they rock in the fetal position, quoting the ivory
trader, Kurtz, from Joseph Conrad’s Heart of Darkness - “The horror! The horror!”
Sorry for the English 101 flashback there, but it paints a picture of how target panic is viewed in the archery world.
What is target panic?

In simple terms, it’s when an archer panics as his or her bow sight settles on the target. Normally, the archer should be
relaxed and confident at this moment.
But when target panic occurs, the archer is likely to rush the shot as the sight sits on or near the intended aiming point.
Often times, the release will be chaotic, with muscles in both arms contracting in anticipation of the shot.
None of that is good for consistently hitting the X.
The first step in curing target panic is to realize you’re suffering from it. The more you try to fight through target panic
without fixing it, the more likely you are to develop some serious bad habits, such as punching the trigger for release
shooters.
If you find you are anticipating the moment when your sight will settle on the aiming point, or your mind urges you to
“shoot, shoot, shoot” at that moment, rather than scrolling through the shot process, then you’re probably afflicted.
You might also notice a tensing of your muscles as it comes time to release the arrow.
When they come down with a case of target panic, many competitive archers will quit shooting at targets immediately.
Instead, they will just shoot at empty butts. This is called blank-bale or blind-bale shooting.
(RELATED: Using Release Aids to Cure Target Panic)
The goal is to shoot arrows without aiming. Your sole focus is on the shot process and your shooting form.
Many archers will shoot with their eyes closed to further hone their focus on form. Whether you shoot with your eyes
open or closed, plan on shooting less than 5 yards from the butt.
Some archers will practice like this for weeks to retrain their bodies to understand what good shooting form feels like.
Then they will slowly work targets back into their practices. But they’ll start out at 5 yards or so, and gradually move
back as they feel confident in their form.
If target panic rears its ugly head again, then it’s back to square one.
“The horror!”
A good coach can help you deal with target panic, and there are lots of good books and DVDs on the subject. Target
panic can be a serious ailment, but by no means is it a death sentence for your archery game.
Target panic is analogous to the shank in golf. It does not happen often and some never experience it, however, when it
does occur, the problem intensifies into a complete loss of confidence in your ability to shoot your bow. What exactly is
target panic? Well, it is similar to buck fever in that the symptoms are relatable and include the inability to place the sight
on the target, difficulty releasing an arrow, and/or consistently missing your aiming spot. Some see it as a condition where
their release is rushed or jerking just before arrow release, while others simply cannot hold their pin on the target long
enough to make an accurate shot. Target panic can be blamed on a psychological condition in which you literally panic as
your aiming narrows in anticipation for the shot. To avoid this problem, you need target panic solutions like blind bailing
to regain confidence in your ability to make accurate shots.

Solving Target Panic with 3 Steps

In the blind bailing archery drill, your mind is free to shut down. This freedom allows you to solely focus on “feeling the
shot”, which is the most important aspect of consistent and accurate archery shots. Blind bailing, the archery practice
drill where you shot arrows at close range with your eyes closed, consists of three steps…

Step 1.) Set up a large bale style target at a distance of about twice your arrow length. Close enough to not miss the target
but far enough to give your arrow a chance to clear your bow when you release.

Step 2.) Take a good archery shooting stance, close your eyes and draw your bow like you would normally while targeting
shooting. Focus only on your form and not on aiming.

Step 3.) Release the arrow and follow through. Concentrate only on a smooth release and good form and not where your
arrow ends up.
Tips for Getting Bow Hunters Tuned Up for Deer Season
(Video) In episode 400, Dr. Grant Woods discusses archery tips for getting bow hunters tuned up for deer season.

How Blind Bailing Solves Target Panic

The blind bailing archery drill is designed to train your muscles to shoot clean and consistent shots. With your eyes closed
and no distractions related to aiming, you are able to focus solely on drawing, holding, releasing, and following through.
This practice technique also allows you to isolate certain aspects of shooting that may be causing your archery target
panic. This technique works by identifying the problem and focusing on solving them without worrying about hitting a
particular point. After practicing with blind bailing over and over again, your muscles should be retrained and target panic
should be gone.

Photo: Team Radical

 Overcoming Target Panic is Not the Only Reason for Blind Bailing
Blind bailing is one of the best ways for overcoming target panic, but it is also a great archery practice drill for preparing
for opening day of bow season. Since blind bailing can be done in any backyard because you do not need distance to shoot,
you can shoot every day leading up to the start of the season. Also, it helps to get correct form and release points back after
a long offseason and it is especially helpful if you anticipate long-range bow shots.

Target Panic is one of the most frustrating aspects of archery shooting. It can cripple a bow hunter to a point in which not a
single arrow hits its mark. Blind bailing is one of the best target panic solutions and utilizing it will get you back on target
in no time.

Tags: Archery, archery practice, archery practice drill, archery target panic, archery tips, best target panic solutions, blind
bailing, blind bailing archery drill, bow,Bow hunting, Compound Bow, overcoming target panic, target panic
solutions, what is target panic

Panic Attack Treatment

Panic attack treatment comes in various forms and anything from prescription drugs to the ultra modern therapies
being popularised in the press and television nowadays. However the degree of success of the various panic attack
treatment methods is really dependant on whether the treatment is targeting the symptoms or the cause.

So many of today’s approaches to illness treatment, including the treatment of panic attacks and agoraphobia, target
the symptoms rather than getting to the heart of the issue. The logical approach of correcting the underlying causes of
an illness seems an obvious choice and is extremely effective when conducting panic attack treatment, but when it
comes to treating panic attack and agoraphobia it’s a method rarely adopted by the medical profession in general. The
sceptics amongst us might blame the drug companies for this, but the truth is even less palatable, up until recently,
there was nothing better available than prescribed medication.

Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) has a far higher success rate than medication, but its not suitable for everyone,
the old adage “horses for courses” being very true when we are talking about traditional therapy methods. Modern
methods of panic attack treatment however have a far higher success rate that either CBT or Medication and slowly
but surely, the medical profession is starting to accept that modern therapies also have their place in mental health.

The Complementary Therapy specialists BeOnForm are at the forefront of using Thought Field Therapy (TFT) coupled
with Neuro Linguistic Programming (NLP) as a panic attack treatment. Their Head Therapist Lloyd Watkins, who
specialises in Panic Attack treatment, uses this blend of therapies extremely successfully and has worked with panic
attack sufferers and agoraphobics all over Europe and even as far away as the USA and Australia. When asked about
the success rates of modern therapy types in panic attack treatment, Lloyd said “It’s wonderful that there is now
renewed hope for panic attack sufferers. For years, treatment success rates have been 30 or 40 % at best, now with
modern methods, I’m seeing 93% to 95% success rates across the board…..and the 5% to 7% that I cannot initially
help, always prove to be extremely sensitive to the influences of energy toxins. Providing these toxins can be
identified and then avoided for three months or so, some of this minority can also then be helped.”

Panic Attacks and Panic Disorder

Authored by Dr Colin Tidy, 28 Dec 2016

IN THIS ARTICLE

 Summary
 Social anxiety disorder
 Panic attack and panic disorder
 Generalised anxiety disorder
What is a panic attack?

A panic attack is a severe attack of anxiety and fear which occurs suddenly, often without warning, and for no
apparent reason. In addition to the anxiety, various other symptoms may also occur during a panic attack.
 Panic attack symptoms

 A 'thumping heart' (palpitations).

 Sweating and trembling.

 Dry mouth.

 Hot flushes or chills.

 Feeling short of breath, sometimes with choking sensations.

 Chest pains.

 Feeling sick (nauseated), dizzy, or faint.

 Fear of dying or going crazy.

 Numbness or pins and needles.

 Feelings of unreality, or being detached from yourself.

The physical symptoms that occur with panic attacks do not mean there is a physical problem with the heart, chest,
etc. The symptoms mainly occur because of an overdrive of nervous impulses from the brain to various parts of the
body during a panic attack. This overdrive of nervous impulses can lead to the body producing hormones which
include adrenaline (epinephrine). This is sometimes referred to as a 'fight or flight' response. This kind of reaction is
normal in people when they feel they are in danger. During a panic attack the body can react in the same way.

During a panic attack you tend to over-breathe (hyperventilate). If you over-breathe you blow out too much carbon
dioxide, which changes the acidity in the blood. This can then cause more symptoms (such as confusion and cramps)
and make a 'thumping heart', dizziness and pins and needles worse. This can make the attack seem even more
frightening and make you over-breathe even more, and so on. Over-breathing may make you feel very light-headed
and even lose consciousness for a brief period. However, losing consciousness when over-breathing is very
uncommon.

A panic attack usually lasts 5-10 minutes; however, sometimes panic attacks come in waves for up to two hours.

What is panic disorder?

At least 1 in 10 people have occasional panic attacks. If you have panic disorder it means that you have repeated
panic attacks. The frequency of attacks can vary. About 1 in 50 people have panic disorder.
In panic disorder, there may be an initial event which causes panic but then the attacks after that are not always
predictable. If you have panic disorder, you also have ongoing worry about having further attacks and/or worry about
the symptoms that you have during attacks. For example, you may worry that the 'thumping heart' (palpitations) or
chest pains that you have with panic attacks are due to a serious heart problem. Some people worry that they may die
during a panic attack.

What causes panic attacks?

Panic attacks usually occur for no apparent reason. The cause is not clear. Slight abnormalities in the balance of
some brain chemicals (neurotransmitters) may play a role. This is probably why medicines used for treatment work
well. Anyone can have a panic attack but they also tend to run in some families. Stressful life events such as
bereavement may sometimes trigger a panic attack.

Panic disorder, agoraphobia and other fears

Some people with panic disorder worry about having a panic attack in a public place where it is difficult to get out of, or
where help may not be available, or where it can be embarrassing. This may cause them to develop agoraphobia.
About 1 in 3 people with panic disorder also develop agoraphobia. See separate leaflet called Agoraphobia for more
details.
If you have agoraphobia you have a number of fears of various places and situations. So, for example, you may be
afraid to:

 Be in an open place.

 Enter shops, crowds and public places.

 Travel in trains, buses, or planes.

 Be on a bridge or in a lift.

 Be in a cinema, restaurant, etc, where there is no easy exit.

 Be anywhere far from your home - many people with agoraphobia stay inside their home for most or all of the time.
You may also develop other irrational fears. For example, you may think that exercise or certain foods cause the panic
attacks. Because of this you may fear (develop a phobia for) certain foods, or avoid exercise, etc.

Dealing with a panic attack

To ease a panic attack, or to prevent one from becoming worse, breathe as slowly and as deeply as you can. Really
focus on your breathing. Learning and using relaxation techniques may help. Many people find that deep-breathing
exercises are useful. This means taking a long, slow breath in, and very slowly breathing out. If you do this a few
times, and concentrate fully on breathing, you may find it quite relaxing.

Some people find that moving from chest breathing to tummy (abdominal) breathing can be helpful. Sitting quietly, try
putting one hand on your chest and the other on your tummy. You should aim to breathe quietly by moving your
tummy with your chest moving very little. This encourages the lower chest muscle (diaphragm) to work efficiently and
may help you avoid over-breathing.

What is the treatment for panic attacks and panic disorder?

No treatment is needed if you just have an occasional panic attack. It may help if you understand about panic attacks.
This may reassure you that any physical symptoms you have during a panic attack are not due to a physical disease.
It may help to know how to deal with a panic attack.

Treatment can help if you have repeated attacks (panic disorder). The main aim of treatment is to reduce the number
and severity of panic attacks.

Cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) for panic disorder

CBT is a type of specialist talking treatment. It is probably the most effective treatment. Studies show that it works well
for over half of people with panic disorder (and agoraphobia). CBT is a type of therapy that deals with your current
thought processes and/or behaviours and aims to change them through creating strategies to deal with negative
patterns, which may help you to deal with panic attacks and manage panic disorder more effectively.

Medicines for panic disorder

Antidepressants work well to prevent panic attacks in more than half of cases, even if you are not depressed.
Symptoms of panic are thought to be associated with the production of brain chemicals (neurotransmitters) such as
serotonin, and antidepressants are believed to interfere with the way these chemicals work. Escitalopram and
sertraline are commonly used for panic disorder. They belong to the group of antidepressants known as selective
serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs). If SSRIs do not work, other types of antidepressants such
as imipramineor clomipramine are sometimes used.
If it works, it is usual to take an antidepressant for panic disorder for at least a year. At the end of a course of
treatment, you should not stop an antidepressant suddenly; rather, you should reduce the dose gradually under the
supervision of a doctor. In about half of people who are successfully treated, there is a return of panic attacks when
treatment is stopped. An option then is to take an antidepressant long-term. The attacks are less likely to return once
you stop antidepressants if you have had a CBT course.

A combination of CBT and antidepressants may work better than either treatment alone.