Target Panic

Target Panic

Yasemin Başer

I am Yasemin. I have been practicing archery professionally for 9 years. I have participated in more competitions than I can remember. For the past 2 years, I have experienced target panic every time I take aim. Target panic occurs in archers due to intense anxiety, stress, and panic felt during training or competitions. The volume of expectations caused my target panic. Expectations from my coach, my family, the people around me, and my own expectations of myself... When I see the yellow on the target paper, I feel like I can't control myself. The loss of control triggers my panic. When I’m faced with a situation that my brain find uncontrollable, I’m prompted to "fight or flight." This can result in sudden muscle tension or releasing the arrow prematurely during a shot. This process, which disrupts my entire life, lasts only 13 seconds. My way of coping with this situation is to manipulate the shooting process in my mind. When you look inside the target paper on the cover of this peep show, you will embark on a journey of how my mind fights against target panic... Have a good journey.