Cavs Problem is Uncertainty

Jan 13, 2015; Phoenix, AZ, USA; Cleveland Cavaliers forward LeBron James (23) during the fourth quarter against the Phoenix Suns at US Airways Center. Phoenix won 107-100. Mandatory Credit: Casey Sapio-USA TODAY Sports

The Cleveland Cavaliers have struggled this year, particularly on the road, in many aspects of the game. While the talent on the team is easily identifiable, how they fit and play together has not yet been. Watching the players interact with each other on the court, their facial expressions and body language on the bench and their overall play one thing has stuck out: Uncertainty.

(Important note to new readers before you move on. I am a mental health professional practicing for 13 years. I am licensed with the state of Ohio to provide counseling and mental health care in a multitude of areas. It is this experience, education and license that I speak from in today’s article)

Uncertainty breeds many things for many people. Using what we know statistically, about 75% of people are externally motivated, meaning they work hard to get paid, or if the boss is around or to get the outcome they want. For this vast majority uncertainty often creates difficulty in the uncertain situations. While it is entirely possible that professional basketball players are more likely to be internally motivated, that is doing things right, or working hard, no matter the external situations, for this piece lets assume they fit the norm rather than the exception.

Diagnostically this uncertainty often leads to a diagnosis of Generalized Anxiety Disorder, further more referred to as GAD. GAD is diagnosed when for 6 months a person has uncontrolled, excessive worry about daily things that may be disproportional to the rational event. Symptoms of GAD include fatigue, fidgeting, headaches, nausea, restlessness, insomnia, numbness in hands and feet, muscle aches or tension, problems swallowing or breathing, difficulty focusing, irritability, agitation among others and an inability to control anxiety. Any one of these symptoms can prove difficult to function at a high level in daily living, much less playing basketball. Uncertainty creates pessimism and limitations upon the lives of those living with its anxiety.

Because we know that anxiety is always a future looking issue, its important to look at the multiple ways the Cavaliers may be anxious.

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