When considering stress as cyclical process there needs to be a starting point in which a stress level is identified.  Both chronic stress and acute stress can lead to performance related issues, but in the context of athletes, acute stress occurs situationally.  Throughout a competition an athlete will experience highs and lows of performance.  With these up-and-downs, stress levels may be rising and failing accordingly and adding more strain to the athlete’s body.  (It is important to note that stress should not be considered automatically negative for performance. ) The effects on performance from stress occur due to the heart beating faster, rapid breathing, and the tensing of muscles. The athlete may also perspire more, or even feel light headed and shaky. These feelings will not necessarily ruin performance, but if the athlete worries about these symptoms, a lack of confidence may occur and then hinder the performance (Starke, Wolf, Markowitsch, & Brand, 2008).  In performance related situations when this occurs, a potential vicious cycle begins whereas; physical stress triggers negative thoughts and cognitive anxiety, which leads to more physical stress. This cycle distracts the individual from organizing thoughts which causes the athlete to be unable to solve the easiest problems, or even maintain their focus (Giacobbi, Foore, & Weinberg, 2004).  Cognitive anxiety has been found to exert a powerful influence on performance regardless of the individual’s skill level in their respective situation (Anshel, Jamieson, & Raviv, 2003).

With this cyclic process, both before and during competition, there will also be some expected additional fatigue (Turner & Raglin, 1991).  The more stress that is experienced throughout a competition, the more of an opportunity for early fatigue to occur.  To prevent or break this cycle, the athlete needs to cope appropriately. The choice to use different coping strategies is based on a dynamic process that includes both behavioral and cognitive efforts to deal with stressful encounters (Yahav & Cohen, 2008).  Personal appraisal of stress is one of the most important predictors of the level of impact stress will have on performance (Turner & Raglin, 1991).  Having different cognitive appraisals of the stressor, one’s coping process may change or adapt.  With the utilization of different coping skills the main goal is to minimize, reduce, and/or endure the stressful situation (Lazarus & Folkman, 1984).  With manageable levels of stress there can be positive effects.  By being healthy, physically and mentally, an individual is better prepared for stress.  If you take good care of yourself and have good coping skills, then the positive effects of low level stress are available.  This concept is based around that someone is not participating in harmful behaviors in order to cope with stress and through chemical changes the positive effects of stress are felt at moderate levels (Baum & Posluszny, 1999).  Positive reactions from low stress levels include increased attentional arousal, boost of energy, and mild pain killing sensations due to a spike in adrenaline production.

So if someone does have high levels of pre-stress?

The importance of appraisal is centered on stress and anxiety influencing performance.  Each individual will respond in a unique way to competitive anxiety and performance will be affected in a way unique to the individual (Lazarus & Folkman, 1984).  Physiological arousal can influence performance as a result of the individual’s interpretation of their physiological symptoms. According to the model as cognitive anxiety increases it will be beneficial to performance at low levels of physiological arousal but it will have a detrimental effect at high levels of physiological arousal (Hardy, 1990). Furthermore, when cognitive anxiety is at a low level, changes in physiological arousal have little effect upon performance. However, as cognitive anxiety increases physiological arousal can have either a positive or negative effect on performance depending on the amount of arousal present. (Lazarus & Folkman, 1984; Hardy,1990). Once physiological arousal levels are too high there is a steep drop in performance, which can only be reversed by a reduction in physiological arousal (Hardy, 1990; Baum & Posluszny, 1999). This interactive approach seems to be the best explanation for observed performance concerns related to changes in stress levels. Based on this concept it is important to understand that proper appraisal and the controlling of one’s emotions is key to managing performance related stress.

Essentially, if you are stressed before competition it is so important to be able to access appropriate relaxation skills during your performance.