SIGN IN YOUR ACCOUNT TO HAVE ACCESS TO DIFFERENT FEATURES

FORGOT YOUR PASSWORD?

FORGOT YOUR DETAILS?

AAH, WAIT, I REMEMBER NOW!

Sidelines MagazineSidelines Magazine

  • LOGIN
  • Home
  • Current Issue
  • Subscriptions
    • Flipbook
    • Subscribe Options
    • Order Individual & Back Issues
  • Podcast
  • Marketplace
    • Business Ads
    • Directories
      • Barns, Farms, Trainers & Clubs
      • Equestrian Services
      • Real Estate
      • Tack & Feed Stores
    • Equestrian Gallery
      • Stallions
      • Horses & Ponies for Sale
  • Advertise
  • Blogs
    • Show World
    • What’s Happenin’
  • Partners
  • Contacts
    • Contacts
    • Employment
0
Tuesday, January 09 2018 / Published in General

The Line Between Superstitions and OCD

Margie Sugarman
Photo by Lauri Foster

By Margie Sugarman

Margie Sugarman is a leading board-certified psychotherapist and sports consultant based in New York. Margie’s desire is to enhance performance through the connection between the mind and body, and her current client list includes Olympic, professional and amateur athletes across the country. Her experience employing various therapeutic modalities has helped equestrians win classics, junior medals and grand prix. Do you have a question you want Margie to answer? Send questions to editor@sidelinesnews.com.

I am starting to notice that I am displaying some signs of what I believe is not merely superstition, but possibly obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). As I show more, I am noticing my behaviors are becoming more intense. How can I work on this?

The real question is: Where does superstition stop helping and OCD begin? Perfectionism and obsessiveness tend to course through an athlete’s blood and does make them a little vulnerable. The obsessiveness in riding is good to a point; it feels good to train, to commit and to follow through with all the things that go along with riding.

On competition day, one’s performance is influenced by a slew of unpredictable variables ranging from how well one slept the night before to the order in which they compete. To compensate, some athletes develop strict routines or adopt superstitions. Some people knock on wood. Others wear a particular accessory, be it a pair of socks, belt or even shirt. Sometimes these accessories are even rotated, depending upon the class the rider is showing in that day.

Some of the symptoms of OCD can mimic superstitious behavior; however, a connection between the two has not been found.

According to Merriam-Webster, a superstition is “a belief or practice resulting from ignorance, fear of the unknown, trust in magic or chance, or a false conception of causation.”

In order to label something OCD, the obsessions or compulsions must significantly impact one’s life and be present, in one form or another, most of the time.

We also have to remember that the National Institutes of Health defines OCD as “a common, chronic and long lasting disorder in which a person has uncontrollable, recurring thoughts (obsessions) and behaviors (compulsions) that he or she feels the urge to repeat over and over.”

Do you find yourself constantly questioning whether or not you locked the stall door and have to go back into the barn, numerous times, to confirm? Do you find yourself having to wash your hands, numerous times, to make sure all the dirt is off of them?

Do things have to be in perfect or symmetrical order, or else you feel uncomfortable? When you try to go to sleep at night, do you have mind chatter (thoughts in your head)?

Not all habits or rituals are compulsions. We all double-check things from time to time, especially in certain situations where something has to be right. The defining criteria are when one can’t control the thoughts or behaviors and they negatively impact one’s life. Obsessions and compulsions can, at times, be beneficial to an athlete.

However, when those behaviors carry over into other parts of life and begin to impact relationships and functioning, help should be sought.

Cognitive/behavioral therapy can be beneficial as can other methodologies. There are at least 200,000 new cases of OCD diagnosed every year. Seeking help can provide the tools for you to control it, rather than allowing it to control you.

Your horse will benefit from your “freer” spirit and you will enjoy your riding not being controlled by thoughts and behaviors that have no true meaning or benefit. So, put on your good luck socks, knock on some wood and enjoy your ride!

Share this page:

  • Click to share on X (Opens in new window) X
  • Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) Facebook
  • Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window) Pinterest
  • Click to print (Opens in new window) Print
Tagged under: margie sugarman, sports pschology

What you can read next

Everything Eventing With Boyd Martin  
BDRR Welcomes a Double Litter to the World As Their Births Make History With On-Site Surgeries
Happy New Year!

Download Sidelines Digital now from your favorite app store!

Sidelines Magazine - Apple store   Sidelines Magazine - Google Play store   Sidelines Magazine - Amazon store
Update iOS app. Re-download Google Play and Amazon app.

Stallion Gallery

Visit Stallion Gallery

From Our Classifieds Ads

  • CHAMPION EQUINE INSURANCE
    Knowledge, Integrity, Service lfetterman@championequineins.com 561-596-5408

    [Read more]

  • THE RIDGE/NONA GARSON
    Hunter/Jumper/Equitation/Training/Sales USEF & Schooling Horse Shows New Jersey & Wellington, Florida Locations 908-236-9864 ridgeshows@aol.com www.ridgeshowjumping.com

    [Read more]

RSS Sidelines Blogs: What’s Happenin’

  • “Jump for the Children” Benefit Horse Show Celebrates 40 Years & Over $3 Million to Duke Children’s
  • Woodside Recognizes the Best in the West
  • Get More for Your Money with an Adjustable-Rate Mortgage

RSS Sidelines Blogs: Show World

  • Madison Tsakanikas: Turning Heart Horses Into Timeless Art
  • Mary Bess Davis: Her Rocky Road to the USA Eventing Nations Cup Team
  • Sarah Mills: Success From Scratch 

Category

Recent Posts

  • Madison Tsakanikas: Turning Heart Horses Into Timeless Art

    By Shya Beth There are so many things about bei...
  • Mary Bess Davis: Her Rocky Road to the USA Eventing Nations Cup Team

    By Helen Townes Portraits by Kacy Brown Eventer...
  • Sarah Mills: Success From Scratch 

    By Tori Kistler Portraits by Becky Henderson Gr...
  • Brianna Meighan: Embracing Her Role as a Pony Mom

    By Laura Scaletti Portraits by Melissa Fuller T...
  • Charlotte Jorst: Working Hard at Living Her Best Life

    By Laura Scaletti Portraits by Melissa Fuller C...

Copyright © 1987 - 2025  Sidelines Magazine
Privacy Policy · Returns & Refunds Policy · Hosting by Lucian Web Service
· Login

TOP
Get the Sidelines Scoop — your weekly look behind the scenes.Sign me up!