High Standards vs. High Stakes in Sport: How OCD Rituals Hijack Performance - and How Treatment Restores It

This presentation explores how anxiety-driven rituals are often misinterpreted as discipline or mental toughness in elite athletes. This session differentiates OCD from perfectionism, highlights common performance-impairing ritual patterns, and outlines how exposure-based treatment can be adapted to the training environment. Attendees will leave with practical strategies for identifying high-stakes rituals, increasing athlete buy-in, restoring flexibility, and confidence, while helping athletes reconnect with their love of the game.