Suffolk Mind share tips for Ipswich Town supporters feeling anxious ahead of major game

Ipswich Town supporters struggling with their emotions as the club reaches the final stages of the League One promotion race are being encouraged to take steps to reduce their anxiety.

Suffolk Mind has shared its top tips for handling the stress, as Tuesday’s win away at Barnsley means the Tractor Boys are just two points away from a Championship return, with this Saturday’s match an opportunity to secure promotion.

They have said that studies have shown matchday nerves can increase the “fight or flight” hormone cortisol in the body – which is commonly associated with stress.

Their first tip is that fans should walk to and from the match to burn off the cortisol and release endorphins which help you feel good.

Suffolk Mind has also enouraged talking to other fans about the game, and using the seven-eleven breathing method which involves breathing in while counting to seven, and breathing out for a count of 11. This helps calm the nervous system and aids clear thinking.

Jon Neal, Suffolk Mind CEO, said: “There are so many highs and lows from being a fan of Ipswich Town or any football club.

“Following a football team with passion meets our emotional needs for community, status and meaning & purpose, but it often depends on the results.

“Various scientific studies have found that fans feel ‘at one’ with their club and the community around it. This taps into the same ‘fight or flight’ part of the brain that is activated when we feel unsafe or threatened by ‘others’.

“So, while it can feel good to be part of a group or community, if we feel less strong or successful than another community – in other words, if our club is not doing as well as we think it should – our ‘fight or flight’ response can be triggered and we can experience stress.”

Olly Magnus, Patron of Suffolk Mind and long-standing Ipswich Town fan, added: “Our emotions have been tested as fans after having had so many years with nothing to celebrate.

“It makes me feel a lot more nervous before every game because of how much success means to the town and the fans. It is hard to convey just how much it means to us.

“It can feel very difficult to control those nerves – but it is important to remember there are ways to manage them.”

Olly added promotion on Saturday would be a huge boost to the county.

He said: “As a trustee of the Ipswich Town Foundation I see first hand all the work that goes into the community and creating a special bond with the football club.

“We’re all in this together and there is no limit to what this club can achieve – it will be great to celebrate such a momentous day together should our dreams this season come true.”

More information on accessing support – as well as other advice on mental health – can be found at www.suffolkmind.org.uk.

Suffolk Mind is also continuing to support fans affected by gambling addiction with free counselling in partnership with fellow local charity GamFam.