4. Supporting a Dancer’s Mental Health with Psychotherapist, Terry Hyde

In this podcast episode, Terry Hyde, a psychotherapist and former dancer with the Royal Ballet, highlights the challenges hypermobile dancers face regarding mental health. He addresses how the pursuit of perfection in dance can exacerbate issues like anxiety, depression, and OCD, particularly in hypermobile dancers. Hyde explains the link between mental and physical health and suggests reframing anxiety as excitement. He also emphasizes the importance of open communication about one's emotional state and the role of friends and family in providing appropriate support. Hyde proposes that perfectionism in dancers, while it can drive success, should be managed to avoid adverse mental health effects.