ASPINALL: “I’VE HAD 20 PANIC ATTACKS IN 20 MINUTES”

By Aaron Nijjar 

NATHAN ASPINALL has opened up about his ongoing battle with dartitis.

Dartitis is a mental condition that can prevent darts players from throwing the dart properly. 

Despite his struggles with the condition, Aspinall has been in good form this year, reaching the quarter-finals of the World Championship and World Masters.  

‘The Asp’ has been working with a hypnotherapist twice a week in an effort to tackle the problem. 

Speaking to the Tops & Tales podcast with Huw Ware he explained how the issue has affected his performances and how he is working to overcome it.  

World No.11 Aspinall recalled a Premier League match against Peter Wright, where he squandered a 4-0 lead and lost 6-4.  

He revealed: “I just completely capitulated, couldn’t throw my darts. But I’m handling it really, really well today. I’m working with a hypnotherapy gentleman called Chris O’Connor twice a week to try and get rid of it.  

“And it is making a hell of a difference in three months. It’s unbelievable. The way that he explains it is, when I’m on that stage about to throw it, I’m having a panic attack. 

“So that is the equivalent of a panic attack on stage. You’re that scared. Your heart’s going like that. You don’t want to miss. And then all of a sudden, you’re like, I can’t throw it.” 

The two-time Major winner acknowledged that the condition had been misunderstood and had made him a target for criticism in some circles.  

He said: “You imagine every time I’m stopping on the oche here. And this is why another reason I come out, because you get abused about, ‘Oh, he’s got dartitis. Don’t put him in anything, right?’  

The Stockport thrower described the overwhelming nature of the condition. 

He added: “You imagine having, say, in a game of darts, and it happens 20 times. In fact, I’ve had 20 panic attacks in the space of 20 minutes. It’s horrific. Once it starts, it starts. There’s nothing you can do.”  

Aspinall has developed various coping mechanisms to manage his condition.  

He admitted: “It’s the reason why when I walk to the oche, I kind of put my foot on the top of the oche, roll forward and then step back. So it gives me that one more second to try and calm myself down. 

“A lot of the time I stand at the back now, give myself two or three seconds on important shots. It’s about keeping yourself calm and breathing, not panicking. Like I say, not panicking. You know, it’s easier said than done. People say, ‘Don’t panic.’”  

However, the former UK Open champion is optimistic about the future. He said: “I’m working hard on it, but it is absolutely horrific. And I think I’m near the end of it.  

“A lot of it comes as well from the pressure, like I say, the social media side of things.” 

Aspinall returns to action this Thursday in the Premier League at Dublin against Rob Cross, aiming to secure his first win of the tournament. 

Image by Taylor Lanning.