Every case is different, and there is no one single cause, but lots of players report it comes from a fear of missing.
“It’s brought on by anxiety and stress,” Kevin said.
“Where others have panic attacks, for me it manifested as dartitis.”
After he first experienced the condition, Kevin was introduced to a hypnotherapist.
Chris O’Connor runs Eccleston Park Hypnotherapy, the official hypnotherapy partner of the Professional Darts Players Association (PDPA).
During his sessions, the patient lies on a sofa and is guided into a trance where they are then “hit with all the confidence work and the motivation work”, Mr O’Connor said.
“It’s all about getting them to visualise an area of their life they want to improve.”
After eight sessions, it seemed Kevin’s dartitis had been cured.
He thanked Mr O’Connor and said the treatment had worked, in a video posted to social media.
But two weeks later, during a televised match at the World Senior Darts tour, the condition returned.
“I was really, really disappointed,” he said. “I thought it had gone.”
Dr Duffy admitted she is unconvinced by hypnotherapy.
“I don’t think it’ll work – ever – because throwing darts is a conscious skill. So having therapy on your unconscious movements, I don’t think is going to help it,” she said.
