mental block

mental block

A mental or psychological inability to do, think about, confront, or undertake something. I have a bit of a mental block when it comes to swearing when I'm around my parents—they were very strict about it when we were kids. It's like she's got some mental block about accepting adult responsibilities.
See also: block, mental
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.

* mental block (against something)

Fig. to have some psychological barrier that prevents one from doing something. (*Typically: get ~; have ~; give someone ~.) Perry has a mental block against speaking in public.
See also: block, mental
McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs.
See also:
  • go mental
  • mental
  • mental midget
  • straws in (one's) hair
  • where (one) is at
  • where (one's) head is at
  • where head is at
  • where is at
  • where someone is at
  • where someone’s head is at
References in periodicals archive
When a stress-based mental block is at work, students may become belligerent, go off and do something else, or become highly distractible, or just sit there staring at their paper.
There was that mental block there, and it's a common one.
NIKITA PARRIS has vowed to carry on taking England's penalties - and insists she has no need to see the team shrink about a spot-kick mental block.
QUICKIE ACROSS: 1 Mental block 8 Tax 9 Hip 11 Unicorn 12 Acute 13 Net 14 Men 15 Bottles 17 Dug 19 Easy 21 Abet 23 Tsar 25 Ruby 27 Mrs 29 Emotion 31 Cog 34 Sly 36 Apart 37 Orbital 38 Pal 39 Ace 40 Lap of luxury.
The Liverpool midfielder also rejected the theory that a mental block hinders England's players in knock-out football.
'I knew going 1,000m under the sea (in a submarine) was going to be a big mental block, and I ended up actually having to get myself hypnotised in order for me to not freak out!' Davina was also dragged along the ice by huskies in Svalbard in the Arctic for Cold, and got hookworm in her foot in Costa Rica during Wet.
Either teams have a mental block when they face Bayern, or top level football isn't really all that different from Sunday League stuff.
Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho (pictured left) will spent the weekend mulling over a frustrating night on Wearside as he prepares for Monday's crucial league trip to Arsenal, but insisting his team does not have a mental block over killing teams off.
He blamed Eduardo's broken leg against Birmingham City in February 2008 and losing to the same club in the Carling Cup final three years later for causing a mental block, which hampered Arsenal's efforts to win silverware, the report said.
Jessica Alexander from the Sleep Council said: "It seems that parents have a mental block when it comes to the provision of a decent bed."
Have the writers a mental block or reduced imagination?
DAVID MOYES has dismissed fears he has a mental block when it comes to beating Liverpool - and believes the neutrals will be cheering on Everton at Wembley today.
Lettuce, tomatoes, celery and cress The importance of life grew less and less What was I hearing, a nightmarish dream My heart was pounding I felt I could scream No more chocolate cake covered in cream No more my fridge filled with ice cream For an hour, I listened to what was being said As the stress made me dizzy through the blood Rushing through my head, The lecturer went on with a cruel intent "If you want to be thin this eating regime you must implement" The lecture was over, I stood there in shock My mind was numb, a real mental block, and When I got home I couldn't remember a word Opened the fridge and binged like a Lord.
The scriptwriter said he had a mental block until he changed the atmosphere by turning up the air conditioning.
This should not be such a hindrance in a one-day match so it suggests that he has a mental block surrounding all things Manchester.