Too Tense To Perform? It Could Be Performance Anxiety Disorder!

You can talk well among your friends but you become dumbstruck in stage while presenting a seminar. This could be because you are stage phobic. Don't worry you are not alone .There are lot people despite having profound knowledge and talent fail to fair well in performance because of stage fear. Read more.This article cover

• What are the symptoms of stage fright?
• What causes stage fright?
• How can i cope with stage fright?
• Coping tips for Glossophobia cure

Overcoming glossophobia and performance anxiety is a task facing as much as 75 percent of the population since this phobia, more commonly called stage fright, is the single most common of all phobias. Sports and performance anxiety is marked by excessive panic and agitation when called upon to speak or to perform in public.

For some people this is an anticipatory phenomenon that evaporates once the performance begins. For others, the tension and stress remain at a heightened and painful level until they are able to escape the stage. Performance anxiety can and does affect people possessed of great skill and talent and can adversely affect their ability to share their gifts with others.

What Are The Symptoms of Stage Fright?

Since stage fright is, for all practical purposes a form of panic, the symptoms are extremely similar. People who suffer from this fear will experience dry mouth and a tight throat (lump in the throat). Their hands may be sweaty or cold and will most probably shake or tremble. Their heart may race and their knees shake. They may feel out of breath and lose the ability to concentrate. For instance if they are to be in a play, they may suddenly forget all their lines or if they are giving a presentation, may not be able to follow their script.

What Causes Stage Fright

When a person has stage fright the body goes into fight or flight mode and releases adrenaline, preparing the system to either defend itself or to expend extra energy to escape. The physical symptoms of stage fright are very real. The underlying causes are normally particular to the history of the individual.

For instance, if you are teaching a class or giving a demonstration for the first time, your lack of experience at the task may be behind the reaction. Perhaps in the past something happened to you when you were called upon to perform that left you with a permanent negative reaction. For instance young children who flub a piano recital may never be able to bring themselves to play the instrument in front of people again.

Not feeling well can also cause excessive anxiety. For instance a singer with a sore throat may be terrified of losing their voice completely on stage. Hopefully transitory causes result in transitory stage fright. The more classes you teach, for instance, the more comfortable you become doing it.

For others, the fear never goes away. Singer Barbra Streisand, for instance, is one of the major vocal talents of our time, has never been able to overcome her stage fright and therefore rarely performs before a live audience. In fact, she passed twenty-seven years without facing the audience.

How Can I Cope With Stage Fright?

The degree to which stage fright effects you life depends on what you do for a living. If you are only called to get up in front of a crowd once or twice a year there are various coping mechanism you can employ to manage these transitory episodes. If you're a teacher or performer plagued by stage fright on a regular, ongoing basis, medication may be the answer.

MEDICATION

Some people, especially celebrities for whom the "show must go on" sometimes use beta blocking medications which counteract the flood of adrenaline in their system. There are many of these drugs and only a doctor can judge which one is right for you when weighed against your overall health status and any other prescription drugs you may be using.

Other medications sometimes used in solving performance anxiety include diazepam which is marketed as Valium. This is an extremely effective sedative and muscle relaxant but for some people Valium relaxes them too much and produces drowsiness and thick-headedness. There is also a danger of addiction with long-term use.

Best Anti-anxiety drugs like Xanax or antidepressants like Zoloft, Celexa and Paxil have also been used for stage fright. Each has drawbacks. The Xanax effect on the system can be pronounced with drowsiness and impaired motor functions including dizziness and clumsiness. It probably wouldn't be a good idea for a dancer with stage fright to take Xanax!

Zoloft side effects include insomnia, stomach upsets, confusion, and dizziness. Recently greater concerns have been raised about Paxil side effects. Some users of the drug have experienced suicidal feelings and Paxil has been potentially linked to birth defects. More common side effects include drowsiness, increased anxiety, dry mouth, gastrointestinal upset, and sexual dysfunction.

Many people, especially those who are not called upon to get up in front of an audience all that often, for instance, may simply take a drink of an alcoholic beverage to "take the edge off." While alcohol is an addictive substance, using it moderately as a relaxant is a time-tested method and does work, just don't imbibe to excess before taking the microphone or you are sure to embarrass yourself.

Continue to: Coping Tips for Glossophobia Cure

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