{"id":15348,"date":"2012-11-07T14:22:30","date_gmt":"2012-11-07T22:22:30","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.goodtherapy.org\/blog\/?page_id=15348"},"modified":"2019-04-10T16:04:51","modified_gmt":"2019-04-10T23:04:51","slug":"performance-anxiety","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.goodtherapy.org\/blog\/performance-anxiety\/","title":{"rendered":"Performance Anxiety"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><strong><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-medium wp-image-38485 alignleft\" src=\"https:\/\/www.goodtherapy.org\/blog\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/05\/microphone_before_crowd-300x199.jpg\" alt=\"Close up of a microphone before a blurred-out crowd.\" width=\"300\" height=\"199\" title=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.goodtherapy.org\/blog\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/05\/microphone_before_crowd-300x199.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.goodtherapy.org\/blog\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/05\/microphone_before_crowd.jpg 725w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/>Performance anxiety<\/strong>\u00c2\u00a0is <a href=\"https:\/\/www.goodtherapy.org\/learn-about-therapy\/issues\/fear\">fear<\/a> about one\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s ability to perform a specific task. People experiencing performance anxiety may worry about failing a task before it has even begun. They might believe failure will result in <a href=\"https:\/\/www.goodtherapy.org\/blog\/psychpedia\/humiliation\">humiliation<\/a> or <a href=\"https:\/\/www.goodtherapy.org\/learn-about-therapy\/issues\/rejection\">rejection<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>While performance anxiety can occur with any task. Anxiety around a public presentation or show is often called stage fright. A person may also experience performance anxiety regarding <a href=\"https:\/\/www.goodtherapy.org\/learn-about-therapy\/issues\/sex-and-sexuality\">sex<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>Performance anxiety can vary between individuals. Many people experience a mild nervousness before giving a speech or doing a recital. But for some individuals, the thought of performing can cause <a href=\"https:\/\/www.goodtherapy.org\/learn-about-therapy\/issues\/panic\">panic attacks<\/a>. People who experience severe performance anxiety may wish to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.goodtherapy.org\/find-therapist.html\">get help from a therapist<\/a>.<\/p>\n<h2>Symptoms of Stage Fright?<\/h2>\n<p>Stage fright is not a mental disorder. Rather, it is a normal reaction to a stressful situation. Most people experience some degree of anxiety prior to a performance, but some people may experience more extreme anxiety that interferes with their ability to perform at all.<\/p>\n<p>Common symptoms of stage fright include:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Excessive sweating, heart palpitations, chills, and elevated blood pressure<\/li>\n<li>A feeling that there is a knot in the stomach<\/li>\n<li>Increased errors during the performance<\/li>\n<li>Shaking and nausea<\/li>\n<li>Backing out of the performance<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2>What Causes Stage Fright?<\/h2>\n<div class=\"content-fatwidget align-right\">\n\t<h2><a href=\"https:\/\/www.goodtherapy.org\/find-therapist.html\" target=\"_blank\">Find a Therapist<\/a><\/h2>\n\t<form action=\"https:\/\/www.goodtherapy.org\/search-redirect.html\" method=\"get\">\n\n\t\t\t<input required name=\"search[zipcode]\" placeholder=\"Enter ZIP or City\" class=\"inline-input\" type=\"text\" \/>\n\n\n\t\t\t<input type=\"submit\" name=\"TOS agreement\" value=\" \" class=\"inline-btn\" title=\"Search\" onclick=\"ga('send', 'event', 'FAT Widget', 'Submit Search', 'Sidebar', {nonInteraction: true});\" \/>\n\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.goodtherapy.org\/advanced-search.html\" title=\"Advanced Search\" onclick=\"ga('send', 'event', 'FAT Widget', 'Advanced Search', 'Sidebar', {nonInteraction: true});\" >Advanced Search<\/a>\n\t<\/form>\n<\/div>\n<p>Many people experience anxiety before public performances. Even career performers have reported pre-show <a href=\"https:\/\/www.goodtherapy.org\/learn-about-therapy\/issues\/stress\">stress<\/a>. Before becoming a civil rights leader, Mahatma Gandhi struggled with public speaking for years. Singer Barbra Streisand experienced severe stage fright at the height of her career. Performance anxiety does not indicate a lack of talent.<\/p>\n<p>Performing before others can make people feel vulnerable. They may fear that a mistake will damage their reputation and make them seem less than perfect. In group performances, someone may worry how their actions will affect the group. People who already have <a href=\"https:\/\/www.goodtherapy.org\/learn-about-therapy\/issues\/social-phobia\">social anxiety<\/a> may grow especially self-conscious.<\/p>\n<p>Extreme anxiety can activate the body\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s <a href=\"https:\/\/www.goodtherapy.org\/blog\/psychpedia\/fight-or-flight\">fight or flight<\/a> response. A person may develop sweaty hands, a racing pulse, nausea, and a trembling voice. They may feel an overwhelming desire to leave the situation.<\/p>\n<p>Performance anxiety is often a\u00c2\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.goodtherapy.org\/blog\/psychpedia\/self-fulfilling-prophecy\">self-fulfilling prophecy<\/a>. The body\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s fight-of-flight response can distract a person and affect their performance. A singer\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s voice might shake, or a public speaker might forget their outline.<\/p>\n<p>The person may believe these mistakes are evidence their anxiety was warranted. They may avoid future performances. This action prevents the person from finding successes and proving their <a href=\"https:\/\/www.goodtherapy.org\/learn-about-therapy\/issues\/self-doubt\">self-doubt<\/a> wrong. When the person must perform again, their past \u00e2\u20ac\u0153failures\u00e2\u20ac\u009d may cause even more anxiety.<\/p>\n<h2>Overcoming Stage Fright<\/h2>\n<p>Stage fright can cause a large toll on a person. It may lower someone\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s <a href=\"https:\/\/www.goodtherapy.org\/learn-about-therapy\/issues\/self-esteem\">self-esteem<\/a> or <a href=\"https:\/\/www.goodtherapy.org\/blog\/psychpedia\/self-confidence\">self-confidence<\/a>. When a job requires public speaking, a person\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s career may also suffer.<\/p>\n<p>For people experiencing chronic performance anxiety, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.goodtherapy.org\/find-therapist.html\">therapy can help<\/a>. Therapists may discuss a person\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s underlying\u00c2\u00a0fears\u00c2\u00a0and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.goodtherapy.org\/learn-about-therapy\/issues\/perfectionism\">perfectionism<\/a>. They can help reframe a person\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s self-defeating thoughts and normalize the anxiety experience.<\/p>\n<p>Treatment for stage fright often includes <a href=\"https:\/\/www.goodtherapy.org\/blog\/psychpedia\/relaxation\">relaxation<\/a> techniques. Deep-breathing and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.goodtherapy.org\/blog\/psychpedia\/meditation\">meditation<\/a> can calm a person down immediately before a performance. A person in therapy may also learn mental strategies to reduce stage fright in the moment. These strategies include:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Standing in a relaxed but confident pose.<\/li>\n<li>Making eye contact with the friendliest faces in the audience.<\/li>\n<li>Maintaining momentum rather than dwelling on mistakes.<\/li>\n<li>Focusing on the act of performing rather than the audience\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s reaction.<\/li>\n<li>Visualizing success.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Lifestyle changes can also help ease stage fright. For example, decreasing caffeine intake, remaining hydrated, and eating a good meal before a performance may benefit some people. It can also help to get plenty of sleep the night before.<\/p>\n<h2>Helping Children with Performance Anxiety<\/h2>\n<p>Performance anxiety is common among <a href=\"https:\/\/www.goodtherapy.org\/learn-about-therapy\/issues\/child-and-adolescent-issues\">children<\/a>. Kids may grow anxious before a sports game or school play. Many kids show stomach-related symptoms such as nausea or tummy-aches.<\/p>\n<p>Parents can reduce this anxiety by helping a child prepare for the event. Rehearsing the task can help build a child\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s self-confidence. Parents can also make sure the child eats a nutritious meal a few hours before the performance. A healthy meal can boost energy and focus.<\/p>\n<p>Many parents try to reduce their children\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s anxiety through pep talks. The following tips can be helpful for encouraging anxious children:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Acknowledge your child\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s distress<\/strong>: Some parents reject the anxiety entirely, telling kids to \u00e2\u20ac\u0153stop worrying\u00e2\u20ac\u009d and \u00e2\u20ac\u0153just do it.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d Yet few people can get rid of their fears so simply. Children may grow more stressed when they cannot control their emotions as instructed.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Acknowledge the importance of the event:<\/strong> Saying that a show or game isn\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t \u00e2\u20ac\u0153a big deal\u00e2\u20ac\u009d can cut down a child\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s <a href=\"https:\/\/www.goodtherapy.org\/blog\/psychpedia\/motivation\">motivation<\/a>. Your child may then wish to skip the performance altogether to avoid stress.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Encourage your child during preparations: <\/strong>Praise can be a much-needed boost to your child\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s confidence.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Offer unconditional support: <\/strong>Parents who pressure or criticize their child may see the child\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s performance suffer due to stress. Let your child know that while you expect them to succeed, you will still love them if they fail.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Children with performance anxiety may ask parents to let them skip the event. Parents may be tempted to write a sick note to save their child stress. While avoiding a task can reduce short-term anxiety, it may also prevent children from developing <a href=\"https:\/\/www.goodtherapy.org\/blog\/psychpedia\/coping-mechanisms\">coping skills<\/a>. Taking a step outside one\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s comfort zone often builds <a href=\"https:\/\/www.goodtherapy.org\/blog\/psychpedia\/resilience\">resilience<\/a>. Meanwhile, children who make a habit of running away from tough situations may develop worse performance anxiety over time.<\/p>\n<p>In cases of extreme stress, it may be necessary to let a child quit. Yet skipping the performance does not mean letting a child\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s work go to waste. A child may benefit from doing a make-up performance on their own terms. For example, if a child misses a music recital, they can record a video of them singing at home and give it to the teacher the next day. Modified tasks can help children get used to performing.<\/p>\n<h2>Sexual Performance Anxiety<\/h2>\n<p>Some people experience performance anxiety during sex. This kind of anxiety is often tied to sexual difficulties such as <a href=\"https:\/\/www.goodtherapy.org\/blog\/psychpedia\/vagnismus\">vaginismus<\/a> or <a href=\"https:\/\/www.goodtherapy.org\/blog\/psychpedia\/erectile-dysfunction\">erectile dysfunction<\/a>. In some cases, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.goodtherapy.org\/learn-about-therapy\/issues\/body-image\">body image<\/a> can also play a role.<\/p>\n<p>People of any gender can experience sexual performance anxiety. Yet <a href=\"https:\/\/www.goodtherapy.org\/learn-about-therapy\/issues\/men-issues\">men<\/a> are especially susceptible to feelings of\u00c2\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.goodtherapy.org\/learn-about-therapy\/issues\/inadequacy\">inadequacy<\/a>\u00c2\u00a0when they cannot maintain erections. Anxiety may affect sexual performance, which increases anxiety, creating a self-perpetuating cycle. Men with a pre-existing <a href=\"https:\/\/www.goodtherapy.org\/learn-about-therapy\/issues\/anxiety\">anxiety<\/a> condition are more likely to have sexual performance anxiety.<\/p>\n<p>There is such a strong social <a href=\"https:\/\/www.goodtherapy.org\/blog\/psychpedia\/stigma\">stigma<\/a> attached to sexual difficulties. Even talking about performance anxiety can worsen the problem for some people. That said, the issue is treatable.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.goodtherapy.org\/learn-about-therapy\/modes\/sex-therapy\">Therapy for sexual performance\u00c2\u00a0anxiety<\/a> often requires both members of a couple to participate. Therapy may focus on creating a low-stress, low-pressure sexual environment. A therapist may also help a couple reframe assumptions about sexual success or failure.<\/p>\n<p><strong>References:<\/strong><\/p>\n<ol>\n<li>American Psychological Association.\u00c2\u00a0<em>APA concise dictionary of psychology<\/em>. Washington, DC: American Psychological Association, 2009. Print<\/li>\n<li>Conquering stage fright. (n.d.) Anxiety and Depression Association of America. Retrieved from https:\/\/adaa.org\/understanding-anxiety\/social-anxiety-disorder\/treatment\/conquering-stage-fright#<\/li>\n<li>Fundukian, L. J., &amp; Wilson, J. (2008).\u00c2\u00a0<em>The Gale encyclopedia of mental health<\/em>. Detroit, MI: Thomson Gale<\/li>\n<li>How to help your child overcome stage fright. (n.d.) New Kids Center. Retrieved from http:\/\/www.newkidscenter.com\/how-to-help-a-child-with-stage-fright.html<\/li>\n<li>Performance anxiety in great performers. (2014). <em>The Atlantic<\/em>. Retrieved from https:\/\/www.theatlantic.com\/magazine\/archive\/2014\/01\/what-hugh-grant-gandhi-and-thomas-jefferson-have-common\/355853<\/li>\n<li>Rajkumar, R. P. &amp; Kumaran, A. K. (2015). Depression and anxiety in men with sexual dysfunction: A retrospective study. <em>Comprehensive Psychiatry, 60<\/em>(1), 114-118. Retrieved from https:\/\/www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/pubmed\/25818906<\/li>\n<li>Stage fright: How to help kids with performance anxiety. (2016, November 16). Today\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s Parent. Retrieved from https:\/\/www.todaysparent.com\/kids\/kids-health\/performance-anxiety-2<\/li>\n<li>Stage fright (performance anxiety). (2017, August 17). WebMD. Retrieved from https:\/\/www.webmd.com\/anxiety-panic\/guide\/stage-fright-performance-anxiety#2<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Performance anxiety\u00c2\u00a0is fear about one\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s ability to perform a specific task. People experiencing performance anxiety may worry about failing a task before it has even begun. They might believe failure will result in humiliation or rejection. While performance anxiety can occur with any task. Anxiety around a public presentation or show is often called stage [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2474,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","template":"psychpedia.php","meta":{"_uf_show_specific_survey":0,"_uf_disable_surveys":false,"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-15348","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.goodtherapy.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/15348","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.goodtherapy.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.goodtherapy.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.goodtherapy.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2474"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.goodtherapy.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=15348"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.goodtherapy.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/15348\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.goodtherapy.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=15348"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}