Many people have stage fright or are horrible at public speaking. Most people struggle and are unable to get up in front of a group and either perform or give a speech. Many times, especially in school, we are forced or encouraged to give speeches and perform in plays. With much practice we can become more comfortable acting and speaking in front of a big group of people. There are some people that do an excellent job at public speaking and have an act to go up on stage and perform. Have you ever given a speech or done an act in front of a large crowd?
What makes us have stage fright?
Stage fright is the nervousness or anxiety to perform or be in the spotlight in front of a single person or group of people. The group of people can be large or small, but it’s when all the attention is on you. According to the National Institute of Mental Health 73% of the population has stage fright. So, it’s not an uncommon thing to deal with and if you have stage fright you are not alone. Stage fright happens when we are afraid of failure or have social anxiety.
Symptoms of stage fright.
There are many different symptoms a person can experience during stage fright. Some symptoms include worrying about your performance, feeling distant or withdrawn from others, numbness or tingling (especially in hands and legs), sweating, blushing, dry mouth, throat tightening, racing heartbeat, heart palpitations, nausea (or even vomiting), stomach pains, the feeling to escape (or run away), and the feeling of being judged (or rejected). Sometimes you can experience more than one symptom at once.
The cure of stage fright and perform like a rockstar.
There is technically no cure for stage fright but there are some things you can do to try to help ease stage fright. Practice your lines in front of mirror or record yourself. As you get better you can practice in front of a family and / or friends. Give yourself a pep talk beforehand. Sometimes a therapist can help you overcome stage fright. Doing exercise or deep breathing exercises beforehand can also help calm nerves. Avoid drinks that will alter your mood, such as caffeine. When performing set a focal point (like a painting or picture on a wall) so you are not paying attention to any one person. Get lost in your material by focusing on what you are saying and presenting. Be yourself, do not try to act like something you are not (sometimes jokes can ease the tension, especially if you are a jokester). Practice every chance you get (put yourself in the focal point of a conversation or speech). Know your material (keep going over your material until it’s second nature for you). While there is no cure for it, if you do have bad anxiety and have medication, you can take your prescribed medication beforehand (make sure you are not overdosing yourself and take only what you are prescribed). Some of the tips and tricks work for most people. Sometimes no matter what you do, you will have stage fright. How do you overcome stage fright?
How I perform in front of someone or a group.
I struggle being the center of attention. I am always worried about what other people think and how they are judging me. I have never been good at being called on at school or giving speeches. Over the years I have gotten a little better, but I still do not like performing or giving a speech in front of someone. This also includes doing interviews. Even though I have been through so many interviews throughout my life, I just do not like it.
Do you get stage fright in front of a single person or group of people?
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