If you dread the thought of getting up in front of a group of people and performing, you are not alone. Millions of people suffer from performance anxiety, commonly known as ‘Stage Fright’.

Public speaking is said to be the biggest fear reported by people, topping flying, financial ruin, sickness or even death!

Athletes, musicians, actors and public speakers often get performance anxiety and because of the fear of embarrassment, they try to keep it a secret and suffer in silent terror.

Performance anxiety can prevent you from doing what you enjoy and can cause you to leave school, your job or pass up a promotion. Worst of all, performance anxiety can negatively affect your self-esteem and self-confidence.

Symptoms of Performance Anxiety:

Being the center of attention and having all eyes on you can be stressful. Your body reacts to this situation in much the same way as it would if you were being attacked.

Your body’s ‘Fight – or – Flight’ mechanism kicks in, which is why symptoms of stage fright are similar to the symptoms that occur when you are in real danger:

• Racing pulse and rapid breathing
• Dry mouth and tight throat
• Trembling hands, knees, lips and voice
• Sweaty and cold hands
• Nausea and uneasy feeling in your stomach
• Vision changes