Taking Steps to Overcome this Fear:
For those who suffer from performance anxiety, learning to improve your presentation or performance skills is generally not enough to substantially reduce the fear. While practice and preparation are helpful, they usually do not substantially reduce the high level of fear and dread for those who suffer this fear. For this group, the approach has to go much deeper to address and revise the negative perceptions, beliefs, thoughts, images, and predictions related to public speaking or performing. It is often helpful to uncover the deeper fears related to being seen and heard by others, showing others any vulnerability, and being seen as less than perfect. Coming to accept yourself and not feeling you have to prove yourself to others is at the root of healing from this fear.
Some people choose to use a medication to help reduce their symptoms of performance anxiety. While there is a range of possible medications that could help reduce the physiological symptoms, perhaps the most commonly used medication for this problem is a beta blocker called Inderal (also known as Propranolol), which is also used to treat people with heart problems. This medication can be used as needed for performance anxiety. It works specifically to reduce the arousal in the nervous system that is associated with the fight or flight response, which gets activated by feelings of threat associated with performance situations. Other people prefer not to take medication but instead may choose to use a natural remedy to help calm their nervous system. It is important to talk with your physician if you do choose to take a medication or natural product to be sure you are choosing something that is safe and effective for you. It is advisable that you also learn skills to reduce and manage your fear and anxiety and not resort to using medication or natural products alone.
Cognitive-behavioral methods to change your way of thinking and stop the cycle of avoidance behavior are critical to overcome this fear. While the avoidance provides immediate relief from the discomfort associated with facing your fear, the long-term consequence is that it deepens and reinforces the cycle of fear. It further erodes confidence and trust in yourself and continues to reinforce feelings of helplessness over this problem. Before any progress can take place, you must be willing to slowly let go of the avoidance behavior as you learn new skills to reduce and manage your fearful feelings. As you do this, a new-found belief and trust in yourself develops. It is an incredibly empowering feeling to face your fear and master it rather than to run from it! In facing your fear, it becomes possible to overcome performance anxiety and to find a whole new level of comfort and ease in expressing yourself in front of others!
