Overcome Your Performance Fears

If anxiety is stopping or getting in the way of your routine activities, you are not alone. As anxiety is such a common problem that affects many different people, anxiety disorders are often treated using prescription anxiolytic (anti-anxiety) medications such as Xanax (Alprazolam). While Xanax is one of the most commonly prescribed psychotropic medications in the US (48 million prescriptions in one year alone – 2013) the drug can have serious risks and drawbacks. There are alternatives to Xanax for anxiety, however, and in this article we look at how Xanax works & what it does to the brain, discuss the side effects and cover several Xanax alternatives that are available over the counter (OTC) to see if they are as effective as benzodiazepines but without the drawbacks.

If you suffer from flying anxiety, then you’ve probably had stats about how safe flying really is (especially compared to other modes of transportation) or about how rare plane accidents are thrown at you. What most of those people don’t understand, is that you can’t quell phobias and lifelong fears with a couple of statistics. If that was possible, one in six people would not suffer from some sort of fear of flying, and flying anxiety would not be a problem. In this article we look at what flying anxiety is and what the symptoms are, why we suffer from a fear of flying and several over the counter prescription & non-prescription natural medications to overcome flight anxiety.

SSRI (selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors) and SNRI (serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors) drugs are both used to treat depression and anxiety symptoms, but they function slightly differently and come with different methods of action, side-effects and levels of effectiveness. Here we look at what SSRIs and SNRIs are, how they work for anxiety, what the drawbacks & side-effects are for each of them, analyze which is more effective and even look at some natural alternatives.

Gabapentin (Neurontin), a prescription anticonvulsant medication, is a synthetic version of the neurotransmitter GABA, or Gamma-Aminobutyric Acid. Originally, gabapentin was created to control certain types of seizures in people who have epilepsy, as well as nerve pain relief solution, and a calming agent for conditions like restless leg syndrome. Gabapentin is also used off-label as a treatment for anxiety symptoms and disorders. Here we look at how Gabapentin works against anxiety, compare it to other alternatives like beta-blockers & natural supplements, consider the side-effects and long-term downsides, and figure out if Gabapentin is effective against anxiety.

Metoprolol is a selective beta-blocker that’s prescribed around 27 million times a year in the US. It’s commonly used to help treat high blood pressure and similar heart-related conditions, but it is also commonly used off-script by performers (musicians, actors, public speakers, etc.) to help with performance anxiety and stage fright issues. The same function of Metoprolol that makes it good for helping with blood pressure issues, makes it helpful with anxiety as well. There are some side-effects & downsides to Metoprolol however, so here we look at how the drug works, and what prescription and natural alternatives exist for Metoprolol.

Just like with any difficulty commonly faced by people around the world, professional performers (and non-performers) have sought out some form of ‘stage fright pill’ to help with their performance anxiety issues for a long time. Beta-blocker medications have often been used ‘off-script’ for anxiety, and there are some alternatives to beta-blockers in the form of supplements and some unique techniques. Here we are going to look into whether a stage fright pill even exists, what side-effects they may have and what the alternatives are.

Bisoprolol is a prescription beta-blocker, normally prescribed under the brand-name Zebeta to treat cardiovascular conditions like hypertension and irregular heartbeats. Many high-level performers, musicians, speakers & artists use beta blockers like Bisoprolol off-script to help reduce performance anxiety or stage fright before and during a big performance. Here, we take a look at why so many performers and celebrities are using Bisoprolol to help with their anxiety, and we determine if Bisoprolol is actually a good long-term solution to stage fright. We also look at how Bisoprolol works exactly, what the side-effects are, what the recommended dosages are and even check to see if there are any natural alternatives.

Beta blockers are commonly used ‘off-script’ by performers such as musicians, public speakers, athletes, etc to help with performance anxiety symptoms. Here we look at how beta-blockers work and uncover several substitutes to beta blockers available over the counter that performers who are worried about beta blocker side-effects can use.

Propranolol (commonly sold under the brand name Inderal) and Xanax, a well-known Benzodiazepine medication, are both drugs commonly prescribed and used to help with stress responses and anxiety. Benzodiazepines including Xanax act on the brain and central nervous system (CNS) to produce a calming effect, whereas beta-blockers like Propranolol focus on the cardiovascular system & heart to lower blood pressure with the side-effect of lowering anxiety. Here we look at the pros and cons of both Xanax & Propranolol for anxiety; including side-effects, addiction risks, dosages for anxiety & in-depth looks at how they work and what natural alternatives exist for anxiety.

Depakote is used “off-script” by many performers, musicians, and others suffering to help with anxiety issues; performance anxiety, social anxiety, or otherwise. Here we look at what Depakote is, how it works against anxiety, compare it to other alternatives like beta-blockers & natural supplements, examine any side-effects and long-term downsides, and figure out if Depakote is effective against anxiety.

For many sports athletes, the stakes are extremely high and they are under extraordinary pressure. The smallest step wrong or right can be the difference between a huge win or a devastating loss. This pressure can be debilitating but there are a few athletes who have made the art of performing under pressure look easy, and here we look at how they do it.

I have been recommending PerformZen Calm Performance Formula on this website a lot recently, as well as to several clients who are seeking fast-acting solutions to their stage fright and anxiety issues. A couple of readers have actually reached out asking for more information about the performance anxiety supplement, so I reached out to the founders of the company and managed to arrange a phone interview with Jane Nguyen, one of the ‘brains behind the operation’. We dig into the PerformZen supplement, how it became a product in the first place, how it compares to prescription beta blockers, and I even share my own thoughts and review of the all-natural stage fright supplement.