What is Stage Fright?
Stage fright, also called Performance anxiety, is the stress response that happens within someone when they are required to perform for an audience.
Stage fright and performance anxiety are not mental disorders. Stage fright is the body’s natural response to stressful situations, and most people experience some ‘fright’ or anxiety before they have to perform. Stage fright becomes problematic when the stress response is severe enough to interfere with someone’s ability to perform at a normal level.
What are the symptoms of Stage Fright?
The symptoms of stage fright vary from person to person. For some, stage fright is relatively mild. Others can experience panic attacks when its time to perform or speak in front of an audience. Common symptoms of Stage Fright are:
- Elevated heart rate
- Increased blood pressure
- Excessive sweating
- An impulse to back out of the performance
- Trembling hands
- An increase in errors in the performance
Where can I learn more about Stage Fright?
We recommend the following resources to learn more about stage fright: