Got the jitters?

Recently, I had a very interesting discussion with a cognitive behavioural therapist on stage fright. It’s that unpleasant feeling we all go through before a performance, even experienced professionals, and we’re always trying to find ways to relieve it or prevent it. What I learned was interesting and helpful!

So first, we look at the physical symptoms we experience when we get nervous – usually things like trembling, sweaty palms, heart beating faster than normal, and sometimes nausea. Now think – when else have we felt similar things going on in our bodies? What about when we’re getting ready to go on that big summer holiday in Lanzarote, or when we’re on our way to Oxygen for the weekend? The feelings we get when we’re nervous are exactly the same as when we’re excited about something… in fact, being “nervous” is just another term for being excited.

But somewhere along the lines we decided to associate some excitement with negativity. Our guess is that it’s because our body has gone into fight or flight mode, but as we’ve nowhere to fly to and nothing to fight, we’re stuck with an overwhelming amount of energy and alertness which feels horrible. But it’s the only way our brain knows how to deal with the situation!

So how do we deal with it? Well, the first thing I’ve found really useful is to replace the word “nervous” with “excited”. It’s surprising how much that helps! Secondly, just be realistic in the lead-up to the big event; it’s NOT going to be perfect, but you can increase the chances of it being ALMOST perfect by doing your best in preparation. Finally, remember that if you weren’t getting excited about this gig, no matter how big or small it is, it would mean you didn’t care…

So be happy about it!!