January 28
Tips for Overcoming Performance Anxiety
By Denise Humphrey, Ph.D., www.DeniseHumphrey.com
Many people associate performance or anxiety with stage performers when in reality it can affect people and in many situations, such as public speaking, social communication, public appearance, athletics, intimacy, as well as artistic performance. Stage fright is a real psychological reaction to a great fear of embarrassment, whether that embarrassment is in front of one person or on a stage in front of hundreds of people.
Performance anxiety manifests itself in many forms. Some people may experience “fight or flight” symptoms such as shakiness, trembling, sweating, dry mouth and distraction while others may “freeze up” and find themselves unable to complete the task at hand.
Performance anxiety is a complex issue that goes beyond basic shyness. While one person’s anxiety may be related to performance history another person’s may be influenced by one’s family or social history: childhood conditioning regarding expectations of excellence and perfection may be triggered when performing. Oftentimes, performers make judgements about self-worth based on other people’s judgments of their performance. Most likely, performance anxiety is a result of a combination of both performance history and social history.
Performance anxiety can be eased through a therapeutic process of exploring family of origin issues, social culture, knowledge of our “mind state” (which includes physiology, thoughts, attitudes, behaviors, and emotions), and helping separate performance and identity. As a concert pianist, I have struggled with this issue myself and bring firsthand experience coupled of academic expertise to assist my patients in successfully overcoming this condition.
Schedule an appointment with Dr. Humphrey today! 972-239-2490
CREDENTIALS
- Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology: Fielding Graduate University
- Master of Music in Piano Performance: University of Notre Dame
- Bachelor of Music in Piano Performance: Southern Methodist University
- License No. and State: 32345 Texas
- Board of Trustees, Dallas Foundation for Psychoanalysis
- Chair, Arts Committee for the Dallas Society for Psychoanalytic Psychology
- Member, National Register of Health Service Providers in Psychology
