You are not alone. Many people, including professional performers are suffering from audition anxiety, a type of performance anxiety or stage fright.
What are performance anxiety, stage fright and audition anxiety?
Performance anxiety or stage fright is a type of social phobia marked by the fear of performing in front of others. What makes audition anxiety unique, is that many people experience little or no anxiety when performing onstage, but they report crippling anxiety surrounding auditions.
What are the symptoms of audition anxiety?
People who are suffering from audition anxiety or performance anxiety (stage fright) report a variety of unpleasant symptoms. These may include physical symptoms surrounding auditions or performances such as sweating, trembling, heart palpitations, nausea, shortness of breath or tightness in the chest. Sufferers may be fixated on thoughts or worries about possible failure, embarrassment, or judgment from others. This may lead to a series of unhelpful behaviors to reduce the feelings of anxiety, such as avoiding auditions, not preparing properly, over preparing, apologizing for one’s performance, or other self-defeating behaviors.
How do I know if audition anxiety is a problem for me?
While it’s totally normal to become nervous before or during an audition or a performance, audition anxiety and performance anxiety are problematic when they become a barrier to achieving one’s goals. If you are avoiding auditions or performances or exhibiting unwanted behaviors during your auditions, it may be time to seek help.
Is there treatment available for audition anxiety?
While effective treatment has been available for performance anxiety for quite some time, it is only more recently that scientific research has begun to focus on the needs of professional performers suffering from audition anxiety. We suggest finding a therapist who uses evidence-based treatments such as CBT or ACT and specializes in the treatment of social anxiety or performance anxiety. Additionally, it is best to train with coaches and teachers who have expertise in audition anxiety.
Performance anxiety or stage fright is a type of social phobia marked by the fear of performing in front of others. What makes audition anxiety unique, is that many people experience little or no anxiety when performing onstage, but they report crippling anxiety surrounding auditions.
What are the symptoms of audition anxiety?
People who are suffering from audition anxiety or performance anxiety (stage fright) report a variety of unpleasant symptoms. These may include physical symptoms surrounding auditions or performances such as sweating, trembling, heart palpitations, nausea, shortness of breath or tightness in the chest. Sufferers may be fixated on thoughts or worries about possible failure, embarrassment, or judgment from others. This may lead to a series of unhelpful behaviors to reduce the feelings of anxiety, such as avoiding auditions, not preparing properly, over preparing, apologizing for one’s performance, or other self-defeating behaviors.
How do I know if audition anxiety is a problem for me?
While it’s totally normal to become nervous before or during an audition or a performance, audition anxiety and performance anxiety are problematic when they become a barrier to achieving one’s goals. If you are avoiding auditions or performances or exhibiting unwanted behaviors during your auditions, it may be time to seek help.
Is there treatment available for audition anxiety?
While effective treatment has been available for performance anxiety for quite some time, it is only more recently that scientific research has begun to focus on the needs of professional performers suffering from audition anxiety. We suggest finding a therapist who uses evidence-based treatments such as CBT or ACT and specializes in the treatment of social anxiety or performance anxiety. Additionally, it is best to train with coaches and teachers who have expertise in audition anxiety.