Anxiety problems

Does anyone else suffer from severe social fobia when it comes to performing?:(

I have problems with anxiety since i can remember. I want to perform so badly, but im too anxiety.

I had around 20 concerts between 2000 and 2005 and i play good on all of them, i made only 1 mistake, wrong chord once, but it wasnt so bad.

However, before concerts i always had anxiety attacks, even week before... On the performace day i always puke at least 3 times and i had to take anti anxiety pill from my father to feel little less nervous. Lately i have problems with depression and my anxiety is much worse than it ever was.

Do you have any idea how to "cure" it?:(

I would be very gratefull for any information. I already asked my schrink for advice but he said that the only thing i can to do cure fear is to perform...

(Anyway, my social anxiety is pretty mild when it comes to other things)

Just don't care man. I perform all the time, and I'm confident that it will go well enough. If you only made one mistake, you clearly know what you're doing. Just remember that most of the people out there don't know what's going on, and you do. That's what I do when I'm on stage.

Reading your post I understand that you actually may not have a social phobia, but perhaps some sort of performance anxiety. Most performers are perfectionists and the thought of not being able to do justice to the composer may cause anxiety.

Count yourself lucky, most of the great composers and performers have always battled with some kind of anxiety or depression. The aim of performance, as someone said, is not getting the right notes at the right time but rather the ability to feel through the music.

As to the cure, there is none. Counselling or prescriptions may serve a temporary purpose but that is all to it.

good luck

For every social probleme there is one good approach and that is confrontation. You might never get rit of this anxiety completely, but you can overcome them by confronting yourself with the fear. The other side of the medal is that if you listen to your anxiety and stop performing you will end up with an even greater anxiety problem the next time you'll go and perform and it might spread to other social areas. In case of social problems the hardest way is the best: do the opposite of what your fear tells you and gradually it'll diminish. And if it doesn't you'll do what you want and that'll bring joy to your life. You must remember that the anxiety your feeling is not a realistic fear indicating there's something wrong with going on stage. It's completely irrealistic and doing the opposite of what it tells you to do is the best way to handlle it.

I often get nervous before I perform, especially when it's a solo recital. I think some degree of nerves are natural, even beneficial. But I'm always careful to put things into perspective: so what If I make a slip or two, what's the worst that could happen? I don't know what the situation is for you, but I'm not a professional, fully trained musician. I know that, and the audience knows that, and as such it's surprising what the audience will forgive (especially when I, rather foolishly, try to tackle things like the Elgar Cello Concerto!). And oddly enough, when I use this "so what" state of mind, I play better.

Obviously things are a bit different in auditions and exams. I HATE auditions!

For me, concert performances never bothered me. Sometimes I was just eager to get the event over because I hated wearing the required tux. :) However, solo recitals freaked me out. I had one senior recital for my undergrad which went decent. I wasn't super happy with the way I played... but I always got kind remarks from faculty and peers. I had two recitals for grad school and I was very nervous before the first one. I also wasn't prepared for the endurance for a full hour long of solo work. I got tired towards the end (mentally and physically) so the mistakes started creeping in. The second grad recital went great. I was super nervous, but once I got on stage I just focused on the music. Somehow I was able to just relax and play. Sure there were mistakes, but I was able play musically and make a good impact on the audience. If solo playing is what makes you freaked out (like me) then I would suggest playing in front of various groups of people. Friends, family, at school or church. The more you do it, the more comfortable you'll become with it.

My granddad was a very accomplished conductor, and he still had an upset stomach due to nerves before every concert he was conducing... so I think so of it is just natural.

I don't get nervous when playing to an audience, but I'm actually much more nervous when playing to fellow musicians, cause they know when you make a mistake.

Oh boy do I know what you mean. I get nervous WEEKS before a performance. In the past I've developed ulcers, irritable bowel syndrome, chronic panic attacks, depression, chronic fatigue... you name it. To be honest, what works absolutely best for me is molding my body in the gym EVERY day of the week and eating a one hundred percent healthy diet. I don't eat sugar, refined grains, preservatives, artificial flavors or colors or anything processed. I stick to the basics, fruit, soaked grains, raw dairy products and vegetables. I find that the love and care you put into your own body reflects in all of your activities. (Also, I'm a Christian, so reading my Bible and praying every time I think to helps a lot too.)

Hope this helps!

PS

Try adding hot peppers and spices into your diet, they coat your stomach with protective mucus and release endorphins into your blood stream. Bananas are also great because of the calming potassium. :)

The more you perform, the less anxious you will be. One thing to always remember when performing is, that you are NOT trying to impress an audience, you are NOT doing something to be nervous or anxious about. What you are doing is, you are completely immersing yourself in the music, you aren't thinking about the audience, you aren't thinking about yourself, but you are thinking about the music. If you do this, you will enjoy performing, and your performances will be stunning.

This is certainly easier said than done, but keep it in mind and think about this when you decide to perform next. It makes all the difference in the world. ;)

If anxiety during a performance is an issue, seek a competent doctor's advice (either a mental or physical health professional) and go from there.

Everything that people here would say is just specific to them and is certainly not necessarily applicable to you. It's a very bad idea to seek mental health advice on the internet.

If anxiety during a performance is an issue, seek a competent doctor's advice (either a mental or physical health professional) and go from there.

Everything that people here would say is just specific to them and is certainly not necessarily applicable to you. It's a very bad idea to seek mental health advice on the internet.

Good point.

I don't think I really get nervous when I play-- I'm too busy hoping that our bassist doesn't forget the chorus and the pianist plays the intro sequence correctly...

...But for my auditions/competitions, there was definitely a bit of nailbiting.

I've made WAY more than one mistake, but I just pretend that I meant to do that.

"What? You don't like that G# in that G major chord? That harmony's just to hip for you..."

Of course, what I do might not work for you, I'm rather sarcastic and cynical, pretty wierd, and apparently I have a bad taste of music for a 17-year old.

I am definitely more nervous when playing with my Wind Ensemble than I am when I play with a rock or jazz band...

But I suppose it depends...What style of music are you playing?

~Kal