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Have you ever tried to overcome stage fright? Most people have experienced performance anxiety at some time during their lives. Acting in an amateur theatre group can trigger stage fright. So can giving a presentation in front of business colleagues. Some people become paralyzed if they have to perform a musical composition for an audience.
People taking tests can also be gripped with terror about their performance. Symptoms include butterflies in the stomach, rapid heart rate, shaky hands, sweaty palms and dry mouth.
It is hard to do your best when you are flooded with adrenaline. But the drugs that may be prescribed to counteract stage fright have downsides of their own.
What Are the Problems with Drugs to Overcome Stage Fright?
Beta Blockers:
Doctors often prescribe a beta blocker heart medicine such as atenolol, metoprolol or propranolol. These drugs slow heart rate and moderate the effects of adrenaline. However, they also can trigger an asthma attack in susceptible individuals. It is also not entirely clear that they work well against stage fright (Neftel et al, Psychosomatic Medicine, Nov. 1982).
One reader shared this story:
“I love acting, but I suffer from stage fright. My doctor prescribed propranolol to ease my anxiety during a play. Fortunately, I experimented during the final days of rehearsal. The first night, I couldn’t remember where I put my clothes during a scene change. The second night, I couldn’t recall my lines. It was a very strange and frightening experience.”
Benzodiazepines:
An anti-anxiety drug (benzodiazepine) such as alprazolam (Xanax), diazepam (Valium) or lorazepam (Ativan) can take the edge off. But they too have side effects. Some people find them too sedating. Others can’t perform at their peak. In fact, such medications may make driving unsafe.
Non-Drug Approaches to Overcome Stage Fright:
Non-drug approaches are appealing because they are less likely to cause complications. Many readers are enthusiastic about Toastmasters Clubs.
One reader suggests:
“A much better solution than drugs or therapy is to join a local Toastmasters club. They will give you the experience and confidence you need for successful public speaking.”
Another agrees:
“There’s nothing like practice to help you deal with that type of anxiety. Every performing artist I know experiences unpleasant feelings before going on. The trick is to learn to channel them into useful expression rather than dull them.”
A bagpiper endorsed both strategies:
“I wholeheartedly agree with the writers who commented above. I play the bagpipes. When I was learning to play, I practiced constantly, both solo and with our pipe band. As I played for my first public event with the band, I was slightly nervous, but my practice carried me through the event and I didn’t freeze. After a while I rarely gave it a second thought.
“Lately, I’ve been away from the band for many years, and rarely play except for an occasional request. The last time I played with them I was sorely out of practice. My knees began to knock together, my hands were shaking, and I ended up shaking the chanter right out of the bag! It sounded like someone trying to kill several cats at once. I was horrified and walked away.
“The Toastmasters suggestion is truly the way to go. I know several persons who’ve been members and they became wonderful speakers. I’ve heard that folks who wrote down their fears and anxieties before taking a test or performing were able to bypass the emotional anxiety and fear response and maintain a strong link to logical thinking and processing. Perhaps this research will help people overcome stage fright.”
A scientists who treats musicians finds that a multi-modal non-drug approach including cognitive behavioral therapy, mental techniques and body therapies is a good way to help performers overcome stage fright (Spahn, Progress in Brain Research, Jan. 31, 2015).
Nancey
Lithonia Georgia
I am disabled and have severe anxiety when in an unfamiliar situation with many people. I don’t want to go the route of benzodiazepines. Been there, done that.
Recently at a concert at a large venue I became anxious and shaky. My daughter gave me passion flower, and it worked like a charm. It was nice to enjoy the concert without the accompanying nerves.
Wendy
Rochester, NY
I had crippling stage fright, even to the point of not being able to speak at a staff meeting at work. I joined Toastmasters and became proficient in speaking in front of my Toastmasters group, but was still frightened outside of that safe space. The stage fright became much less crippling when I started taking an SSRI to treat depression. I’ve had a minor stage fright since then when performing with my band and have taken propranolol for that, but I find I don’t need it anymore. Deep breathing and pacing for a few minutes takes care of nerves.
Pam
I was given metaprolol for stage fright..it lasts only 12 hours and is better than atenolol which lasts for 24 hours. I am an author and have terrible nerves, shaking voice, when speaking. The medicine is wonderful for me.
Marie
Thank you for bringing this subject up because it forced me to think about what I do to prepare. I perform a variety of things before audiences, including public speaking, portraying a historical character, and interpreting. I always go to the bathroom beforehand and get a small drink of water to moisten my mouth. Drinking water also regulates my breathing and cools me down.
While I am in front of the audience, I mostly focus on two people or two small groups of people – each one in different parts of the room. I bounce my focus between the two so that it doesn’t look like I am staring anyone down. And, of course, I prepare ahead of time and practice like crazy. When I have a presentation to do, I read it to my husband so many times that he knows it as well as I do!
John
Croydon, PA
I always over-prepared for the few speeches I have been required to make. I got through them, but the amount of time I had to spend preparing was excessive, and it was still a stressful experience.
That is the best I could do, even after taking several courses on public speaking and paying a private coach. I have never wanted to be the center of attention, and I am glad to be retired, and can avoid public speaking without consequence.
Luna Bee
Seattle, WA
I strongly recommend hypnotherapy! It works for SO many things — including stage fright. And, yes, Toastmasters is great. I don’t have performance anxiety, and have lots of public speaking experience, but found my skills and confidence improved greatly. Just. Do. It.
Debbie
Plano, Tx.
I take piano lessons and to overcome the nerves at recital time I have started taking an over the counter pill called True Calm and it works for me. It contains GABA, valerian, amino acids, and vitamins. It may be placebo effect but that’s OK. I don’t forget my notes, I feel very focused.
Amateur piano gal
AL
First of all, I want to thank the bagpiper for his hysterical description of stage fright while playing bagpipes! As a former church pianist , I found that practice does indeed make perfect, but when an occasional wrong note surfaced, I ignored it and kept going. Most people never hear it, or if they do, it is forgotten before that number is finished.
Self talk and experience build confidence. I never would recommend drugs unless one is taking a prescription for their general medical well-being.
Dave
Hartford, CT
Ditto for the toastmasters recommendation. Shy as a young child, I joined toastmasters in my late 20’s at my place of employment. I eventually became president of the club + entered regional humorous speech contests. I next took a job that required traveling and speaking in front of small groups.
While still a bit nervous with extremely large audiences, I speak at town meetings, funerals etc. with little fear. I read Joseph Wolpe’s book years ago called, “Our Useless Fears”. It basically promotes the use of gradual de-conditioning by exposing yourself gradually to that which you fear. Toastmasters is the perfect tool to do that.
Mary
Eugene, OR
As a musical performer (vocal and guitar), while I love to sing and play, no amount of ‘toastmasters’ will deal with single performer anxiety (singing in a group is far easier than alone, even with multiple rehearsals, the last moment prior to the actual stage work does not fix this problem), because YOU are IT. Make a mistake during a speech is rough, but fixable, making a mistake when singing or playing can be a career killer, and the same can be said of acting via stage, there are no ‘redos.’
In the end, getting a singing coach or acting coach to help you learn how to calm your fears is critical. Having a small dram of wine (under a shot), or having CBD oil (with extremely low THC to none) will not change your brain (no psychoactive ingredients), but will help you calm down. And if you choose the latter, you still should have a coach to help you calm your fears, rather than using one approach.
Ken
VT.
Americans use drugs entirely too readily. They always want the quick and easy way, and big pharma is only too willing to oblige them.
GeeCee
I did a lot of acting in college and even a bit of community acting. I always got jittery before my entrances, but found that if I knew my lines very well and never, never looked directly at any single audience member all my jitters disappeared. I looked over the audience’s heads or even into the middle which is usually a blur. Later on, as head of agencies, I had to give impromptu speeches all the time and also had to maintain eye contact. If I had control of the subject matter, the delivery and intent just followed. I do think Toastmasters is a great idea. Confidence building doesn’t happen overnight, and they are effective at providing this.
Cheryl
Masssachusetts
I have found for over 40 years that controlling breathing is the best. I first learned all the control in childbirth classes. I have used it during uncomfortable procedures, and I especially found it helpful during the many Head MRI’s I have had. I have modified it at times and used images of peaceful places. For me that is on the beach hearing the waves crash. I have been using this a lot more the last 1 1/2 during my fight with a very aggressive cancer.
Bob
Part of my concern is the thought of making a mistake while playing an instrument for a group of people. People are so used to hearing perfection in all media sources that they expect it in any venue, thus the concern for an amateur. While I’d like to share my music with others I can’t play to perfection so my performances end up being only for myself.
Shirley
My fear of public speaking went away many years ago when I had to give a talk to my college class. I looked them in the eye and told them straight out that I was scared to speak in front of a group, and that if they noticed my hands shaking as I held my notes, or any other weird behavior, that was why. My excess adrenaline went away, along with the shaking and fear, never to return. Facing a fear, admitting a fear, works well for me.
Packy
Seattle
I am a musician who plays solo occasionally. Over the years I had become used to performing and feeling quite comfortable. About 10 years ago I was prescribed Atenolol for blood pressure. I was unaware at the time that it was also prescribed to help manage stage fright. After being on it for a few years, my GP wanted to give me something different, as Atenolol was falling out of favor as a blood pressure medicine. I had to first be weaned off of the Atenolol, and as I was, it appeared my blood pressure had improved such that I didn’t need to be prescribed something new. The downside was that I went through what I believe was a withdrawal period of about a year, during which I would get crippling stage fright. It wasn’t so much that I would lose confidence in my abilities. It was more that the LEAST bit of anxiety would produce an adrenaline rush that made playing extremely difficult. Things are better now that it seems to be completely flushed from my body.
Ronnie
Southern Calufornia
I have been performing in musicals for almost four years at a community theater and have found two things that have helped tremendously. First, know your part PERFECTlY (rehearse your lines, songs, dances every day) AND use essential oils before going onstage. Put a few drops of Lavender or other calming oils on your wrists, or take a few slow breaths right from the bottle. We pass the oils around in the dressing room before going onstage, and it works wonders!
Chris
Maple Grove, MN
The idea of taking drugs to counter stage fright caught my attention, as I had never considered that. Playing drums in a band I never had to deal with much of it, since I was not alone on stage. But still I would find myself getting a little nervous. Really it was mostly becoming over-excited. I had complaints that I would set the tempo for some songs much faster than they should be. :-)
The cure I came up with was to drink a SMALL amount of wine or other alcoholic beverage before a performance. Drinking with moderation was not a problem for me, and this was a big help. I know this is not be appropriate for everyone, especially those under the legal drinking age.
Michael Naimark
Shanghai
Valerian.
Janis S.
Allentown, PA
To practice my presentation out loud has always been helpful to me. The better prepared I am, the more likely the show will go on smoothly.
Vivian
Georgia
I had terrible stage fright when speaking in public and knew I had to overcome it. I enrolled in a Toastmaster Class and found it very helpful. Because I learned to speak in public, I was able accept positions that I never thought possible. Since retirement, I am out of practice; however, recently when asked to unexpectedly introduce someone at church program, I felt calm and in control. After all these years Toastmasters is still off!!!