TIPS ON OVERCOMING STAGE FRIGHT

Vivian was once invited to address a group of students and other invitees in a nearby school during a student symposium. She was well prepared ahead of time and very vast in the area she was given to deal on as a successful entrepreneur.

At first, she was very excited when she got the invitation; for the first time she will be opportune to do what she's being admiring the public speakers doing. She was so eager to discharge the message and can’t wait for the d-day. She had taken her time constructed every line and have it presented to her close associate, as she would to her audience. It was for sure a very marvelous speech and the friend had applauded her for the way and manners she presented it in her presence.

Her hope was very high for the score as she drove to the venue on the day of the presentation but got disappointed by the beating of her heart on sighting the large audience she was going to address. Her legs literary cease immediately she was called to the podium. She manages to walk up to the stage amid cheering noise and applauds of hundreds of spectators waiting to hear from her. Her legs tremble and her heart pounds nonstop. Her mouth immediately got dried up and she felt tremor all of her body. she suddenly became blunt as she manage to start her presentation, and the rest became a tale of humor and mockery. It was something but a great outing for her, a devastating one indeed!

Vivian is not alone. A lot of teens and youths also have or have had same experience in their life. It is called Stage fright or performance anxiety. It is the anxiety, fear, or persistent phobia which may be aroused in an individual by the requirement to perform in front of an audience, whether actually or potentially (for example, when performing before a camera). 

In the context of public speaking, this may precede or accompany participation in any activity involving public self-presentation. In some cases stage fright may be a part of a larger pattern of social phobia (social anxiety disorder), but many people experience stage fright without any wider problems. Quite often, stage fright arises in a mere anticipation of a performance, often a long time ahead. It has numerous manifestations: fluttering or pounding heart, tremor in the hands and legs, sweaty hands, facial nerve tics, dry mouth, and dizziness.

Studies reveal Stage fright may be observed in people of all experiences and backgrounds, from those completely new to being in front of an audience to those who have done so for years. It is commonly known among everyday people and may, for example, affect their confidence in job interviews. It also affects actors, comedians, musicians, and politicians. Many people with no other problems can experience stage fright, but some people with chronic stage fright also have social anxiety or social phobia which is chronic feelings of high anxiety in any social situation. 

Stage fright can also be seen in school situations, like stand up projects and class speeches.

It usually start by feeling sensation of being scared or nervous, when this occurs the individual involved start to experience anxiety.

According to a Harvard Mental Health Letter, "Anxiety usually has physical symptoms that may include a racing heart, a dry mouth, a shaky voice, blushing, trembling, sweating, light headedness, and nausea". 

It triggers the body to activate its sympathetic nervous system. This process takes place when the body releases adrenaline into the blood stream causing a chain of reactions to occur. This bodily response is known as the "fight or flight" syndrome, a naturally occurring process in the body done to protect itself from harm. "The neck muscles contract, bringing the head down and shoulders up, while the back muscles draw the spine into a concave curve. This, in turn, pushes the pelvis forward and pulls the genitals up, slumping the body into a classic fatal position", explained the Letter.

It is in trying to resist this position that the body begin to react. This causes shake in places such as the legs and hands. Several other things happen besides this. The muscles in the body contract, causing them to be tense and ready to attack. Second, "blood vessels in the extremities constrict". This can leave a person with the feeling of cold fingers, toes, nose, and ears. Constricted blood vessels also gives the body extra blood flow to the vital organs.

In addition, those experiencing stage fright will have an increase in blood pressure, which supplies the body with more nutrients and oxygen in response to the "fight or flight" instincts. This, in return, causes the body to overheat and sweat. Breathing will increase so that the body can obtain the desired amount of oxygen for the muscles and organs. Pupils will dilate giving someone the inability to view any notes they have in close proximity, however, long range vision is improved making the speaker more aware of their audience's facial expressions and nonverbal cues in response to the speaker's performance.

Lastly, the digestive system shuts down to prepare for producing energy for an immediate emergency response. This can leave the body with the effects of dry mouth, nausea, or butterflies'.

Stage Fright as we have seen above from Vivian's case is a very dangerous disease that is not worth living with but the good news is that it is curable. In fact Vivian was able to get over it, "after that embarrassing experience", she said, "I went back home completely devastated and demoralized to the extend I couldn't sleep for a couple of weeks before a friend of mine intervened, she brought me some books that I read for the solutions. The authors of the books all pointed on same direction which is change of attitude. I heeded to the instruction and my next outing was wao!", she narrated. 

According to an online source (Wikipedia), "many famous people have had stage fright and were able to overcome their problem. Such stars as Al Jolson, Brian Wilson, Virginia O'Brien, Michael Gambon, Lorde, Jason Alexander, Mose Allison, Maya Angelou, David Brenner, Peter Coyote, Olympia Dukakis,Richard Lewis, Barbra Streisand, Adele, Niall Horan, Frankie Howerd, Jackie Evancho, Mariah Carey, Amanda Seyfried and many more have dealt with performance anxiety.

In some cases, famous stars have struggled to cope with their anxiety. Hugh Grant says he got through one film only by filling himself "full of lorazepam." In 2006, English Pop Star Robbie Williams cancelled his record breaking Stadium tour due to severe stage fright. He didn't tour again until 2013.”

The following tips can help you get over stage freight:

•  Shift the focus from yourself and your fear to your true purpose—contributing something of value to your audience.

• Stop scaring yourself with thoughts about what might go wrong. Instead, focus your attention on thoughts and images that are calming and reassuring.

• Refuse to think thoughts that create self-doubt and low confidence.

• Practice ways to calm and relax your mind and body, such as deep breathing, relaxation exercises, yoga, and meditation.

•  Exercise, eat well, and practice other healthful lifestyle habits. Try to limit caffeine, sugar, and alcohol as much as possible.

• Visualize your success: Always focus on your strength and ability to handle challenging situations.

• Prepare your material in advance and read it aloud to hear your voice.

•  Make connections with your audience: Smile and greet people, thinking of them as friends rather than enemies.

• Stand or sit in a self-assured, confident posture. Remain warm and open and make eye contact.

• Give up trying to be perfect and know that it is OK to make mistakes. Be natural, be yourself.