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Performance Anxiety or Stage Fright

Hi. Am a church pianist. My problem is I get very nervous before a performance. I have to practice real hard to combat this fear. My hands really get so cold. Am afraid to commit mistake & will not be able to recover or will get lost accompanying the choir. Am really prepared for the performance. My only problem is how to get rid of the fear. Am afraid the fear will ruin my performance. Pls help what is the best homeopathic medicine to take. What is the recommended dosage & how many hours before performance should it be taken? Thanks.
 
  limledi on 2011-04-17
This is just a forum. Assume posts are not from medical professionals.
You will need to provide some more information, as we have many remedies for this kind of problem.

Please give the exact feelings and experience leading up to the performance, the exact feelings during the performance. Please describe what makes the problem better for you, and what makes it worse. Describe in detail all the symptoms that come with the anxiety. Please also describe the history of the problem.

If you have any other health problems they should also list those with a similar amount of detail. Our choice of a 'stage-fright' remedy might be decided on the basis of your other health problems, as Homoeopathy is a true holistic medicine (all parts of the person are connected to one problem).
 
brisbanehomoeopath last decade
Logging in observe progress.
 
Joe De Livera last decade
Thanks. Feelings before performing includes coldness of hands, nervousness, avoidance, need to practice more, going to the toilet, dread. During performing, time seems to go slowly, need to finish the task fast, cold trembling hands, shaking knees, panic during mistakes. After performance, a great sigh of relief, happy during a good performance but keep on pondering on mistake if otherwise. My sole concern is to get rid of this fear cause I really love & want to enjoy performing. This is very frustrating. All my hard work will go to waste if overtaken with fear.
My problem started as a young student taking piano lessons & also during recitals. I remember sweating a lot with cold trembling hands during lessons & recitals. It can be quite embarrassing. I started taking lesson as a kid but my problem suddenly surfaced during my teens. Visitors at home requesting to hear me play also makes me nervous that I can't finish my piece coz the fear makes me lose concentration. Am hoping that being a choir pianist can help me get rid of the fear by constant exposure but am finding it hard to get rid of it. This is the primary reason why I accepted this task. I sight read & not memorize the piece for fear of getting lost.
I am a healthy person with no health problem physically. Emotionally, I see myself as a worrier & anxious person. Am also insecure despite my accomplishments in life. They say am a perfectionist. Please advise. Thanks again.
 
limledi last decade
While not impossible, it is very unlikely that your physical health has not been affected in some way.

Please describe any problems with:

Sleep
Appetite
Digestion
Physical energy
Sexual desire
Thirst
Sensitivity to the environment
Respiration
Senstivity to the temperature and weather
Body temperature
Hormones - Menstrual cycle (if you are a woman)


On top of this, please expand on the following things you have already mentioned:

Mistakes
Dread
Embarrasment
Perfectionist

Also, please try to help me exactly what this fear is like that overtakes you when you perform.

If I wished to imagine the same sort of fear you feel, what would have to happen to me? What situation would I need to put myself in ? (don't give me your real life situation)

When exactly during teenage years did this problem surface? What else was going on then in your life?

Have you experienced any kind of traumatic experience in your life, an event that has been difficult to recover fully from (this might have been physical, mental or emotional).

What exactly is it about performing that causes such fear? If you were to imagine a situation where could perform but not feel fear, what would that situation be?

Does this feeling come up in any other situation in your life?
 
brisbanehomoeopath last decade
Sleep – I sleep fine except when face with incoming stressful situation
Appetite – is ok
Digestion – no problem
Physical energy – is fine. Am an active person who exercises regularly for good health & to combat stress
Sexual desire – not so interested in sex & find it difficult to reach climax (am married)
Thirst – I drink lots of water especially during exercise
Sensitivity to the environment – am not allergic if that is what you mean
Respiration – am a shallow breather
Senstivity to the temperature and weather – am fine with this
Body temperature – got cold feet & hands during stress
Hormones - Menstrual cycle (if you are a woman) – normal menstrual cycle. I mean I have menstruation monthly without lapses

Mistakes – I fear committing mistakes for fear of not getting back on the right track & might not be able to synchronize with the choir
Dread – I feel like running away
Embarrasment – It’s embarrassing to be obviously nervous
Perfectionist – I always aim for perfection, doing less than that makes me discontented

Also, please try to help me exactly what this fear is like that overtakes you when you perform.
- the fear of pressing the wrong piano keys, of my mind going blank, fear of not being able to finish the piece, fear of ridicule

If I wished to imagine the same sort of fear you feel, what would have to happen to me? What situation would I need to put myself in ? (don't give me your real life situation)
- I can imagine you not being able to answer questions from your boss, of being put on the spot during a meeting

When exactly during teenage years did this problem surface? What else was going on then in your life?
- This happened during 4th yr high school. I always feel pressure from friends, classmates, teachers, relatives, family. They make me feel like a nerd who’s good in academics but lacking in practical situations making me feel stupid. They used to say I lack exposure. I barely had any social life. I didn’t feel love by my parents who always criticize me. I feel rejected.

Have you experienced any kind of traumatic experience in your life, an event that has been difficult to recover fully from (this might have been physical, mental or emotional).
- I experience sexual abuse as a child.

What exactly is it about performing that causes such fear? If you were to imagine a situation where could perform but not feel fear, what would that situation be?
- I feel fear when someone is listening to me perform. Am afraid that I might commit a mistake or will not be able to finish the whole piece. Am comfortable playing alone or with family members.

Does this feeling come up in any other situation in your life?
- Yes. Fear in classroom situation, meetings, seminars, church services. I get cold feet during these situations. I can’t explain it but I feel am disturbing other people. Sometimes I also can’t look at people directly in the eye & tend to avoid eye contact. I find it really disturbing. Basically am a shy but determined person & had some successes in life.
 
limledi last decade
Hi. To make it simple, I just wanna have a remedy to take away the fear during performances coz fear is the sole problem here. Hope to hear from you soon. Thanks.
 
limledi last decade
Based on the information you have given, I would suggest Silicea 200c. When you have acquired this remedy let me know and I will tell you how to take it.
 
brisbanehomoeopath last decade
Based on my information, which is best Argentum Nitricum or Gelsemium? What's the dosage & how to take it? Thanks.
 
limledi last decade
My suggestion was Silicea. Your symptoms do not point to either Arg-nit or Gelsemium, although there are many stage-fright remedies to choose from (including Silicea).

Each medicine has its own way of perceiving and reacting to the situation. Silicea is sensitive to being observed, sensitive to the opinions of others, sensitive to making mistakes because they feel they must be flawless. They do not want to be seen as anything but the perfect (pianist/performer/singer/speaker or whatever). In any situation where someone else may see that they are not what they try so hard to be, they become anxious and unable to perform. This is the situation you described.
 
brisbanehomoeopath last decade
Thanks for explaining what Silicea can do. Are you saying that focusing on stage fright will not solve my problem? It's my main concern to get rid of it so I can perform well.
I just wanna add that I might be suffering from Social Anxiety Disorder as defined below:
Social Anxiety Disorder is a type of social phobia characterized by a fear of being negatively judged by others or a fear of public embarrassment due to impulsive actions. This includes feelings such as stage fright, a fear of intimacy, and a fear of humiliation. This disorder can cause people to avoid public situations and human contact to the point that normal life is rendered impossible.
Generally, am anxious about the negative opinion of others but not to the extent of avoiding human contact. I've also read of Lycopodium. What can you say about this remedy?
Thanks again am really desperate to find a remedy for my problem.
 
limledi last decade
May I add I have also a resemblance for this:
Lycopodium is perhaps our biggest remedy for stage fright/fear of public speaking--fear that the 'audience' is finding fault, being judgemental, and so on. Lycopodiums have poor confidence in dealing with anyone who may have authority over them; however, the other side of the coin is, with peers--family/friends/ subordinates, they can actually be egotistical, powerful, bombastic, haughty and self-assured in general. And so, here you are, feeling very cowardly in front of those who sit in 'judgement', and yet when a client comes to you with a problem, you feel very confident and very able to offer leadership. You are very proud of yourself and your abilities right up to the point of meeting with your superiors, and then your confidence just melts away. It is listed under perspiration of hands and feet.
 
limledi last decade
If you read any remedy, you may see yourself. This does not mean you need that remedy. Every student goes through this same thing when they are learning materia medica.

Our understanding in Homoeopathy, is that every person perceives all external things through their internal state. Your internal state (= your remedy) colours anything you see or experience in the outer world.

IF you are a Silicea person (so to speak, or your disease state is Silicea to be more exact), then reading about Lycopodium will seem like Silicea, reading about Arg-nit will seem like Silicea, reading about Gelsemium will seem like Silicea. Everything seems like Silicea, which is to say it seems like you.

No-one can choose their own (chronic) remedy except by accident. This is because everything is so heavily coloured by that remedy that every remedy seems to be them.

Silicea fears people seeing they are not perfect, that they are not what they are trying to be, because they try so hard to create a particular image.

Lycopodium fears being put in a new situation, and being unable to perform because it is unknown to them and they do not have confidence whenever something is new.

Gelsemium fears any situation where they will be challenged, because they do not feel they have the courage or strength to withstand it.

Arg-nit fears losing control in any situation where there is risk, where there is expectation, because they do not trust themselves.

There are actually 21 known remedies for Stage fright, 6 more remedies added to that if you include rubrics like Fear of Public speaking. The difference between them can be subtle, and impossible to judge by the person themselves.
 
brisbanehomoeopath last decade

[message deleted by idra23 on Sun, 24 Apr 2011 10:27:27 BST]
 
idra23 last decade
You will remain confused until you get the right remedy I am afraid - that is the way of it.

I cannot know for sure if Silicea is the right remedy, not until it helps you. But I have made my educated guess at it.

There are 45 remedies known for Fear of losing control, and Silicea is also one of those remedies.
 
brisbanehomoeopath last decade
It's ok Idra23. I welcome discussions here. Thanks BrisbaneHomoepath. You are right. I seem to fit all the remedies stated above & am as confused as ever. I'll try to secure Silicea 200C as what you recommended.
 
limledi last decade
Hi,

I find this thread very interesting. I am a classical pianist as well and I always feel very nervous before performing in recitals. Whilst I understand that it is completely unnecessary to be nervous because no one in the audience wants to see you fail, I still feel nervous! I sincerely hope that you find the right remedy to tackle your fear and I will be very interested in the progress that you make.

My only question is that if I am already taking one remedy to rid myself of something (Calc Flor), is it okay for me to take another remedy to combat my own stage fright? I've heard that some remedies are incompatible with others and will antidote, etc. Are any of the stage fright remedies able to be taken whilst I take my course of Calc Flor?
 
bjmanub last decade
One remedy should take care of all of it. If you need a second remedy for something else, the first remedy is either not correct, or has not been prescribed in the right potency for you.
 
brisbanehomoeopath last decade
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[Edited by pheazoid on 2022-05-12 11:32:48]
 
pheazoid last decade
I would not combine remedies there can be unpredictable interactions. Let Nawaz choose the best remedy for you as he sees fit.
 
brisbanehomoeopath last decade
I am very interested in this thread . I want to know how to take 200c silicea for the stage fright.
 
goslow 9 years ago
You cannot use Silicea this way - it must be prescribed for you specifically based on your individual symptoms, sensations, thoughts, emotions, history. Homoeopathy does not work unless the patient's individual situation is examined and analysed, and one of the thousands of possible remedies chosen on that basis.

If you would like I can attempt to help you, but you must make a separate thread.
 
Evocationer 9 years ago

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